Montana State University
4-1 , 1-0
Northern Arizona
2-3 , 0-1
Bobcats storm back to beat Lumberjacks
9/28/2019 5:13:00 PM | Football, General
With 19,257 fans on hand in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams, MSU (4-1, 1-0) totaled 340 yards on the ground as Jonsen led all rushers with a career best 105 yards. Jonsen scored two touchdowns, as did Shane Perry, who gained 67 yards on the ground. MSU also got a rushing touchdown from Troy Andersen. Overall, MSU gained 443 total yards to 437 for the Lumberjacks (2-3, 0-1), but more importantly held the ball for nearly nine minutes more.
On a cold, blustery day, MSU's comeback began when quarterback Tucker Rovig recovered a loose ball in the end zone that made it 31-21 heading into the fourth quarter. The offensive attack continued into the final period as MSU's stuck to the ground, at one point calling 22 consecutive running plays. Andersen's short burst made it 31-28 before Jonsen's score put MSU ahead to stay. Perry's two scores finished the onslaught.
Defensive plays led to both of Perry's scores. The first came after JoJo Henderson forced a fumble on the kickoff following Jonsen's second score. The loose ball was recovered by James Campbell and Perry responded with a 15-yard dash. Perry's second score came after Amandre Williams' intercepted Case Cookus to stymie NAU's comeback. On the play, a blitzing Brayden Konkol leveled Cookus who threw the wobbler right to Williams.
Jonsen also led all Bobcat receivers with five catches for 36 yards as Rovig hit on 11 of 23 passes for 106 yards. Jahque Alleyne led MSU with eight tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage, and Konkol added seven tackles.
Giveaways hurt the Bobcats in the first half. The day's first touchdown occurred when NAU's Taylor Powell returned an interception 28 yards for a score. A second-quarter MSU fumble led to a Cookus scoring pass to George Romero-Robinson.
Down 21-0, MSU's Alleyne returned a short punt to the NAU 14-yard line and Jonsen sprinted into the end zone on the next play for his first score. The Bobcats trimmed the deficit to 21-14 when Rovig hit Coy Steel, who managed to hang on after being sandwiched by two NAU defenders and trot in for a 49-yard score. But just before the half, NAU scored on a wide receiver sweep by Stacy Chukwumezie to make it 28-14 at the intermission.
The second half was yet to come, and the Bobcats made the most of it. After punting six times in the first half, Bobcat Jared Padmos only kicked twice in the second half.
The Bobcats next travel to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo while NAU plays host to Northern Colorado.
Team Stats
NAU 7, MSU 0
NAU - POWELL, Taylor 29 yd interception (AGUILAR, Luis kick)
NAU 14, MSU 0
NAU - LOGAN, Joe 3 yd run (AGUILAR, Luis kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:53
NAU 21, MSU 0
NAU - JOHNSON, H. 23 yd pass from COOKUS, Case (AGUILAR, Luis kick) 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:46
NAU 21, MSU 7
MSU - JONSEN, Travis 14 yd run (BAILEY, Tristan kick), 1 plays, 14 yards, TOP 0:05
NAU 21, MSU 14
MSU - STEEL, Coy 49 yd pass from ROVIG, Tucker (BAILEY, Tristan kick) 1 plays, 49 yards, TOP 0:08
NAU 28, MSU 14
NAU - CHUKWUMEZIE, S. 8 yd run (AGUILAR, Luis kick), 7 plays, 85 yards, TOP 1:12
NAU 31, MSU 14
NAU - AGUILAR, Luis 46 yd field goal 5 plays, 5 yards, TOP 1:41
NAU 31, MSU 21
MSU - ROVIG, Tucker 0 yd fumble recovery (BAILEY, Tristan kick)
NAU 31, MSU 28
MSU - ANDERSEN, Troy 2 yd run (BAILEY, Tristan kick), 16 plays, 90 yards, TOP 6:13
NAU 31, MSU 35
MSU - JONSEN, Travis 2 yd run (BAILEY, Tristan kick), 7 plays, 89 yards, TOP 2:38
NAU 31, MSU 42
MSU - PERRY, Shane 15 yd run (BAILEY, Tristan kick), 2 plays, 20 yards, TOP 0:18
NAU 31, MSU 49
MSU - PERRY, Shane 5 yd run (BAILEY, Tristan kick), 8 plays, 33 yards, TOP 4:56
