Ron Bain attempts a fingertip catch against West Texas in 1968
Photo by: Montana State University
BOBCAT CALENDAR: Montana State's Roller Coaster Overtime Win at Cal Poly Last Fall Proved Crucial
10/5/2020 2:00:00 PM | Football
Today in 1968, Ron Bain became MSU's first 100-yard receiver when the Cats played talented West Texas
October 5
SPOTLIGHT: Most great football seasons have pivot points, moments where a team can go in one direction or another. One of Montana State's pivot points in 2019 came on a warm autumn evening in San Luis Obispo, California.
The Bobcats carried a 28-7 lead into the fourth quarter, but on the first play of that period Cal Poly's Jalen Hamler threw a 31-yard touchdown pass. That opened the floodgates, as the Bobcats found a sampler platter of ways to let a team back into a game. A three-and-out possession on the next drive was capped with a six-yard punt that set up Cal Poly's vaunted ground game at the Bobcat 38. Hamler plunged into the end zone eight plays later, and the score was 28-14. MSU's next possession also ended poorly, when the Mustangs picked off a Tucker Rovig pass at the Bobcat 16. Drew Hernandez scored five plays later. 28-21. With the quarter half gone, the Mustangs forced another three-and-out, and the Bobcat defense again yielded and CP tied the game at 28-28. After teams traded punts, MSU marched to the Cal Poly 33 as the fourth quarter ticked down. With seconds remaining Tristan Bailey missed a 50-yard field goal, and the teams headed to overtime.
The overtime period began with a feeling of doom settling into the pit of the stomach of Bobcat fans, but just like that it was gone. The Mustangs had the first possession, and Chase Benson registered a first down stop. A false start penalty pushed CP back five yards, and Derek Marks' tackle-for-loss made it third-and-18. A two-yard run set up a 48-yard field goal, and Colton Theaker left it wide right.
Knowing they needed just a field goal to win, the Bobcat staff decided to leave it up to one of the team's most trusted offensive weapons. On first down, Wildcat quarterback Travis Jonsen rushed for seven yards. On the next play, he scooted to the Mustang nine-yard line. And on MSU's third play of overtime, Jonsen scored from nine yards out. Game over.
What could have been a devastating loss and missed opportunity turned into a scrappy, do-what-you-need-to-do victory.
BONUS: It didn't even surface as a footnote of the game, but in retrospect it's a pretty significant landmark. Montana State's brilliant flanker Ron Bain became the first Bobcat in recorded history to post a 100-yard receiving game by catching six of Dennis Erickson's nine pass completions for 139 yards and a touchdown. Bain's performance came in a losing effort, as the Bobcats fell to West Texas 35-20 win.
In retrospect, the most amazing facet of that contest at Gatton Field is the spectacular talent that was assembled. Erickson was bound for coaching glory, of course, while Gary Gustafson and Tony Welzenbach were future All-Americas for the Bobcats.
West Texas, though, was loaded with star players. Future NFL star Mercury Morris carried 35 times for a Gatton Field record 340 yards and four touchdowns. Morris' blocking back, Duane Thomas, was also a future NFL standout. In fact, 10 players on that 1968 West Texas team ended up as NFL Draft selections - RB Rocky Thompson, DB Ralph Anderson, DB Ray Brown, OL Dag Azam, K Roland Reichardt, OL AZ Drones, LB Jesse Powell, and LB Byron Jones, along with Morris and Thomas.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2019 - #6 MSU 34, Cal Poly 28 OT
2013 - MSU 36, #15 Northern Arizona 7
2002 - Central Washington 31, MSU 16
1996 - at Eastern Washington 20, MSU 13
1991 - Weber State 36, MSU 25 HC
1985 - Weber State 50, MSU 36 HC
1974 - MSU 44, Northern Arizona 21
1968 - West Texas State 35, MSU 20
1963 - MSU 41, at Nevada 13
1957 - MSU 21, San Diego 7
1946 - MSU 7, at Colo College 7
1940 - MSU 7, North Dakota State 0 HC
1935 - UM 20, MSU 0 at Butte
1929 - Utah St 9, MSU 0
SPOTLIGHT: Most great football seasons have pivot points, moments where a team can go in one direction or another. One of Montana State's pivot points in 2019 came on a warm autumn evening in San Luis Obispo, California.
The Bobcats carried a 28-7 lead into the fourth quarter, but on the first play of that period Cal Poly's Jalen Hamler threw a 31-yard touchdown pass. That opened the floodgates, as the Bobcats found a sampler platter of ways to let a team back into a game. A three-and-out possession on the next drive was capped with a six-yard punt that set up Cal Poly's vaunted ground game at the Bobcat 38. Hamler plunged into the end zone eight plays later, and the score was 28-14. MSU's next possession also ended poorly, when the Mustangs picked off a Tucker Rovig pass at the Bobcat 16. Drew Hernandez scored five plays later. 28-21. With the quarter half gone, the Mustangs forced another three-and-out, and the Bobcat defense again yielded and CP tied the game at 28-28. After teams traded punts, MSU marched to the Cal Poly 33 as the fourth quarter ticked down. With seconds remaining Tristan Bailey missed a 50-yard field goal, and the teams headed to overtime.
The overtime period began with a feeling of doom settling into the pit of the stomach of Bobcat fans, but just like that it was gone. The Mustangs had the first possession, and Chase Benson registered a first down stop. A false start penalty pushed CP back five yards, and Derek Marks' tackle-for-loss made it third-and-18. A two-yard run set up a 48-yard field goal, and Colton Theaker left it wide right.
Knowing they needed just a field goal to win, the Bobcat staff decided to leave it up to one of the team's most trusted offensive weapons. On first down, Wildcat quarterback Travis Jonsen rushed for seven yards. On the next play, he scooted to the Mustang nine-yard line. And on MSU's third play of overtime, Jonsen scored from nine yards out. Game over.
What could have been a devastating loss and missed opportunity turned into a scrappy, do-what-you-need-to-do victory.
BONUS: It didn't even surface as a footnote of the game, but in retrospect it's a pretty significant landmark. Montana State's brilliant flanker Ron Bain became the first Bobcat in recorded history to post a 100-yard receiving game by catching six of Dennis Erickson's nine pass completions for 139 yards and a touchdown. Bain's performance came in a losing effort, as the Bobcats fell to West Texas 35-20 win.
In retrospect, the most amazing facet of that contest at Gatton Field is the spectacular talent that was assembled. Erickson was bound for coaching glory, of course, while Gary Gustafson and Tony Welzenbach were future All-Americas for the Bobcats.
West Texas, though, was loaded with star players. Future NFL star Mercury Morris carried 35 times for a Gatton Field record 340 yards and four touchdowns. Morris' blocking back, Duane Thomas, was also a future NFL standout. In fact, 10 players on that 1968 West Texas team ended up as NFL Draft selections - RB Rocky Thompson, DB Ralph Anderson, DB Ray Brown, OL Dag Azam, K Roland Reichardt, OL AZ Drones, LB Jesse Powell, and LB Byron Jones, along with Morris and Thomas.
GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2019 - #6 MSU 34, Cal Poly 28 OT
2013 - MSU 36, #15 Northern Arizona 7
2002 - Central Washington 31, MSU 16
1996 - at Eastern Washington 20, MSU 13
1991 - Weber State 36, MSU 25 HC
1985 - Weber State 50, MSU 36 HC
1974 - MSU 44, Northern Arizona 21
1968 - West Texas State 35, MSU 20
1963 - MSU 41, at Nevada 13
1957 - MSU 21, San Diego 7
1946 - MSU 7, at Colo College 7
1940 - MSU 7, North Dakota State 0 HC
1935 - UM 20, MSU 0 at Butte
1929 - Utah St 9, MSU 0
Players Mentioned
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