Bill Nelson against NDSU in 1946
Photo by: Courtesy MSU Exponent
BOBCAT CALENDAR: Montana State's Strong Finish Included a Win Over NDSU Today in 1946
11/16/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
One year ago today, MSU solidified an FCS Playoff berth with a solid home win over UC Davis
A day-by-day look at Bobcat football history...
November 16
SPOTLIGHT: Before the current fall, one most likely needs to go all the way back to 1946 to find another true 'season unlike any other' for the Montana State football program.
That fall, the Bobcats reassembled for the first time since before World War II. Only Bill Zupan returned from the War to suit up for Montana State's first post-war team. The Bobcats struggled early, misfiring often in a 1-2-1 start. But "Clyde Carpenter's Gattonmen," according to the Exponent, "really looked like a great team" as the season went.
Today in 1946, the Cats faced what proved to be a crucial contest in the home finale when North Dakota State came calling. Montana State's 39-18 win would eventually boost the Bobcats to their first-ever bowl bid.
If the start of the season was rocky, the start of this game, played on soggy and partially snow-covered Gatton Field, mirrored that. On Montana State's first drive, facing a third-and-14, Harry Perrigo attempted a quick kick from his own end of the field. The Bison blocked it, and Paul Moores carried the ball 30 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead after the kick failed.
On a late first quarter drive, Bobcat quarterback Gene Bourdet - a Montana State newcomer who would become one of the most significant figures in school history as its Director of Athletics from 1958-70 - marched the team from its own 48 to the enemy eight yard line. Catches by Jim O'Loughlin and Mike McCormick fueled the drive, and Neil Brooks finished it with an eight-yard run to tie the score.
With the Bobcats operating in the shadow of their own goalposts early in the second quarter, O'Loughlin punted nearly 60 yards, and the teams played on even terms until Bill Nelson scored on a 20-yard run and Don Dunn's PAT gave the Bobcats a 13-6 edge at the intermission. The Bison converted a Montana State fumble early in the third quarter into a touchdown, but later in the period Nelson stepped in front of a Basch pass and raced 80 yards for a touchdown return to push the Cats in front 26-12.
The Bison weren't finshed, taking to the air to slog through the thickening mud on their way to a 10-yard touchdown run by Mulready. After the Cats moved to the NDSU 45 on the next possession, Seelinger took the snap and tossed it to Zupan, who chucked it down the field to Perrigo at the five, and the Billings product cruised into the end zone for a touchdown. The day's final score was Nelson's 45-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Montana State dominated the day, gaining 254 yards to NDSU's 192 and rolling up 13 first downs to six. The Cats rolled up the Colorado Mines 45-7 one week later and earned the school's first-ever bowl bid. The Bobcats tied New Mexico 13-13 at San Diego's Balboa Stadium in the Harbor Bowl.
BOBCAT GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2019 - #10 MSU 27, UC Davis 17
2013 - Southern Utah 22, MSU 14
2002 - Portland State 28, MSU 26
1996 - MSU 51, Sacramento State 14
1991 - Eastern Washington 22, MSU 21
1985 - at Washington State 64, MSU 14
1974 - MSU 34, North Dakota State 14
1968 - at Fresno State 37, MSU 16
1957 - at Arizona State 53, MSU 13
1946 - MSU 39, North Dakota State 18
FINIS: MSU arrived at Bobcat Stadium one year ago today with a clear mission: win the game, get to eight wins, and solidify an FCS Playoff berth. It took time, but Montana State's stingy defense and opportunistic offense left Bobcat fans with a satisfying 27-17 win over UC Davis and a feeling of tremendous anticipation for what was to come one week later. The Bobcats gained 501 yards, 284 on the ground, on this day. The game's first turning point came in the second quarter, when Jason Scrempos blocked an Aggies field goal and then Travis Jonsen turned a broken play into a 75-yard touchdown run to give the Cats a 14-10 lead. After a UC Davis touchdown in the third quarter, Tristan Bailey kicked two fourth quarter field goals and Isaiah Ifanse scored on a five-yard run, and MSU had its victory.
November 16
SPOTLIGHT: Before the current fall, one most likely needs to go all the way back to 1946 to find another true 'season unlike any other' for the Montana State football program.
That fall, the Bobcats reassembled for the first time since before World War II. Only Bill Zupan returned from the War to suit up for Montana State's first post-war team. The Bobcats struggled early, misfiring often in a 1-2-1 start. But "Clyde Carpenter's Gattonmen," according to the Exponent, "really looked like a great team" as the season went.
Today in 1946, the Cats faced what proved to be a crucial contest in the home finale when North Dakota State came calling. Montana State's 39-18 win would eventually boost the Bobcats to their first-ever bowl bid.
If the start of the season was rocky, the start of this game, played on soggy and partially snow-covered Gatton Field, mirrored that. On Montana State's first drive, facing a third-and-14, Harry Perrigo attempted a quick kick from his own end of the field. The Bison blocked it, and Paul Moores carried the ball 30 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead after the kick failed.
On a late first quarter drive, Bobcat quarterback Gene Bourdet - a Montana State newcomer who would become one of the most significant figures in school history as its Director of Athletics from 1958-70 - marched the team from its own 48 to the enemy eight yard line. Catches by Jim O'Loughlin and Mike McCormick fueled the drive, and Neil Brooks finished it with an eight-yard run to tie the score.
With the Bobcats operating in the shadow of their own goalposts early in the second quarter, O'Loughlin punted nearly 60 yards, and the teams played on even terms until Bill Nelson scored on a 20-yard run and Don Dunn's PAT gave the Bobcats a 13-6 edge at the intermission. The Bison converted a Montana State fumble early in the third quarter into a touchdown, but later in the period Nelson stepped in front of a Basch pass and raced 80 yards for a touchdown return to push the Cats in front 26-12.
The Bison weren't finshed, taking to the air to slog through the thickening mud on their way to a 10-yard touchdown run by Mulready. After the Cats moved to the NDSU 45 on the next possession, Seelinger took the snap and tossed it to Zupan, who chucked it down the field to Perrigo at the five, and the Billings product cruised into the end zone for a touchdown. The day's final score was Nelson's 45-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Montana State dominated the day, gaining 254 yards to NDSU's 192 and rolling up 13 first downs to six. The Cats rolled up the Colorado Mines 45-7 one week later and earned the school's first-ever bowl bid. The Bobcats tied New Mexico 13-13 at San Diego's Balboa Stadium in the Harbor Bowl.
BOBCAT GAMES ON TODAY'S DATE
2019 - #10 MSU 27, UC Davis 17
2013 - Southern Utah 22, MSU 14
2002 - Portland State 28, MSU 26
1996 - MSU 51, Sacramento State 14
1991 - Eastern Washington 22, MSU 21
1985 - at Washington State 64, MSU 14
1974 - MSU 34, North Dakota State 14
1968 - at Fresno State 37, MSU 16
1957 - at Arizona State 53, MSU 13
1946 - MSU 39, North Dakota State 18
FINIS: MSU arrived at Bobcat Stadium one year ago today with a clear mission: win the game, get to eight wins, and solidify an FCS Playoff berth. It took time, but Montana State's stingy defense and opportunistic offense left Bobcat fans with a satisfying 27-17 win over UC Davis and a feeling of tremendous anticipation for what was to come one week later. The Bobcats gained 501 yards, 284 on the ground, on this day. The game's first turning point came in the second quarter, when Jason Scrempos blocked an Aggies field goal and then Travis Jonsen turned a broken play into a 75-yard touchdown run to give the Cats a 14-10 lead. After a UC Davis touchdown in the third quarter, Tristan Bailey kicked two fourth quarter field goals and Isaiah Ifanse scored on a five-yard run, and MSU had its victory.
Players Mentioned
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