MSU's John Close (65) defends New Hampshire quarterback Jeff Allen
BOBCAT CALENDAR: Montana State edges New Hampshire in the DII Playoffs today in 1976
11/27/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
Bobcats offset explosive UNH pass attack with grinding ground game
A day-by-day look at Bobcat football history...
November 27
SPOTLIGHT: Montana State entered a new era today in 1976, when the Bobcats arrived at Reno H. Sales Stadium for the first playoff game in school history.
MSU rode the momentum from a big win over Hawaii into the NCAA Division II Playoffs, with New Hampshire awaiting on a cold (17 degrees at kickoff), clear afternoon.
Montana State's defense kept the game scoreless through a rough start for the offense. MSU turned the ball over on its first two possessions, then a fake punt went awry when Jeff Muri was tackled for a loss on the team's third drive. On MSU's next drive, the team fumbled again.Through it all, the Cats limited UNH to three first downs and 38 yards in the first quarter.
That was long enough for the Bobcat offense to get things going. Sophomore quarterback Paul Dennehy marched the team down the field and scored on a two-yard run early in the second quarter, then Muri added a field goal. New Hampshire cracked the scoring column with a field goal just before halftime, and MSU took a 10-3 lead into the locker room. The Bobcats had piled up 262 total yards in the first half, but New Hampshire's three takeaways kept the Wildcats in the game.
After a scoreless third quarter, Montana State pushed its lead to 17-3 when Tom Kostrba leaped over the pile for a one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. New Hampshire responded immediately, scoring on a 15-yard pass to draw to within 17-10.
Then, the turnover bug struck again. MSU fumbled on its second play after the Wildcats' touchdown, and UNH gave it rught back on an interception. After a Bobcat punt, New Hampshire consecutive completions of 17 and 16 yards to score, but with seven minutes remaining missed the extra point. MSU clung to a 17-16 lead.
After chewing up 40 yards and a couple of minutes the Bobcats turned the ball over on downs, but New Hampshire was unable to capitalize. The teams traded punts, and UNH took over at its own 30 with less than one minute remaining.
Chip Young deflected a UNH pass on first down, then a pair of long passes fell incomplete. With the game hanging in the balance, the Wildcats completed a short pass but it was fumbled at the New Hampshire 33, and the Bobcats had the victory.
Rick Vancleeve and Tim Nixon led the Bobcats with 11 tackles eachNixon also forced a fumble. Kostrba pummeled the Wildcats for 115 rushing yards, and Don Ueland added 90. The Bobcats rushed for 340 yards, while the Wildcat did most of their work through the air. UNH passed for 297 yards.
The win set the stage for the Bobcats to earn an even more dramatic win one week later in Fargo, and eventually capture the school's second National Championship.
BONUS: Montana State's first football victory came today in 1897, three games and 14 days into the program's varsity existence. The team traveled from Missoula at 7:45 pm after its game there on November 25, arriving in Helena at 2 am. It was transported from the train station on a bobsled "because there were no street cars running at that early hour," according to the Exponent. On Friday the team visited the Governor at the Court House, visited the U.S. Assay Office, and toured Fort Harrison. On Saturday the team practiced at the high school in the morning, then played Helena High at 3:30 pm in front of a crowd of around 250 fans. E.J. Moore scored Montana State's two touchdowns on the day (worth four points each by the rules of the day), and the Aggies had the program's first victory.
BOBCAT GAMES TODAY IN HISTORY
1976 - MSU 17, New Hampshire 16
1925 - at UM 28, MSU 7
1902 - MSU 38, UM 0
1897 - MSU 8, at Helena High 0
November 27
SPOTLIGHT: Montana State entered a new era today in 1976, when the Bobcats arrived at Reno H. Sales Stadium for the first playoff game in school history.
MSU rode the momentum from a big win over Hawaii into the NCAA Division II Playoffs, with New Hampshire awaiting on a cold (17 degrees at kickoff), clear afternoon.
Montana State's defense kept the game scoreless through a rough start for the offense. MSU turned the ball over on its first two possessions, then a fake punt went awry when Jeff Muri was tackled for a loss on the team's third drive. On MSU's next drive, the team fumbled again.Through it all, the Cats limited UNH to three first downs and 38 yards in the first quarter.
That was long enough for the Bobcat offense to get things going. Sophomore quarterback Paul Dennehy marched the team down the field and scored on a two-yard run early in the second quarter, then Muri added a field goal. New Hampshire cracked the scoring column with a field goal just before halftime, and MSU took a 10-3 lead into the locker room. The Bobcats had piled up 262 total yards in the first half, but New Hampshire's three takeaways kept the Wildcats in the game.
After a scoreless third quarter, Montana State pushed its lead to 17-3 when Tom Kostrba leaped over the pile for a one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. New Hampshire responded immediately, scoring on a 15-yard pass to draw to within 17-10.
Then, the turnover bug struck again. MSU fumbled on its second play after the Wildcats' touchdown, and UNH gave it rught back on an interception. After a Bobcat punt, New Hampshire consecutive completions of 17 and 16 yards to score, but with seven minutes remaining missed the extra point. MSU clung to a 17-16 lead.
After chewing up 40 yards and a couple of minutes the Bobcats turned the ball over on downs, but New Hampshire was unable to capitalize. The teams traded punts, and UNH took over at its own 30 with less than one minute remaining.
Chip Young deflected a UNH pass on first down, then a pair of long passes fell incomplete. With the game hanging in the balance, the Wildcats completed a short pass but it was fumbled at the New Hampshire 33, and the Bobcats had the victory.
Rick Vancleeve and Tim Nixon led the Bobcats with 11 tackles eachNixon also forced a fumble. Kostrba pummeled the Wildcats for 115 rushing yards, and Don Ueland added 90. The Bobcats rushed for 340 yards, while the Wildcat did most of their work through the air. UNH passed for 297 yards.
The win set the stage for the Bobcats to earn an even more dramatic win one week later in Fargo, and eventually capture the school's second National Championship.
BONUS: Montana State's first football victory came today in 1897, three games and 14 days into the program's varsity existence. The team traveled from Missoula at 7:45 pm after its game there on November 25, arriving in Helena at 2 am. It was transported from the train station on a bobsled "because there were no street cars running at that early hour," according to the Exponent. On Friday the team visited the Governor at the Court House, visited the U.S. Assay Office, and toured Fort Harrison. On Saturday the team practiced at the high school in the morning, then played Helena High at 3:30 pm in front of a crowd of around 250 fans. E.J. Moore scored Montana State's two touchdowns on the day (worth four points each by the rules of the day), and the Aggies had the program's first victory.
BOBCAT GAMES TODAY IN HISTORY
1976 - MSU 17, New Hampshire 16
1925 - at UM 28, MSU 7
1902 - MSU 38, UM 0
1897 - MSU 8, at Helena High 0
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