Isaiah Ifanse carries against Austin Peay
Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT CALENDAR: Using a stifling defensive effort, Montana State upended a strong Austin Peay team one year ago
12/13/2020 9:54:00 AM | Football
MSU's defense smothered the Governors long enough for the Bobcat offense to build a comfortable lead
A day-by-day look at Bobcat football history...
December 13
SPOTLIGHT: The FCS Playoffs can create interesting matchups, and that was certainly the case when Austin Peay State visited Montana State a year ago tonight for a quarterfinal contest.
Fresh off an impressive road win over Big Sky champion Sacramento State, Austin Peay rode an 11-3 record and a domineering defense into Bobcat Stadium last December 13. But the Bobcats had also found a groove in its previous outing, a surprisingly comfortable win against UAlbany. MSU's dynamic, multiple offense faced another stern test on this night, and it responded immediately.
On the third play of the game, quarterback Tucker Rovig handed the ball to Isaiah Ifanse on a third-and-one. The sophomore running back burst through the line and raced 60 yards for a touchdown, a lightning strike that energized the crowd of more than 14,000.
Just as significantly, the Bobcat defense showed it was ready to roll. On APSU's first drive, the Bobcats forced three incompletions by Governors quarterback JaVaughn Craig in a three-and-out possession. On APSU's next drive, following an MSU fumble, the Cats stepped up again with another three-and-out.
The Bobcats tacked on to its lead late in the first quarter when Tristan Bailey nailed a 45-yard field goal, but the MSU defense continued to exert its control of the game. Austin Peay gained just one yard and no first downs in the first quarter, and even after a second quarter field goal had just 63 yards and three first downs at halftime.
As the Bobcats struck early in the first quarter, so put the game in a headlock early in the second half. Brayden Konkol intercepted a pass on APSU's second play of the third quarter, and Rovig found Kevin Kassis in the end zone a couple of minutes later to give MSU a 17-3 lead. On MSU's next drive Ifanse flipped a short pass to defensive lineman Jason Scrempos in the end zone, and it was all over but the shouting.
And what glorious shouting there was an hour or so later, when the Cats had drained the clock on a 24-10 win that sent the team further in the post-season since the 1984 National Championship. Montana State's students swept across Bobcat Stadium's field, jumping and dancing and finding players on the team that they knew from class or their hometown or whatever just to celebrate with. It was joyous.
Ifanse ended up with 196 yards rushing and two yards passing, accounting for touchdowns each way. In the last games in Bobcat Stadium during their tremendous careers, Logan Jones rushed for 59 yards and Kevin Kassis caught four passes for 24 yards, Derek Marks had five tackles and a forced fumble and Brayden Konkol's interception helped seal the game.
The win was Montana State's 11th of the season, tied for the second-highest total in school history.
TODAY IN BOBCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY
2019 - #5 MSU 24, #14 Austin Peay 10
December 13
SPOTLIGHT: The FCS Playoffs can create interesting matchups, and that was certainly the case when Austin Peay State visited Montana State a year ago tonight for a quarterfinal contest.
Fresh off an impressive road win over Big Sky champion Sacramento State, Austin Peay rode an 11-3 record and a domineering defense into Bobcat Stadium last December 13. But the Bobcats had also found a groove in its previous outing, a surprisingly comfortable win against UAlbany. MSU's dynamic, multiple offense faced another stern test on this night, and it responded immediately.
On the third play of the game, quarterback Tucker Rovig handed the ball to Isaiah Ifanse on a third-and-one. The sophomore running back burst through the line and raced 60 yards for a touchdown, a lightning strike that energized the crowd of more than 14,000.
Just as significantly, the Bobcat defense showed it was ready to roll. On APSU's first drive, the Bobcats forced three incompletions by Governors quarterback JaVaughn Craig in a three-and-out possession. On APSU's next drive, following an MSU fumble, the Cats stepped up again with another three-and-out.
The Bobcats tacked on to its lead late in the first quarter when Tristan Bailey nailed a 45-yard field goal, but the MSU defense continued to exert its control of the game. Austin Peay gained just one yard and no first downs in the first quarter, and even after a second quarter field goal had just 63 yards and three first downs at halftime.
As the Bobcats struck early in the first quarter, so put the game in a headlock early in the second half. Brayden Konkol intercepted a pass on APSU's second play of the third quarter, and Rovig found Kevin Kassis in the end zone a couple of minutes later to give MSU a 17-3 lead. On MSU's next drive Ifanse flipped a short pass to defensive lineman Jason Scrempos in the end zone, and it was all over but the shouting.
And what glorious shouting there was an hour or so later, when the Cats had drained the clock on a 24-10 win that sent the team further in the post-season since the 1984 National Championship. Montana State's students swept across Bobcat Stadium's field, jumping and dancing and finding players on the team that they knew from class or their hometown or whatever just to celebrate with. It was joyous.
Ifanse ended up with 196 yards rushing and two yards passing, accounting for touchdowns each way. In the last games in Bobcat Stadium during their tremendous careers, Logan Jones rushed for 59 yards and Kevin Kassis caught four passes for 24 yards, Derek Marks had five tackles and a forced fumble and Brayden Konkol's interception helped seal the game.
The win was Montana State's 11th of the season, tied for the second-highest total in school history.
TODAY IN BOBCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY
2019 - #5 MSU 24, #14 Austin Peay 10
Players Mentioned
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