Bobcats rush past Northern Colorado

Saturday, October 2

BOZEMAN

1:05 p.m.

Montana State University

4-1 , 2-0

Northern Colorado

2-3 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Colo.

Montana St.

Behind Matt McKay, the Bobcats took care of Northern Colorado.

10/2/2021 4:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Ifanse, Elliott both over 100 yards

Isaiah Ifanse rushed for 114 and a touchdown while Elijah Elliott added 107 yards, lifting Montana State to a 40-7 win over Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon.

The 12-ranked Bobcats' fourth straight win pushed them to 2-0 in the Big Sky Conference and 4-1 overall. Elliott's total was a career best for the freshman while Ifanse's yards came a week after gaining 217 at Portland State. Overall, the Bobcats totaled 276 yards on the ground and 276 more through the air, while holding UNC to 233 combined yards.

One week after trailing early at Portland State, the Bobcats put this one away in the first quarter. They jumped out to a 17-0 lead and were never challenged against the Bears (1-1 and 2-3) from Greeley, Colo.

MSU benefited from the strong foot of kicker Blake Glessner who connected on four field goals, one week after knocking three through the uprights in the win at Portland State.

The Bobcats got on the scoreboard first when quarterback Matt McKay hit Lance McCutcheon for a 16-yard score. It was MSU's opening drive, kept alive by a quarterback keeper from freshman Tommy Mellott. Moments after the score, MSU's Callahan O'Reilly made a diving interception of an errant Dylan McCaffrey pass. Again the Bobcats moved the ball, with their second drive ending on a wide receiver sweep around the left end by McCutcheon for a 10-yard score. That drive was sparked when Elliott burst through the line on a 16-yard gallop.

In front of 20,127 fans, McKay did all the passing for the Bobcats, finishing with 15 completions on 23 throws for those 276 yards. Jaden Smith caught a career high six passes and McCutcheon hauled in five for 107 yards. MSU averaged 8.5 yards per play. The Bobcats final touchdown came late in the third quarter when McKay hit a crossing Andrew Patterson for a 44-yard catch and run. It was Patterson's first career reception.

MSU's third score of the first quarter came on a 25-yard field goal by Glessner. That drive was highlighted by the quick thinking of McKay who dropped a snap, picked up the loose ball, composed himself and hit McCutcheon in the left flat. The senior from Bozeman sped down the sideline for a 48-yard gain. The first quarter stats told the whole story as MSU totaled 178 yards to UNC's 20.

Despite a long gain on a toss to Jaden Smith, a season-high reception of 42 yards for the freshman, MSU seemed to take its foot off the gas pedal in the second quarter. Glessner kicked a 30-yard field goal, but UNC was able to finally score, this one on a 7-yard throw from McCaffrey to Kassidy Woods to make it 20-7.

With time running out in the first half, McCaffrey again had the Bears on the move, but MSU's Eric Zambrano came up with a leaping interception and the Bobcats were in business with a short field with 33 seconds left. Three plays later, Ifanse dashed through the middle of the line for a 17-yard score, making it 27-7 at the half.

Ifanse finished the first half with 79 yards rushing, while McKay completed nine of 14 passes for 169 yards, connecting with Smith three times.

Glessner's three field goals were the only scores for either team in the second half. UNC almost made it into the end zone in the fourth quarter, but on fourth down from the 1-yard line, MSU's Daniel Hardy rushed McCaffrey into throwing a jump ball into the end zone where Ty Okada came up with the interception, his second of the season.

While MSU was unable to sack McCaffrey, the Bobcats did collect eight tackles for loss, led by Troy Andersen with three. Andersen didn't play in the second half, but his replacement, freshman Danny Uluilakepa, finished second with nine tackles. Okada led all players with 10 tackles, including two for losses.

The Bobcats are home again Oct. 9 when Cal Poly comes to Bozeman for Homecoming.