Treyton Pickering caught a scoring pass on Saturday against Cal Poly.
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Bobcats wear down Cal Poly
10/9/2021 5:42:00 PM | Football, General
Four interceptions spark defense
Paced by an opportunistic defense and an offense that controlled the clock, Montana State methodically wore down visiting Cal Poly on Homecoming Saturday, 45-7.
After a steady rain most of the night before, the skies cleared and the sun came out by game time as the Bobcats snagged four interceptions, including one returned 39 yards for a touchdown by Callahan O'Reilly in the third quarter. MSU's first pick of the game was by Tyrel Thomas, seeing his first action of the season due to injuries. In front of 19,847 fans, Thomas was in the right place when fellow defensive back Jeffrey Manning Jr. leveled a Cal Poly receiver to pop the ball into the waiting hands of Thomas. At that point, MSU led 7-0 as the first quarter ended. On the first play of the second quarter, Isaiah Ifanse took a handoff 7 yards to make it 14-0 and the 11th-ranked Bobcats were never challenged again.
The Bobcats picked up 266 yards on the ground and 175 through the air. The ground game gave MSU an edge in time of possession 35:19 to 24:41. Eight different Bobcats carried the ball led, by Ifanse's 13 carries for 58 yards.
MSU's third touchdown followed an interception by Manning Jr. A 40-yard pass from Matt McKay to Lance McCutcheon after Manning's pick led to a 1-yard score by Ifanse, this time on a direct snap in wildcat formation.
Moments after the Bobcats forced the Mustangs (1-5 overall, 0-3 Big Sky Conference) to punt for the fourth time in the first half, MSU went back to the wildcat formation, this time with Tommy Mellott taking the direct snap. The freshman from Butte galloped 74 yards to put MSU (5-1, 3-0) ahead 28-0.
A shovel pass from McKay to Ifanse just before halftime that covered 12 yards gave MSU a 35-0 lead at the break. MSU totaled 298 yards in the first half to 131 for Cal Poly.
O'Reilly's pick-six was the only MSU touchdown of the second half. In the fourth quarter Blake Glessner closed out the scoring with a 46-yard field goal. The Bobcats first touchdown came in the opening quarter on a 9-yard pass from McKay to Treyton Pickering, who was McKay's favorite receiver with four catches on the day.
MSU's final interception came in the fourth quarter when Tadan Gilman wrestled the ball away from the Cal Poly receiver stopping a potential Mustang touchdown. Webb led MSU with seven tackles and Ty Okada added six.
The Bobcats continue Big Sky play at Weber State (1-1, 2-3) on Friday before returning home against Idaho State on Oct. 23. Cal Poly has a week off before playing host to Cal-Davis.
After a steady rain most of the night before, the skies cleared and the sun came out by game time as the Bobcats snagged four interceptions, including one returned 39 yards for a touchdown by Callahan O'Reilly in the third quarter. MSU's first pick of the game was by Tyrel Thomas, seeing his first action of the season due to injuries. In front of 19,847 fans, Thomas was in the right place when fellow defensive back Jeffrey Manning Jr. leveled a Cal Poly receiver to pop the ball into the waiting hands of Thomas. At that point, MSU led 7-0 as the first quarter ended. On the first play of the second quarter, Isaiah Ifanse took a handoff 7 yards to make it 14-0 and the 11th-ranked Bobcats were never challenged again.
The Bobcats picked up 266 yards on the ground and 175 through the air. The ground game gave MSU an edge in time of possession 35:19 to 24:41. Eight different Bobcats carried the ball led, by Ifanse's 13 carries for 58 yards.
MSU's third touchdown followed an interception by Manning Jr. A 40-yard pass from Matt McKay to Lance McCutcheon after Manning's pick led to a 1-yard score by Ifanse, this time on a direct snap in wildcat formation.
Moments after the Bobcats forced the Mustangs (1-5 overall, 0-3 Big Sky Conference) to punt for the fourth time in the first half, MSU went back to the wildcat formation, this time with Tommy Mellott taking the direct snap. The freshman from Butte galloped 74 yards to put MSU (5-1, 3-0) ahead 28-0.
A shovel pass from McKay to Ifanse just before halftime that covered 12 yards gave MSU a 35-0 lead at the break. MSU totaled 298 yards in the first half to 131 for Cal Poly.
O'Reilly's pick-six was the only MSU touchdown of the second half. In the fourth quarter Blake Glessner closed out the scoring with a 46-yard field goal. The Bobcats first touchdown came in the opening quarter on a 9-yard pass from McKay to Treyton Pickering, who was McKay's favorite receiver with four catches on the day.
MSU's final interception came in the fourth quarter when Tadan Gilman wrestled the ball away from the Cal Poly receiver stopping a potential Mustang touchdown. Webb led MSU with seven tackles and Ty Okada added six.
The Bobcats continue Big Sky play at Weber State (1-1, 2-3) on Friday before returning home against Idaho State on Oct. 23. Cal Poly has a week off before playing host to Cal-Davis.
Players Mentioned
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