Saturday, November 6
Cheney, WA
2 p.m.
Montana State University
8-1 , 6-0
23
at
20
Eastern Washington
7-2 , 4-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Montana St.
7
9
0
7
23
Eastern Wash.
13
0
0
7
20
Isaiah Ifanse
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Bobcats Power Past Eastern Washington Using Big Plays, Stifling Defense
11/6/2021 9:55:00 PM | Football
Isaiah Ifanse rambles for 217 yards and MSU holds Eagles well below offensive averages
CHENEY, Washington - Isaiah Ifanse continued to make history with his legs and Montana State's defense held the most explosive offense in the FCS to 20 points, 17 first downs and 314 total yards in the Bobcats' 23-20 win at Eastern Washington on Saturday.
Ifanse rambled for 217 yards, his second 200-yard rushing game this season and his third as a Bobcat. His 14th career 100-yard rushing game is fifth in school history. He gained at least 40 yards in each of the first three quarters, then at closing time in the fourth he gashed the Eagles for 75 yards. The sensational junior gained three more yards on the ground than EWU quarterback Eric Barriere, who many consider the Payton Trophy frontrunner, accumulated through the air.
Montana State's defense held the Eagles to 314 yards, the EWU's lowest total of the season by 123 yards, and 20 points, 14 points less than it scored in any previous 2021 game. Eastern led 13-7 with 164 total yards after the first quarter, but scored only seven points with 150 total yards from that point forward.
The Bobcats accumulated yards in the first half, but missed on a pair of scoring opportunities. After the Cats moved inside the Eagles 10, Blake Glessner missed just his fourth field goal of the year from 27 yards. Then with 3:43 to play in the first half, Matthew McKay fired just behind Lance McCutcheon on a fourth-down conversion attempt. On the second play of the ensuing possession, though, Eastern was flagged for a holding penalty in the end zone. That gave the Bobcats a 16-13 lead they took into the intermission.
Ifanse's big first half fueled the MSU offense. The junior rushed 98 yards, pushing him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. McKay ran for 74 yards in the first half, including a 56-yard touchdown that opened the scoring. He also threw for 164 yards in the first two quarters as well, including a 67-yard touchdown catch by Lance McCutcheon. The catch was brilliant, and he broke three tackles on his way to the end zone.
The Cats produced more of the same to open the second half, marching 38 yards in 6:08 before an interception stalled the drive. MSU's defense forced two straight three-and-outs, and after the Eagles advanced into Bobcat territory at the end of the third quarter Eastern pinned the Bobcats at their own five-yard line. The set the stage for the most dramatic Bobcat drive of the season.
On first down, with 11:43 to play, McKay found Lance McCutcheon in front of the Bobcat bench, and the sensational pitch-and-catch resulted in 52 yards. On the next play, Ifanse tore through Eastern's front seven, applied a savage stiff-arm, and scored on a 43-yard touchdown run. Two plays, 95 yards, one back-breaking touchdown.
Even what appeared to be a disastrous mistake on MSU's next possession couldn't stem the Blue and Gold tide. McKay fumbled near midfield and Eastern recovered at the Bobcat 45. The Eagles capitalized, scoring five plays later to draw within 23-20. But the mistake didn't matter. MSU moved from its own 21 to the 41, then Bryce Leighton punted out of bounds at the Eastern Washington three. Outstanding defensive plays by Callahan O'Reilly, Troy Andersen and Sebastian Valdez forced the Eagles to punt, and MSU never returned the favor.
The win was Montana State's first over Eastern Washington since 2011, and was only the third Bobcat victory ever in Cheney (along with 1990 and 2011). The team's eight wins ties Brent Vigen for the most of any first-year MSU coach (with Herb Agocs in 1958 and Sonny Lubick in 1978).
Montana State is now 8-1 this season, 6-0 in the Big Sky and tied atop the conference with Sacramento State. Eastern Washington falls to 7-2 overall after its second consecutive loss, and 4-2 in the league.
#GoCatsGo
Ifanse rambled for 217 yards, his second 200-yard rushing game this season and his third as a Bobcat. His 14th career 100-yard rushing game is fifth in school history. He gained at least 40 yards in each of the first three quarters, then at closing time in the fourth he gashed the Eagles for 75 yards. The sensational junior gained three more yards on the ground than EWU quarterback Eric Barriere, who many consider the Payton Trophy frontrunner, accumulated through the air.
Montana State's defense held the Eagles to 314 yards, the EWU's lowest total of the season by 123 yards, and 20 points, 14 points less than it scored in any previous 2021 game. Eastern led 13-7 with 164 total yards after the first quarter, but scored only seven points with 150 total yards from that point forward.
The Bobcats accumulated yards in the first half, but missed on a pair of scoring opportunities. After the Cats moved inside the Eagles 10, Blake Glessner missed just his fourth field goal of the year from 27 yards. Then with 3:43 to play in the first half, Matthew McKay fired just behind Lance McCutcheon on a fourth-down conversion attempt. On the second play of the ensuing possession, though, Eastern was flagged for a holding penalty in the end zone. That gave the Bobcats a 16-13 lead they took into the intermission.
Ifanse's big first half fueled the MSU offense. The junior rushed 98 yards, pushing him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. McKay ran for 74 yards in the first half, including a 56-yard touchdown that opened the scoring. He also threw for 164 yards in the first two quarters as well, including a 67-yard touchdown catch by Lance McCutcheon. The catch was brilliant, and he broke three tackles on his way to the end zone.
The Cats produced more of the same to open the second half, marching 38 yards in 6:08 before an interception stalled the drive. MSU's defense forced two straight three-and-outs, and after the Eagles advanced into Bobcat territory at the end of the third quarter Eastern pinned the Bobcats at their own five-yard line. The set the stage for the most dramatic Bobcat drive of the season.
On first down, with 11:43 to play, McKay found Lance McCutcheon in front of the Bobcat bench, and the sensational pitch-and-catch resulted in 52 yards. On the next play, Ifanse tore through Eastern's front seven, applied a savage stiff-arm, and scored on a 43-yard touchdown run. Two plays, 95 yards, one back-breaking touchdown.
Even what appeared to be a disastrous mistake on MSU's next possession couldn't stem the Blue and Gold tide. McKay fumbled near midfield and Eastern recovered at the Bobcat 45. The Eagles capitalized, scoring five plays later to draw within 23-20. But the mistake didn't matter. MSU moved from its own 21 to the 41, then Bryce Leighton punted out of bounds at the Eastern Washington three. Outstanding defensive plays by Callahan O'Reilly, Troy Andersen and Sebastian Valdez forced the Eagles to punt, and MSU never returned the favor.
The win was Montana State's first over Eastern Washington since 2011, and was only the third Bobcat victory ever in Cheney (along with 1990 and 2011). The team's eight wins ties Brent Vigen for the most of any first-year MSU coach (with Herb Agocs in 1958 and Sonny Lubick in 1978).
Montana State is now 8-1 this season, 6-0 in the Big Sky and tied atop the conference with Sacramento State. Eastern Washington falls to 7-2 overall after its second consecutive loss, and 4-2 in the league.
#GoCatsGo
Team Stats
MSU
EWU
Total Yards
544
314
Pass Yards
253
214
Rushing Yards
291
100
Penalty Yards
65
42
1st Downs
26
17
3rd Downs
6
3
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
36:16
23:44
1st Quarter
MSU 7, EWU 0
MSU - McKay,Matthew 56 yd run (Glessner,Blake kick), 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:16
MSU 7, EWU 6
EWU - Roberson,Freddie 19 yd pass from Barriere,Eric () 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:30
MSU 7, EWU 13
EWU - Limu-Jones,Talolo 18 yd pass from Barriere,Eric (Cleaver,Jackson kick) 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 02:34
2nd Quarter
MSU 14, EWU 13
MSU - McCutcheon,Lance 67 yd pass from McKay,Matthew (Glessner,Blake kick) 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:18
MSU 16, EWU 13
MSU - 0 yd safety
4th Quarter
MSU 23, EWU 13
MSU - Ifanse,Isaiah 43 yd run (Glessner,Blake kick), 2 plays, 95 yards, TOP 00:24
MSU 23, EWU 20
EWU - Merritt,Dennis 1 yd run (Cleaver,Jackson kick), 5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 01:33
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
P
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
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