Montana State Knocks Off Weber State for Second Time in 2022

Saturday, December 3

BOZEMAN

1 P.M.

Montana State University

11-1 , 8-0

Weber State

10-3 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Weber St.

Montana St.

Jacob Kettels

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Montana State Knocks Off Weber State for Second Time in 2022

12/3/2022 8:26:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Bobcats set single-season rushing record in 33-25 victory

By: Bill Lamberty

BOZEMAN, Montana – Same song, second verse.

Montana State rushed for 388 yards and gained 554 total, six weeks after rushing for 347 yards against the Wildcats in a regular season showdown in Bozeman, to beat 10^th-ranked Weber State 33-25 in an FCS Playoffs Second Round game in Bobcat Stadium. That advances MSU (11-1 overall) to a quarterfinals matchup against fifth-seeded William & Mary at home next weekend. The Wildcats finish at 10-3, with two of the losses to MSU.

"There certainly were ebbs and flows in that game," said Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen. "Defensively we gave up the early score, then really played well for a couple quarters. Offensively we were pretty steady, but we were kicking field goals instead of (scoring) touchdowns. Obviously there were a bunch of big plays in the third quarter to open it up, and we ultimately finished but it wasn't as pretty a fourth quarter. But the end result is the end result, we got a win and we move on."

The win came in familiar fashion, with the Bobcats dominating on the ground. "It was a tough game," said Weber State coach Jay Hill. "We knew it would be. They're going to run the ball. That's what they do."

How Montana State attacked the Wildcats on Saturday, though, was different than in October. "We weren't expecting to have some of the same success as we did in the first game against them where we ran on the edges a little bit more," Vigen said. "It was an adjusted game plan, we probably ran more between the tackles today than we did the first time through. It obviously begins up front, but we have some talented guys that can touch it, and adding Isaiah helps."

Senior running back Isaiah Ifanse returned for his first game of the 2022 season on Saturday, carrying 10 times for 91 yards. Sean Chambers, a junior quarterback, rushed for 83 yards, and Elijah Elliott, a sophomore running back, gained 34. But the team's offensive catalyst remained sophomore quarterback Tommy Mellott. The Butte High product rushed for 167 yards and threw for 91.

Vigen said they key to his team's offensive success, its ability to run the ball, hinges on one element. "We've got to stay ahead of the chains offensively," he said. "We're not built to be in real long-yard situations, especially against a defense of Weber's quality. We were fortunate to get those points, those points when we were stacking up those field goals were big."

Weber State kicked a field goal on its first drive, then the Bobcats answered with a two-yard Sean Chambers touchdown run. After that, four straight Bobcat possessions ended in Blake Glessner field goals, as the Cats built a 19-10 lead in the third quarter.

Then, with 2:36 remaining in the third quarter, the Bobcats turned the game permanently in their favor. After marching to the Wildcats 28, Chambers lofted a pass to tight end Derryk Snell, who caught it for a touchdown. The Bobcats led 26-10. After a WSU punt, Chambers tossed a 47-yard touchdown pass to Willie Patterson, and MSU led 33-10. The Cats had an opportunity to put the game away after a Danny Uluilakepa interception, but Weber State answered a missed MSU field goal with a 68-yard scoring drive to draw within 33-18. And after a Bobcat three-and-out, Weber State marched 69 yards and scored on an eight-yard pass from Kylan Weisser to Hayden Meacham to draw the Wildcats within 33-25.

But they would get no closer. MSU took over with 4:42 to play, and never relinquished the ball. Chambers gained six, then seven, then three, then 14. Mellott ran for 10 to the Wildcats 30, Chambers rambled for 15 yards, then six more, then kneeled it out to end the game.

Montana State's ground game was as diverse and dynamic as it has been all year. The team's 388 rushing yards pushed it beyond the school single-season record (it's 3,971 and counting), and while Mellott and Chambers did much of the leg work, Ifanse was in the middle of the action. "I think adding Isaiah, you saw it on a few runs, he's a different guy," Vigen said. "He's so hard to bring down, he can play so low to the ground, and at the same time there's probably a little rust there. Him getting out there and having an impact was big, and closing it out with the quarterbacks like we did was big, too."

Montana State hosts William & Mary next weekend. Game date and time will be announced late Saturday or Sunday.

#GoCatsGo