MSU Offense, Defense Each Show Well in Only Preseason Football Scrimmage

Photo by: Garrett Becker

MSU Offense, Defense Each Show Well in Only Preseason Football Scrimmage

8/20/2022 8:21:00 PM | Football

Ground game rushes for 268 yards

By: Bill Lamberty

BOZEMAN, Montana - Montana State staged its only life scrimmage of the preseason Saturday, and second-year coach Brent Vigen found plenty to like on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

The Bobcats rushed for 268 yards on 56 carries and threw for 376 yards on 19-for-35 passing with four touchdowns and one interception. Tommy Mellott accounted for 206 yards passing (12-19-1, 2 TD), Jared White rushed for 84 yards, and Marqui Johnson had 79 receiving yards.

"We were probably just shy of 100 plays on offense, defense and throw in special teams," said second-year head coach Brent Vigen, "and for us today it was gonna be big to continue to sort out our depth. On offense in particular that's up front and a little bit in the receiver corps, and running backs, we're looking at that position, too. Defensively there are a lot of spots up for grabs as far as won's going to be in rotations."

Montana State's defense made several big plays, particularly early. James Campbell intercepted a pass. Vigen, though, gave a slight edge to the offense. "The first impression, I think, is the offense maybe had a slightly better day than the defense, but that's always tricky (to identify) when you're walking off the field. I thought our running backs ran hard today, we had some guys make plays on the perimeter, and I think the offensive line I would suggest probably did alright today."

Sophomore receiver Marqui Johnson had one of the day's marquee moments, turning a quick pass over the middle into a long gain with a high degree of difficulty. "Marqui Johnson is a guy we haven't talked about much but he took a short pass in the flat, made a defender miss, lost his shoe, and before you knew it had covered a lot of ground," Vigen said. "I don't think he scored but he ran pretty far without a shoe on so that was good to see."

Running back Kaegun Williams didn't participate on Saturday, but the 268 total rushing yards is a testimony to that group's depth and talent, Vigen said. "Lane Sumner, Elijah Elliott and Jared White got the carries today. I thought all three of them in their own right did a good job. It'll be important that we sort through that because we've talked about running back by committee, that we're going to be in that for a while, and Kaegun obviously will figure into that. But those other three are really going out and competing and getting a lot of opportunities today was a big part of what we're trying to accomplish."

Vigen was pleased by Campbell's interception. The senior has been a valuable component of the defense when healthy the past two seasons. "It's been great to get James Campbell back healthy. James played early last year, started early and played well. He came back (late in the season) and wasn't quite himself, but James has reestablished himself."

Vigen also praised the defense's overall play. "Defensively I know we turned them over I think a couple times, and I think got after the quarterback. The quarterbacks weren't live, so that's a little bit tricky as well. And then on special teams our specialists did a good job today."

Montana State remains in camp mode on Monday and Tuesday, takes Wednesday - the first day of classes at MSU - off, then settles into preparation for the Gold Rush Game against McNeese State on September 3.

RUSHING LEADERS: Elijah Elliott 17-64-1, Jared White 13-74-0, Lane Sumner 8-25-0.
PASSING: Tommy Mellott 12-19-1, 206, 2 TD; Sean Austion 6-12-0, 183, 1 TD.
RECEIVING: Marqui Johnson 2-79-0; Derryk Snell 2-71-1, Ravi Alston 2-31-0.

INT by James Campbell

SCORING SUMMARY
Blake Glessner 24 field goal
Clevan Thomas Jr. 9 yards from Tommy Mellott
Safety
Sean Austin 1 yard run
Elijah Elliott 2 yard run
RJ Fitzgerald 1 yard run
RJ Fitzgerald 9 yard pass from Sean Austin
Derryk Snell 55 yard pass from Tommy Mellott
Blake Glessner 43 field goal
Aidan Garrigan 17 yard pass from Tomy Mellott (White from Mellott)

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