Lane Sumner sparked the Bobcats on Saturday.
Photo by: Colter Peterson
Bobcats are golden in season opener
9/3/2022 9:28:00 PM | Football
Sumner gains 176 yards on the ground
After a cool first half, Montana State turned on the heat in the second half, pulling away from visiting McNeese State for a one-sided 40-17 win on Saturday night.
The game served as the season opener for both teams. Sold out Bobcat Stadium was a sea of gold for the annual Gold Rush contest in front of 21,687 fans on a day that reached 98 degrees in Bozeman. The Bobcats last played in January for the national championship while the Cowboys finished 4-7 in 2021.
The Bobcats were sparked by the running of Lane Sumner who bobbed and weaved his way to 176 yards. The junior from Huntley never reached the end zone, but his 24 carries set up several MSU touchdowns. MSU's fourth touchdown actually came about when Sumner hauled in a pass from Tommy Mellott over the middle that gained 50 yards. Mellott, who wore No. 4 after sporting No. 16 a season ago, hit graduate transfer Ravi Alston on an 8-yarder that made it 33-10 just as the third quarter ended.
In the fourth quarter, Callahan O'Reilly came up with his second interception for MSU, setting up the game's final score, a 17-yard scamper by Mellott himself. Mellott was 11 of 19 throwing the ball for 182 yards and the two touchdowns. His favorite receivers were Alston and Willie Patterson with three catches each for 48 and 45 yards, respectively.
The Bobcats got on the scoreboard first as Wyoming transfer quarter Sean Chambers opened the second quarter with a 3-yard burst up the middle. On the very next play, D'Angelo Durham went 75 yards for McNeese State to tie the game. The teams swapped field goals before Mellott hit Patterson on a 17-yard pass to give MSU a 17-10 advantage at the half.
The Bobcats rolled up 541 total yards to McNeese State's 303, but penalties hurt them more than once. An early 52-yard touchdown run by Sumner was called back due to a penalty and O'Reilly's first of his two interceptions was negated by a yellow flag. The two teams played in the playoffs in 2002 with McNeese State winning at home in Lake Charles, Louisiana. For this game the Bobcats wore gold jerseys with white pants and the Cowboys donned matching white jerseys with gold pants.
Blake Glessner's second field goal gave the Bobcats a 20-10 to open the second half scoring and another short run by Chambers gave MSU a 26-10 advantage. A late McNeese State touchdown following Alston's score cut the lead to 26-17.
The defense was sparked by O'Reilly's two interceptions and four quarterback sacks from the front line of Blake Schmidt, Sebastian Valdez and Ben Seymour.
The Bobcats are home again on Sept. 10 against Morehead State while McNeese State travels to Rice.
The game served as the season opener for both teams. Sold out Bobcat Stadium was a sea of gold for the annual Gold Rush contest in front of 21,687 fans on a day that reached 98 degrees in Bozeman. The Bobcats last played in January for the national championship while the Cowboys finished 4-7 in 2021.
The Bobcats were sparked by the running of Lane Sumner who bobbed and weaved his way to 176 yards. The junior from Huntley never reached the end zone, but his 24 carries set up several MSU touchdowns. MSU's fourth touchdown actually came about when Sumner hauled in a pass from Tommy Mellott over the middle that gained 50 yards. Mellott, who wore No. 4 after sporting No. 16 a season ago, hit graduate transfer Ravi Alston on an 8-yarder that made it 33-10 just as the third quarter ended.
In the fourth quarter, Callahan O'Reilly came up with his second interception for MSU, setting up the game's final score, a 17-yard scamper by Mellott himself. Mellott was 11 of 19 throwing the ball for 182 yards and the two touchdowns. His favorite receivers were Alston and Willie Patterson with three catches each for 48 and 45 yards, respectively.
The Bobcats got on the scoreboard first as Wyoming transfer quarter Sean Chambers opened the second quarter with a 3-yard burst up the middle. On the very next play, D'Angelo Durham went 75 yards for McNeese State to tie the game. The teams swapped field goals before Mellott hit Patterson on a 17-yard pass to give MSU a 17-10 advantage at the half.
The Bobcats rolled up 541 total yards to McNeese State's 303, but penalties hurt them more than once. An early 52-yard touchdown run by Sumner was called back due to a penalty and O'Reilly's first of his two interceptions was negated by a yellow flag. The two teams played in the playoffs in 2002 with McNeese State winning at home in Lake Charles, Louisiana. For this game the Bobcats wore gold jerseys with white pants and the Cowboys donned matching white jerseys with gold pants.
Blake Glessner's second field goal gave the Bobcats a 20-10 to open the second half scoring and another short run by Chambers gave MSU a 26-10 advantage. A late McNeese State touchdown following Alston's score cut the lead to 26-17.
The defense was sparked by O'Reilly's two interceptions and four quarterback sacks from the front line of Blake Schmidt, Sebastian Valdez and Ben Seymour.
The Bobcats are home again on Sept. 10 against Morehead State while McNeese State travels to Rice.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
K
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DT
/ FootballLeon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
