Montana State University
1-0 , 0-0
McNeese State
0-1 , 0-0
Montana State Warms Up Late to Topple McNeese 40-17
9/3/2022 11:59:00 PM | Football
MSU defense cools down Cowboys on scorching hot night
As sundown neared, and the temperatures cooled, it was Montana State's offense that had warmed. The Cats outscored McNeese 16-0 and gained 172 yards in the third quarter to turn a 17-10 halftime lead into a comfortable 33-10 advantage and never looked back. MSU beat its Southland Conference foe 40-17.
"I think (the heat affected) both teams," said Montana State coach Brent Vigen. "We tried to press them offensively. At times it worked in our favor, at times we might have been tired. I thought it affected both teams."
Montana State rushed for 359 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Making his first start since 2019, Lane Sumner rambled for 176 yards, while freshman Jared White gained 89 in his Bobcat debut. Mellott also completed 11 of his 19 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
"All credit goes to the boys up front," Sumner said. "They made it easy on me tonight."
While acknowledging that the third quarter was decisive, Vigen said the game changed late in the second quarter. "I think we grabbed the momentum at the end of the first half. That middle portion of the game is so important. I thought the momentum we created at the end of the first half was huge."
The key moment came with about one minute to play before halftime and MSU facing a fourth-and-one at the Cowboys 18. Sumner crashed through the line to pick up the needed yard, and two plays later Mellott found Willie Patterson for a 17-yard touchdown. Blake Glessner's 42-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half gave MSU 10 straight points and a 20-10 lead.
The Bobcats held McNeese to 303 yards, more than half of which came on three big plays. Cowboys quarterback Knox Kadum connected with Josh Matthews on a 70-yard touchdown, and D'Angelo Durham rambled 75 yards for a rushing touchdown. There were also two 31-yard runs.
At the end of the day, Montana State began the 2022 season with a victory, extended its home win streak to 13, and sent a Gold Rush crowd of 21,687 home happy.
The Bobcats host Morehead State on Saturday, September 10, at 1:30 pm.
#GoCatsGo
Team Stats
MCN 0, MSU 7
MSU - Chambers,Sean 3 yd run (Glessner,Blake kick), 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 04:28
MCN 7, MSU 7
MCN - Durham,D'Angelo 75 yd run (Smith,Garrison kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:11
MCN 7, MSU 10
MSU - Glessner,Blake 36 yd field goal 8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 03:24
MCN 10, MSU 10
MCN - Smith,Garrison 18 yd field goal 9 plays, 74 yards, TOP 04:38
MCN 10, MSU 17
MSU - Patterson,Willie 17 yd pass from Mellott,Tommy (Glessner,Blake kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:01
MCN 10, MSU 20
MSU - Glessner,Blake 42 yd field goal 7 plays, 51 yards, TOP 03:38
MCN 10, MSU 26
MSU - Chambers,Sean 4 yd run (), 7 plays, 53 yards, TOP 02:09
MCN 10, MSU 33
MSU - Alston,Ravi 8 yd pass from Mellott,Tommy (Glessner,Blake kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:53
MCN 17, MSU 33
MCN - Matthews,Josh 66 yd pass from Kadum,Knox (Smith,Garrison kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:50
MCN 17, MSU 40
MSU - Mellott,Tommy 17 yd run (Glessner,Blake kick), 3 plays, 43 yards, TOP 01:17
