Taco Dowler catches a pass on Saturday against North Dakota State.
Photo by: Garrett Becker
NDSU ends Bobcats' season
12/2/2023 4:56:00 PM | Football, General
Tommy Mellott accounted for 355 total yards and four touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as North Dakota State defeated Montana State 35-34 in overtime on Saturday in Bozeman in the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs.
NDSU tied the game late in the fourth quarter to set up the overtime showdown. The Bison (10-3) took the football first in the extra stanza. A 3-yard score by Cam Miller made the score 35-28. On the Bobcats (8-4) first chance with the ball, Scottre Humphrey dashed untouched 25 yards to cut the lead to 35-34. On the ensuing extra point attempt to tie the game, Hunter Poncius, a 6-foot-8, 315 pound defensive lineman for NDSU, put up his huge hand to block the kick and end MSU's season.
The Bobcats opened the scoring in the first quarter when Mellott hit Ty McCullouch on a 34-yard touchdown pass. The score came after MSU missed field goals on its first two possessions.
In the second quarter, NDSU took the lead 14-7 on a short touchdown pass from Miller to Zach Mathis and then TaMerik Williams' 44-yard scoring dash. But before the half came to a finish, Mellott ran in from 6 yards to make it 14-all after two quarters.
Williams led all runners with 162 yards, including his 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter. On MSU's second play of the third quarter, Mellott and the Bobcats responded when the quarterback went 76 yards to tie the game at 21.
Mellott finished with 151 yards rushing and 204 yards passing with 13 completions in 17 attempts. Midway through the third quarter, Mellott found Clevan Thomas with a 9-yard score giving the Bobcats a 28-21 lead. The score stayed that way until TK Marshall's game-tying 29-yard sprint late in the fourth quarter which set up the overtime.
Mellott was forced to leave the game with a leg injury as the Bobcats looked to be driving for the winning score in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. That final drive ended with a punt.
Mellott, a junior, now has 2,467 career rushing yards, which puts him sixth on the all-time MSU list. He also has 28 career touchdowns, which is also good for sixth place on that career list.
Since the FCS/I-AA playoffs started, NDSU is now 46-4 alltime and has beaten the Bobcats five straight times, including the 2021 national championship. The outcome ended MSU's home win streak at 26 consecutive victories. Next up for NDSU is a game this coming week at South Dakota while the Bobcats' season comes to an end.
Working behind a makeshift offensive line with Jacob Kettles filling in for an injured Rush Reimer, the Bobcats collected 509 total yards while averaging 8.6 yards per play. MSU totaled 279 yards rushing as Humphrey collected 77 yards on the ground. MSU also finished with 230 yards passing. McCullouch was the team's leading receiver with four catches for 92 yards and the score.
Led by Danny Uliulakepa's 11 tackles and Nolan Askelson's two sacks, the Bobcats held NDSU to 374 yards.
NDSU tied the game late in the fourth quarter to set up the overtime showdown. The Bison (10-3) took the football first in the extra stanza. A 3-yard score by Cam Miller made the score 35-28. On the Bobcats (8-4) first chance with the ball, Scottre Humphrey dashed untouched 25 yards to cut the lead to 35-34. On the ensuing extra point attempt to tie the game, Hunter Poncius, a 6-foot-8, 315 pound defensive lineman for NDSU, put up his huge hand to block the kick and end MSU's season.
The Bobcats opened the scoring in the first quarter when Mellott hit Ty McCullouch on a 34-yard touchdown pass. The score came after MSU missed field goals on its first two possessions.
In the second quarter, NDSU took the lead 14-7 on a short touchdown pass from Miller to Zach Mathis and then TaMerik Williams' 44-yard scoring dash. But before the half came to a finish, Mellott ran in from 6 yards to make it 14-all after two quarters.
Williams led all runners with 162 yards, including his 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter. On MSU's second play of the third quarter, Mellott and the Bobcats responded when the quarterback went 76 yards to tie the game at 21.
Mellott finished with 151 yards rushing and 204 yards passing with 13 completions in 17 attempts. Midway through the third quarter, Mellott found Clevan Thomas with a 9-yard score giving the Bobcats a 28-21 lead. The score stayed that way until TK Marshall's game-tying 29-yard sprint late in the fourth quarter which set up the overtime.
Mellott was forced to leave the game with a leg injury as the Bobcats looked to be driving for the winning score in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. That final drive ended with a punt.
Mellott, a junior, now has 2,467 career rushing yards, which puts him sixth on the all-time MSU list. He also has 28 career touchdowns, which is also good for sixth place on that career list.
Since the FCS/I-AA playoffs started, NDSU is now 46-4 alltime and has beaten the Bobcats five straight times, including the 2021 national championship. The outcome ended MSU's home win streak at 26 consecutive victories. Next up for NDSU is a game this coming week at South Dakota while the Bobcats' season comes to an end.
Working behind a makeshift offensive line with Jacob Kettles filling in for an injured Rush Reimer, the Bobcats collected 509 total yards while averaging 8.6 yards per play. MSU totaled 279 yards rushing as Humphrey collected 77 yards on the ground. MSU also finished with 230 yards passing. McCullouch was the team's leading receiver with four catches for 92 yards and the score.
Led by Danny Uliulakepa's 11 tackles and Nolan Askelson's two sacks, the Bobcats held NDSU to 374 yards.
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