Julius Davis
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME #3: Bobcats Host Stetson Saturday in MSU's Final Non-Conference Tune-Up
9/14/2023 12:15:00 PM | Football
Montana State looks for bounce-back against Pioneer League foe
BOZEMAN, Montana – In the wave of two arms on the northern Great Plains Saturday, with night crashing in, Montana State's football team watched as a historic upset turned into a devastating loss. An apparent game-winning pass from Sean Chambers to Clevan Thomas Jr. was overturned, and No. 1 South Dakota State escaped with a 20-16 win over the third-ranked Bobcats in an epic early-season showdown.
By Monday, Brent Vigen's message was clear and direct. "There's no moral victories in coming up close there, absolutely none," he said. "We are 1-1, and that's the fact of the matter. We've got to find a way to look at the things critically that didn't go our way and improve upon them."
The team's next public opportunity for that arrives Saturday, when the Bobcats host 2-0 Stetson in Bobcat Stadium. Kickoff is 1 pm.
"Stetson is a 2-0 team out of the Pioneer League, far from the accolades of a South Dakota State but it's the team that's in front of us next," Vigen said. "You watch their two games and they're aggressive. The play a 3-3-5 defense that's very aggressive in nature, and offensively it's a team that's very explosive. We have to put our best foot forward and as we prepare to come out of non-conference play we have to be better."
The Hatters beat St. Thomas (Florida) 34-33 in overtime to open the season, then dropped Webber International 38-28 a week ago. Kaderris Roberts has rushed for 197 yards in two games, averaging 6.0 yards a carry with three touchdowns. Receiver Nazeviah Burris' seven catches pace the team. He has 187 yards and one touchdown catch. The Hatters have played four different quarterbacks, with Trynity Conway, Matt O'Connor, Jason Riedy and Brady Meitz each competing in one contest.
Defensively, Nicholas Lerew's 26 tackles leads the Hatters, while Diego Davis – last week's Pioneer Football League Player of the Week – has 22. Davis also leads the team in tackles-for-loss (4.0) and sacks (2.0), while Jaylon Johnson and David Stubbs each has an interception.
The Bobcats overcame adversity to put itself in position for a defining victory on Saturday night in Brookings. Playing without starting quarterback Tommy Mellott during the fourth quarter and missing two starting receivers (Ty McCullouch, Lonyatta Alexander Jr.) and starting cornerback Miles Jackson, the Cats led 16-13 with 2:04 to play. The Jackrabbits struck with a two-play touchdown drive covering 75 yards to MSU its opportunity. The Cats rushed for 211 yards, and through two games lead the FCS with 306.0 rushing yards per game and completed nine of its 15 passes. The team's only turnover, though, was a fourth quarter interception, and MSU 3-for-9 passing in that period.
Strong offensive line play remains MSU's hallmark. In addition to the ground game triggered by four ball carriers with at least 100 rushing yards through two games, opponents have not sacked a Bobcat quarterback this season. Montana State's defense played impressive football Saturday, as well, allowing SDSU just 341 yards.
Saturday's game is televised around Montana on ABC stations and in Billings on KULR8 TV. The game airs on the Bobcat Radio Network, and streams on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network.
#GoCatsGo
By Monday, Brent Vigen's message was clear and direct. "There's no moral victories in coming up close there, absolutely none," he said. "We are 1-1, and that's the fact of the matter. We've got to find a way to look at the things critically that didn't go our way and improve upon them."
The team's next public opportunity for that arrives Saturday, when the Bobcats host 2-0 Stetson in Bobcat Stadium. Kickoff is 1 pm.
"Stetson is a 2-0 team out of the Pioneer League, far from the accolades of a South Dakota State but it's the team that's in front of us next," Vigen said. "You watch their two games and they're aggressive. The play a 3-3-5 defense that's very aggressive in nature, and offensively it's a team that's very explosive. We have to put our best foot forward and as we prepare to come out of non-conference play we have to be better."
The Hatters beat St. Thomas (Florida) 34-33 in overtime to open the season, then dropped Webber International 38-28 a week ago. Kaderris Roberts has rushed for 197 yards in two games, averaging 6.0 yards a carry with three touchdowns. Receiver Nazeviah Burris' seven catches pace the team. He has 187 yards and one touchdown catch. The Hatters have played four different quarterbacks, with Trynity Conway, Matt O'Connor, Jason Riedy and Brady Meitz each competing in one contest.
Defensively, Nicholas Lerew's 26 tackles leads the Hatters, while Diego Davis – last week's Pioneer Football League Player of the Week – has 22. Davis also leads the team in tackles-for-loss (4.0) and sacks (2.0), while Jaylon Johnson and David Stubbs each has an interception.
The Bobcats overcame adversity to put itself in position for a defining victory on Saturday night in Brookings. Playing without starting quarterback Tommy Mellott during the fourth quarter and missing two starting receivers (Ty McCullouch, Lonyatta Alexander Jr.) and starting cornerback Miles Jackson, the Cats led 16-13 with 2:04 to play. The Jackrabbits struck with a two-play touchdown drive covering 75 yards to MSU its opportunity. The Cats rushed for 211 yards, and through two games lead the FCS with 306.0 rushing yards per game and completed nine of its 15 passes. The team's only turnover, though, was a fourth quarter interception, and MSU 3-for-9 passing in that period.
Strong offensive line play remains MSU's hallmark. In addition to the ground game triggered by four ball carriers with at least 100 rushing yards through two games, opponents have not sacked a Bobcat quarterback this season. Montana State's defense played impressive football Saturday, as well, allowing SDSU just 341 yards.
Saturday's game is televised around Montana on ABC stations and in Billings on KULR8 TV. The game airs on the Bobcat Radio Network, and streams on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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