Alex Eckert sparked the Bobcats defense against Idaho.
Photo by: Brian Morse
Bobcats dominate Idaho
10/13/2024 12:10:00 AM | Football, General
Montana State's offensive controlled the football while the Bobcat defense shut down Idaho in a dominating performance between two top-10 teams in a Big Sky After Dark game broadcast on ESPN2 Saturday night from Bozeman.
With the 38-7 win in front of 21,907 fans, the Bobcats raised their record to 7-0 for the first time since 1978. They remained tied atop the Big Sky Conference with a 3-0 mark.
On a blustery night that came on the heels of a warm autumn day in the Gallatin Valley, Tommy Mellott led the way for the third-ranked Bobcats who rushed for 360 yards and held the ball for 15 more minutes than the No. 7 Vandals. Mellott finished with a season-high 140 rushing yards while Scottre Humphrey added 124. Overall, MSU gained 485 yards to 267 for Idaho.
In addition to two touchdowns on the ground, Mellott also tossed a pair of scoring passes, one to Taco Dowler in the first quarter that covered 34 yards and another to Rohan Jones in the third quarter from 11-yards out. The effort helped MSU to a 24-0 halftime edge. The final score avenged a 24-21 loss by MSU in 2023 at Idaho. Mellott now has 14 touchdown passes on the season and has yet to throw an interception.
The Bobcats were methodical in their offensive performance, averaging nearly 7 yards per play against an Idaho defense that entered the contest giving up just 93 yards per game on the ground. The Vandals (4-3, 1-2) finally reached the end zone with under a minute to play.
The Bobcats also got a 34-yard field goal from Myles Sansted just before halftime and a fourth quarter touchdown from Adam Jones to close out their scoring.
MSU came up big on defense with an interception by Danny Uliulakepa and a fumble recovery by Rylan Ortt. Dru Polidore, who saw action in just his second game of the season due to injuries, finished with five tackles, matching Uliulakepa's team-high total. Paul Brott and Brody Grebe each recorded a quarterback sack.
Next up for MSU is a trip this week to Portland State (1-5, 1-2), which gained its first win of the season on Saturday at Idaho State. Idaho plays host to Cal Poly (2-4, 1-2).
With the 38-7 win in front of 21,907 fans, the Bobcats raised their record to 7-0 for the first time since 1978. They remained tied atop the Big Sky Conference with a 3-0 mark.
On a blustery night that came on the heels of a warm autumn day in the Gallatin Valley, Tommy Mellott led the way for the third-ranked Bobcats who rushed for 360 yards and held the ball for 15 more minutes than the No. 7 Vandals. Mellott finished with a season-high 140 rushing yards while Scottre Humphrey added 124. Overall, MSU gained 485 yards to 267 for Idaho.
In addition to two touchdowns on the ground, Mellott also tossed a pair of scoring passes, one to Taco Dowler in the first quarter that covered 34 yards and another to Rohan Jones in the third quarter from 11-yards out. The effort helped MSU to a 24-0 halftime edge. The final score avenged a 24-21 loss by MSU in 2023 at Idaho. Mellott now has 14 touchdown passes on the season and has yet to throw an interception.
The Bobcats were methodical in their offensive performance, averaging nearly 7 yards per play against an Idaho defense that entered the contest giving up just 93 yards per game on the ground. The Vandals (4-3, 1-2) finally reached the end zone with under a minute to play.
The Bobcats also got a 34-yard field goal from Myles Sansted just before halftime and a fourth quarter touchdown from Adam Jones to close out their scoring.
MSU came up big on defense with an interception by Danny Uliulakepa and a fumble recovery by Rylan Ortt. Dru Polidore, who saw action in just his second game of the season due to injuries, finished with five tackles, matching Uliulakepa's team-high total. Paul Brott and Brody Grebe each recorded a quarterback sack.
Next up for MSU is a trip this week to Portland State (1-5, 1-2), which gained its first win of the season on Saturday at Idaho State. Idaho plays host to Cal Poly (2-4, 1-2).
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