Shawn Howe and Miles Jackson celebrate Jackson's first career interception
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
BOBCAT SUNDAY NOTEBOOK FOR 10/20/2025: MSU Leads Big Sky in Key Statistical Categories
10/20/2024 10:11:00 PM | Football
Brent Vigen wins 40th game as Bobcat head coach
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State's 2024 Bobcat football team is now able to say something only two previous Montana State teams have been able to boast, running its record to 8-0 for only the third time in program history with a 44-14 win at Portland State on Saturday. The team enters its second open week of the season, taking a Saturday off before a November gauntlet that begins with a trip to Eastern Washington followed by three nationally-ranked opponents. By raising his career record to 40-9, Montana State's Brent Vigen became the first coach in Big Sky Conference history to win at least 40 of his first 50 games.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: Tommy Mellott, QB (6-0, 202, Sr, Butte, Montana)
Tommy Mellott led the Bobcats to a 44-14 win at Portland State, operating the pass attack with his customary scalpel-like precision and contributing to MSU's league-leading ground game. Mellott completed 15 of his 20 passes for 239 yards, and connecting on touchdown passes with three different receivers. He completed his first five passes, was 11-14 at halftime, and when he departed the game one drive into the third quarter MSU's offense had run 46 plays for 490 yards, nearly 11 yards per play. Mellott also carried four times for 34 yards, averaging 8.5 yards per carry. Eight games into Montana State's season, Mellott leads the nation in passing efficiency (187.4) and points responsible for (144), is fifth in yards per pass attempt (9.52), seventh in passing touchdowns (17), eighth in completion percentage (.698), and 32nd in total offense (229.9) in spite of a full game only four times.
DEFENSE: Neil Daily, LB (6-3, 230, So, Billings, Montana)
Making his first career start due to a rash of defensive injuries, it didn't take long for Montana State sophomore linebacker Neil Daily to positively impact the game. He logged one tackle on each of Portland State's first two offensive series, then after the Cats had taken a 14-0 lead his tackle-for-loss on 1st-and-10 Daily tackled PSU quarterback Dante Chachere, the reigning national player of the week, for a three-yard loss that led to a three-and-out possession. Daily finished with team-high six tackles (five solo), two for a loss, with one sack playing less than three full quarters. He was key part of a Bobcat defense that stymied explosive Portland State. The Vikings averaged 386.8 yards per game entering Saturday's contest, but Montana State held PSU to 235 total yards, including just 116 through the third quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS: none
TEAM NOTES
* Montana State's defense held Portland State to 235 total yards, more than 150 under its season average, and the Vikings had gained just 116 yards through three quarters.
* Montana State's 8-0 start is the team's third in Bobcat history. The team started 8-0 before finishing 8-1 in 1954, and was 9-0 in 1956 before a tie in the Aluminum Bowl.
* Montana State leads the Big Sky in scoring offense, total offense, and rushing offense, and is 2nd in the FCS in each category. The Bobcats lead the FCS in passing efficiency.
* Montana State leads the Big Sky in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, and passing efficiency defense.
* Montana State's offensive line, the most dominant in the Big Sky Conference, is 2nd in the FCS in rushing offense and 12th nationally in fewest sacks allowed.
* MSU and Dartmouth are the last two unbeaten FCS teams.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
* Senior nickel Miles Jackson intercepted his first career pass in appropriate fashion Saturday – against his hometown team, in the stadium where he played his home games for Portland Central Catholic High.
* Tommy Mellott's 26th win as Montana State's starting quarterback moves him past legendary Travis Lulay (25 wins), who was at Saturday's game, and into a tie with fellow Butte product Paul Dennehy in second place. DeNarius McGhee holds the Montana State's record.
* Scottre Humphrey gained 160 rushing yards Saturday without playing in the second half, his sixth 100-yard game in MSU's eight games in 2024. His 7.62 yards per carry is 4th in the FCS, 119.0 yards per game is 5th, and his 10 rushing touchdowns is 8th. His 952 rushing yards in 2024 boosts his career total to 1,269 career yards, 32nd in Bobcat history. He is a sophomore.
#GoCatsGo
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
OFFENSE: Tommy Mellott, QB (6-0, 202, Sr, Butte, Montana)
Tommy Mellott led the Bobcats to a 44-14 win at Portland State, operating the pass attack with his customary scalpel-like precision and contributing to MSU's league-leading ground game. Mellott completed 15 of his 20 passes for 239 yards, and connecting on touchdown passes with three different receivers. He completed his first five passes, was 11-14 at halftime, and when he departed the game one drive into the third quarter MSU's offense had run 46 plays for 490 yards, nearly 11 yards per play. Mellott also carried four times for 34 yards, averaging 8.5 yards per carry. Eight games into Montana State's season, Mellott leads the nation in passing efficiency (187.4) and points responsible for (144), is fifth in yards per pass attempt (9.52), seventh in passing touchdowns (17), eighth in completion percentage (.698), and 32nd in total offense (229.9) in spite of a full game only four times.
DEFENSE: Neil Daily, LB (6-3, 230, So, Billings, Montana)
Making his first career start due to a rash of defensive injuries, it didn't take long for Montana State sophomore linebacker Neil Daily to positively impact the game. He logged one tackle on each of Portland State's first two offensive series, then after the Cats had taken a 14-0 lead his tackle-for-loss on 1st-and-10 Daily tackled PSU quarterback Dante Chachere, the reigning national player of the week, for a three-yard loss that led to a three-and-out possession. Daily finished with team-high six tackles (five solo), two for a loss, with one sack playing less than three full quarters. He was key part of a Bobcat defense that stymied explosive Portland State. The Vikings averaged 386.8 yards per game entering Saturday's contest, but Montana State held PSU to 235 total yards, including just 116 through the third quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS: none
TEAM NOTES
* Montana State's defense held Portland State to 235 total yards, more than 150 under its season average, and the Vikings had gained just 116 yards through three quarters.
* Montana State's 8-0 start is the team's third in Bobcat history. The team started 8-0 before finishing 8-1 in 1954, and was 9-0 in 1956 before a tie in the Aluminum Bowl.
* Montana State leads the Big Sky in scoring offense, total offense, and rushing offense, and is 2nd in the FCS in each category. The Bobcats lead the FCS in passing efficiency.
* Montana State leads the Big Sky in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, and passing efficiency defense.
* Montana State's offensive line, the most dominant in the Big Sky Conference, is 2nd in the FCS in rushing offense and 12th nationally in fewest sacks allowed.
* MSU and Dartmouth are the last two unbeaten FCS teams.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
* Senior nickel Miles Jackson intercepted his first career pass in appropriate fashion Saturday – against his hometown team, in the stadium where he played his home games for Portland Central Catholic High.
* Tommy Mellott's 26th win as Montana State's starting quarterback moves him past legendary Travis Lulay (25 wins), who was at Saturday's game, and into a tie with fellow Butte product Paul Dennehy in second place. DeNarius McGhee holds the Montana State's record.
* Scottre Humphrey gained 160 rushing yards Saturday without playing in the second half, his sixth 100-yard game in MSU's eight games in 2024. His 7.62 yards per carry is 4th in the FCS, 119.0 yards per game is 5th, and his 10 rushing touchdowns is 8th. His 952 rushing yards in 2024 boosts his career total to 1,269 career yards, 32nd in Bobcat history. He is a sophomore.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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