Ryan Lonergan had two catches a touchdown on Saturday against Northern Colorado.
Photo by: Brian Morse
Bobcats claim Homecoming victory
10/5/2024 5:56:00 PM | Football, General
Tommy Mellott accounted for five touchdowns on Saturday and Taco Dowler had over 200 all-purpose yards as Montana State brushed aside Northern Colorado 55-17 in the Bobcats annual Homecoming affair.
On MSU's first offensive play, running back Scottre Humphrey broke free on a 43-yard gain. Five plays later, Mellott found a wide-open Ryan Lonergan to give the third-ranked Bobcats a 6-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, Mellott hit Rohan Jones from 6-yards out to make it 13-0, and the Bobcats were well on their way to a 6-0 overall record (2-0 in Big Sky play) for the first time since 2012.
Dowler, who had 102 yards in punt returns, made the score 20-0 when wide-receiver Ty McCullouch faked an end-around and connected with Dowler on a 34-yard touchdown. It was McCullouch's first pass attempt in his MSU career. Moments later, Danny Uluilakepa intercepted an errant UNC pass to set up a 13-yard running score by Mellott, making it 27-0 at halftime.
Mellott's touchdown run was the 33rd of his stellar career, tying him with Sean Chambers and Troy Andersen at No. 2 on the all-time Bobcats list. He now trails only Cody Kirk who finished his career in 2013 with 47 rushing scores.
MSU bumped the score to 34-0 in the third quarter. MSU's Brody Grebe helped the Bobcats keep UNC out of the end zone with his third sack of the season. On the ensuing offensive series, MSU was successful on a fourth down play near midfield. On the next play, Mellott found McCullough, a senior, on a 50-yard scoring strike.
For the game, Mellott, a senior, completed eight of 12 passes for 225 yards and the four scores. He also ran for 37 yards and a touchdown. But he wasn't done. After Carver Cheeks got the Bears on the scoreboard with a 16-yard pass from Caden Meis, Mellott and Dowler wrapped up their day by teaming up on a 72-yard scoring pass to give MSU a 41-7 edge. Dowler ended the game with two scores on two catches for 106 yards. McCullouch and Lonergan also had two receptions. Overall, MSU gained 510 total yards while holding UNC to 356.
Before the third quarter was over, UNC's Kia'i Keone hit Brayden Munroe for a touchdown and then Humphrey, who led MSU with 81 yards rushing, scored from 17 yards out and MSU led 48-14 heading into the final quarter. Humphrey's score was his eighth of the season and came on the heels of a 56-yard bomb from Mellott to Aidan Garrigan.
Hunter Green kicked a field goal for UNC (0-6, 0-2), which has now lost 18 straight games dating back to the start of the 2023 season. Chance Wilson's 5-yard run for MSU finished the scoring.
McCade O'Reilly led the Bobcats with 10 tackles and Uliulakepa added eight to go with his third career interception.
The announced attendance of 22,007 was the third largest crowd in Bobcat Stadium history. MSU is home again this week against Idaho while UNC travels to Weber State which shocked Montana on Saturday 55-48 in overtime.
On MSU's first offensive play, running back Scottre Humphrey broke free on a 43-yard gain. Five plays later, Mellott found a wide-open Ryan Lonergan to give the third-ranked Bobcats a 6-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, Mellott hit Rohan Jones from 6-yards out to make it 13-0, and the Bobcats were well on their way to a 6-0 overall record (2-0 in Big Sky play) for the first time since 2012.
Dowler, who had 102 yards in punt returns, made the score 20-0 when wide-receiver Ty McCullouch faked an end-around and connected with Dowler on a 34-yard touchdown. It was McCullouch's first pass attempt in his MSU career. Moments later, Danny Uluilakepa intercepted an errant UNC pass to set up a 13-yard running score by Mellott, making it 27-0 at halftime.
Mellott's touchdown run was the 33rd of his stellar career, tying him with Sean Chambers and Troy Andersen at No. 2 on the all-time Bobcats list. He now trails only Cody Kirk who finished his career in 2013 with 47 rushing scores.
MSU bumped the score to 34-0 in the third quarter. MSU's Brody Grebe helped the Bobcats keep UNC out of the end zone with his third sack of the season. On the ensuing offensive series, MSU was successful on a fourth down play near midfield. On the next play, Mellott found McCullough, a senior, on a 50-yard scoring strike.
For the game, Mellott, a senior, completed eight of 12 passes for 225 yards and the four scores. He also ran for 37 yards and a touchdown. But he wasn't done. After Carver Cheeks got the Bears on the scoreboard with a 16-yard pass from Caden Meis, Mellott and Dowler wrapped up their day by teaming up on a 72-yard scoring pass to give MSU a 41-7 edge. Dowler ended the game with two scores on two catches for 106 yards. McCullouch and Lonergan also had two receptions. Overall, MSU gained 510 total yards while holding UNC to 356.
Before the third quarter was over, UNC's Kia'i Keone hit Brayden Munroe for a touchdown and then Humphrey, who led MSU with 81 yards rushing, scored from 17 yards out and MSU led 48-14 heading into the final quarter. Humphrey's score was his eighth of the season and came on the heels of a 56-yard bomb from Mellott to Aidan Garrigan.
Hunter Green kicked a field goal for UNC (0-6, 0-2), which has now lost 18 straight games dating back to the start of the 2023 season. Chance Wilson's 5-yard run for MSU finished the scoring.
McCade O'Reilly led the Bobcats with 10 tackles and Uliulakepa added eight to go with his third career interception.
The announced attendance of 22,007 was the third largest crowd in Bobcat Stadium history. MSU is home again this week against Idaho while UNC travels to Weber State which shocked Montana on Saturday 55-48 in overtime.
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