Photo by: Garrett Becker
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #11: Bobcats Battle Aggies with Big Sky's Top Spot at Stake
11/16/2024 5:00:00 PM | Football
MSU plays for league title for fourth straight season...
DAVIS, California – For the fourth straight season Montana State plays for a share of the Big Sky Championship, when the Cats face No. 4 UC Davis at 6 pm today in UC Davis Health Stadium.
The showdown between the league's only unbeaten teams – both are 6-0 in conference play – determines the Big Sky's automatic qualifier for the NCAA FCS Playoffs and clinches at least a share of the conference regular season title. While the Aggies seek their first Big Sky crown, MSU plays for its second in three years. Each of today's contestants face rivalry games to close the regular season next with, with MSU jumping into the cauldron of Cat-Griz and UC Davis meeting Sacramento State in the Causeway Classic.
* * * * *
Today's game pits two highly effective and stylistically different quarterbacks. Montana State star Tommy Mellott throws 18 passes for 168.8 yards per game, rushing for 586 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is second in the FCS in points responsible for with 174. UC Davis' Miles Hastings is fourth in the FCS with 302.7 passing yards a game, completing 69.2 percent of his passes. Hastings throws for 8.2 yards per attempt, Mellott 9.4.
* * * * *
This seems like a good time to appreciate the remarkable consistency of MSU head coach Brent Vigen. His four teams have combined for a 28-0 record against unranked FCS teams, and his 15-6 record (.714) on the road tops the *home* winning percentage of all but five coaches in Bobcat history:
Tony Storti, 17-4 (.809)
Herb Agocs, 17-3-1 (.809)
Jim Sweeney, 17-3 (.850)
Sonny Holland, 26-8-1 (.742)
Rob Ash, 43-16 (.729)
Brent Vigen on the road, 15-6 (.714)
Jeff Choate, 19-8 (.704)
* * * * *
Scottre Humphrey has eight 100-yard rushing games in 2024. The school single-season record is nine by Troy Andersen in 2018. His 1,191 rushing yards this season is 54 from 10th on MSU's single-season list.
* * * * *
A pair of reserve safeties miss today's game with injuries. Taki Uluilakepa and Tyson Pottenger remained in Bozeman, and Tayden Gray is expected to back up both positions.
* * * * *
Tommy Sullivan's first snap tonight marks his 52nd consecutive game as the program's long snapper.
#GoCatsGo
The showdown between the league's only unbeaten teams – both are 6-0 in conference play – determines the Big Sky's automatic qualifier for the NCAA FCS Playoffs and clinches at least a share of the conference regular season title. While the Aggies seek their first Big Sky crown, MSU plays for its second in three years. Each of today's contestants face rivalry games to close the regular season next with, with MSU jumping into the cauldron of Cat-Griz and UC Davis meeting Sacramento State in the Causeway Classic.
* * * * *
Today's game pits two highly effective and stylistically different quarterbacks. Montana State star Tommy Mellott throws 18 passes for 168.8 yards per game, rushing for 586 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is second in the FCS in points responsible for with 174. UC Davis' Miles Hastings is fourth in the FCS with 302.7 passing yards a game, completing 69.2 percent of his passes. Hastings throws for 8.2 yards per attempt, Mellott 9.4.
* * * * *
This seems like a good time to appreciate the remarkable consistency of MSU head coach Brent Vigen. His four teams have combined for a 28-0 record against unranked FCS teams, and his 15-6 record (.714) on the road tops the *home* winning percentage of all but five coaches in Bobcat history:
Tony Storti, 17-4 (.809)
Herb Agocs, 17-3-1 (.809)
Jim Sweeney, 17-3 (.850)
Sonny Holland, 26-8-1 (.742)
Rob Ash, 43-16 (.729)
Brent Vigen on the road, 15-6 (.714)
Jeff Choate, 19-8 (.704)
* * * * *
Scottre Humphrey has eight 100-yard rushing games in 2024. The school single-season record is nine by Troy Andersen in 2018. His 1,191 rushing yards this season is 54 from 10th on MSU's single-season list.
* * * * *
A pair of reserve safeties miss today's game with injuries. Taki Uluilakepa and Tyson Pottenger remained in Bozeman, and Tayden Gray is expected to back up both positions.
* * * * *
Tommy Sullivan's first snap tonight marks his 52nd consecutive game as the program's long snapper.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
RB/LB
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DB
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RB
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QB
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S
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LS
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DB
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