Tommy Mellott
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
GAME #15: Bobcats Face South Dakota with Berth in FCS Championship Game on the Line
12/20/2024 8:23:00 AM | Football
Montana State, Coyotes meet for third time in history
THE MATCHUP
Montana State advances to the FCS Playoff Semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons, hosting fourth-seeded South Dakota on Saturday at 1:30 pm. MSU rushes for 307.1 yards a game (2nd in the FCS), while the Coyotes allow just 107.9 ypg (10th).
GAME DATA
KICKOFF: 1:30 pm SITE: Bozeman STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium FCS Playoffs Semifinals
Montana State set a school record with its 14th win in a 57-19 quarterfinals win against Idaho. South Dakota is 11-2 after beating UC Davis, 35-21.
SERIES
RECORD: 2-0 at Bozeman: 2-0 at Vermillion: 0-0 Neutral: 0-0
Montana State and the Coyotes met twice during South Dakota's transition to the FCS, with the Cats winning in 2008 and 2009 in Bozeman.
BOBCAT TEAM NOTES
*The Bobcats' 14 wins and six road victories both rank as program bests.
* MSU's current 14-game win streak is the longest in program history, topping a 13-game streak in 1976-77.
* Montana State gained over 400 total yards in 22 of its last 26 games, allowing the opponent just four 400-yard efforts in that span.
* The Cats have advanced to the FCS Semifinals in four of the past five seasons.
ON THE MSU OFFENSE
* Tommy Mellott accounted for his first 300-yard passing game as a Bobcat against UT Martin, then rushed for 131 against Idaho in last week's quarterfinals.
* Scottre Humphrey (2nd, 7.49) and Adam Jones (4th, 6.89) rank among FCS yards per rush leaders.
* Adam Jones' 1,068 rushing yards and 14 TDs are MSU freshman records, and he is 13 yards behind FCS freshmen leader CharMarr Brown of NDSU in one fewer game.
* MSU is the only FCS team to score 30 points in each 2024 game.
* The Cats average 41.3 points and 496.5 yards per game to lead the FCS.
* MSU had scored in 12 straight quarters and in 51 of this season's 56 quarters.
ON THE MSU DEFENSE
* MSU has 16 sacks in the last 4 games, including 6 at UC Davis and 5 vs. UTM.
* Montana State allows 14.4 points per game at home. Of the 115 points MSU has surrendered in Bobcat Stadium only 30 came before halftime.
* The Cats allow 301.4 total yards per game, 10th nationally.
* Montana State's defense has allowed three first-quarter TDs this season.
* Neil Daily has 27 total tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and a forced fumble in his 6 starts.
ON THE MSU SPECIAL TEAMS
* Taco Dowler is now MSU's career punt return yards leader (1,036).
* Brendan Hall has pinned the foe inside the 20 on an FCS-best 63% of his punts.
STADIUM STORY
* MSU is 34-1 at home since Sac State's 34-21 win in 2019, the last win by a Big Sky foe in Bobcat Stadium, and 30-1 under Brent Vigen.
* MSU and the Coyotes have met twice, both times in Bobcat Stadium.
Montana State advances to the FCS Playoff Semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons, hosting fourth-seeded South Dakota on Saturday at 1:30 pm. MSU rushes for 307.1 yards a game (2nd in the FCS), while the Coyotes allow just 107.9 ypg (10th).
GAME DATA
KICKOFF: 1:30 pm SITE: Bozeman STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium FCS Playoffs Semifinals
Montana State set a school record with its 14th win in a 57-19 quarterfinals win against Idaho. South Dakota is 11-2 after beating UC Davis, 35-21.
SERIES
RECORD: 2-0 at Bozeman: 2-0 at Vermillion: 0-0 Neutral: 0-0
Montana State and the Coyotes met twice during South Dakota's transition to the FCS, with the Cats winning in 2008 and 2009 in Bozeman.
BOBCAT TEAM NOTES
*The Bobcats' 14 wins and six road victories both rank as program bests.
* MSU's current 14-game win streak is the longest in program history, topping a 13-game streak in 1976-77.
* Montana State gained over 400 total yards in 22 of its last 26 games, allowing the opponent just four 400-yard efforts in that span.
* The Cats have advanced to the FCS Semifinals in four of the past five seasons.
ON THE MSU OFFENSE
* Tommy Mellott accounted for his first 300-yard passing game as a Bobcat against UT Martin, then rushed for 131 against Idaho in last week's quarterfinals.
* Scottre Humphrey (2nd, 7.49) and Adam Jones (4th, 6.89) rank among FCS yards per rush leaders.
* Adam Jones' 1,068 rushing yards and 14 TDs are MSU freshman records, and he is 13 yards behind FCS freshmen leader CharMarr Brown of NDSU in one fewer game.
* MSU is the only FCS team to score 30 points in each 2024 game.
* The Cats average 41.3 points and 496.5 yards per game to lead the FCS.
* MSU had scored in 12 straight quarters and in 51 of this season's 56 quarters.
ON THE MSU DEFENSE
* MSU has 16 sacks in the last 4 games, including 6 at UC Davis and 5 vs. UTM.
* Montana State allows 14.4 points per game at home. Of the 115 points MSU has surrendered in Bobcat Stadium only 30 came before halftime.
* The Cats allow 301.4 total yards per game, 10th nationally.
* Montana State's defense has allowed three first-quarter TDs this season.
* Neil Daily has 27 total tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and a forced fumble in his 6 starts.
ON THE MSU SPECIAL TEAMS
* Taco Dowler is now MSU's career punt return yards leader (1,036).
* Brendan Hall has pinned the foe inside the 20 on an FCS-best 63% of his punts.
STADIUM STORY
* MSU is 34-1 at home since Sac State's 34-21 win in 2019, the last win by a Big Sky foe in Bobcat Stadium, and 30-1 under Brent Vigen.
* MSU and the Coyotes have met twice, both times in Bobcat Stadium.
Players Mentioned
LB
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WR
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P/KO
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RB
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RB
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