Montana State University
1-0 , 0-0
New Mexico
0-1 , 0-0
COMEBACK CATS: MSU Erases Fourth Quarter Deficit to Down New Mexico
8/24/2024 6:01:00 PM | Football
Scottre Humphrey's four-yard touchdown run with ten seconds left completes a furious 21-point comeback in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Scottre Humphrey's four-yard touchdown run in the waning moments lifted Montana State to a season-opening 35-31 win over New Mexico on Saturday at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Humphrey's score capped an 89-yard drive that began with the Cats trailing by three and 1:59 remaining on the clock, as Tommy Mellott orchestrated an 11-play drive that ended with Humphrey's game-winning score with ten seconds left.
After trailing 31-14, Montana State scored the game's last 21 points in the fourth quarter to secure their first win over an FBS opponent since 2006.
Humphrey finished with a career-high 140 rushing yards on 19 carries, combining with Adam Jones to lead a Bobcat rushing attack that exploded for 362 yards on the day.
Jones ended his day with 167 yards on 17 carries, with the bulk of that total coming on a thrilling 93-yard touchdown dash down the left sideline with 4:35 to play in the fourth quarter.
The second-longest run from scrimmage in Montana State history made it 31-28 Lobos with 4:35 left, giving the Cats' defense a chance to make a stop and give Mellott the ball bac
Montana State out-gained New Mexico 220-42 in the fourth quarter alone, with three of the final four Cat drives finding the end zone.
New Mexico's offensive balance was the key feature of the first half. The Lobos rushed for 73 yards before halftime, but struck for 153 through the air. But it was the Lobos defense that struck first, with Jayden Wilson stripping the ball from Tommy Mellott on a pass play. Christian Ellis returned it 41 yards for a touchdown less than five minutes into the game. After forcing a Bobcat punt on the next possession, UNM drove 67 yards and Luke Drzewiecki connected on a 41-yard field goal.
The Bobcats reached the 50 for the third straight drive on the next possession, but a Mellott incompletion on fourth down gave New Mexico possession. The Lobos marched 68 yards, and when Devon Dampier found Trace Bruckler the home team held a 17-0 lead.
Montana State's offense stirred to life early in the second quarter. Scottre Humphrey, who gained 114 yards before halftime, crashed the Lobos defense for gains of 34, five, and 16 yards, and Adam Jones gained six. Mellott hit Ryan King for a gain of nine to the UNM five, and on first-and-goal Mellott found Rylan Schlepp for the Bozeman Gallatin grad's third career catch and second touchdown. After a three-and-out, Mellott capped a 76-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring strike to Ty McCullouch.
It was the Lobos who finished the half strong, however. UNM followed MSU's second score with a 75-yard drive, capped by a 24-yard touchdown run by Dampier. In spite of the 10-point deficit, MSU out-gained the Lobos 240 yards to 226 in the first two quarters.
Team Stats
MSU 0, UNM 7
UNM - Ellis,Christian 41 yd fumble recovery (Drzewiecki,Luke kick)
MSU 0, UNM 10
UNM - Drzewiecki,Luke 45 yd field goal 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 03:13
MSU 0, UNM 17
UNM - Bruckler,Trace 12 yd pass from Dampier,Devon (Drzewiecki,Luke kick) 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:23
MSU 7, UNM 17
MSU - Schlepp,Rylan 5 yd pass from Mellott,Tommy (Sansted,Myles kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:09
MSU 14, UNM 17
MSU - McCullouch,Ty 17 yd pass from Mellott,Tommy (Sansted,Myles kick) 10 plays, 76 yards, TOP 04:43
MSU 14, UNM 24
UNM - Dampier,Devon 24 yd run (Drzewiecki,Luke kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:04
MSU 14, UNM 31
UNM - Avinger,Noah 13 yd fumble recovery (Drzewiecki,Luke kick)
MSU 21, UNM 31
MSU - Mellott,Tommy 15 yd run (Sansted,Myles kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:30
MSU 28, UNM 31
MSU - Jones,Adam 93 yd run (Sansted,Myles kick), 1 plays, 93 yards, TOP 00:37
MSU 35, UNM 31
MSU - Humphrey,Scottre 4 yd run (Sansted,Myles kick), 11 plays, 89 yards, TOP 01:49
