Throughout 2022, Skyline Sports will feature the work of its talented photo staff by posting photo galleries following pivotal Big Sky Conference contests.
On Saturday, North Dakota State won its ninth FCS national title in the last 10 fall seasons by defeating Montana State 38-10 in Frisco, Texas.
Jason Bacaj shot almost every one of MSU’s 15 games this season as the Bobcats finished 12-3, including its first trip to the national championship game for the first time since 1984.
Montana State head coach Brent Vigen paces the sideline in MSU’s 38-10 loss against North Dakota State, Vigen’s alma mater. The former standout NDSU tight end coached at his alma mater from 1998 until 2013, including serving as the offensive coordinator on Craig Bohl’s staff when the Bison won its first three FCS national titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013/ by Jason BacajMontana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (16) throws deep vs. North Dakota State. Just a few plays later on MSU’s first offensive possession, Mellott went down with a serious lower leg injury and did not return. Tucker Rovig was forced into action in place of Mellott/by Jason BacajMontana State senior captain quarterback Tucker Rovig started 14 games in 2018 and 2019. In 2021, Matt McKay won the starting quarterback job for the regular season. In the playoffs, Mellott took over and led MSU to three consecutive victories. Against NDSU, Rovig entered the game in the second series and completed 13 of 28 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in his first action of the season/ by Jason BacajMontana State senior Troy Andersen levels NDSU All-American wide receiver Christian Watson. Andersen ended his outstanding Montana State career with All-American honors as an all-purpose player after spending a year at quarterback, at outside linebacker and this season, earned second in the Buck Buchanan Award voting as the top defensive player in the FCS while playing inside linebacker for the first timeMontana State senior Daniel Hardy finished his final game at MSU with six tackles, including his 24th tackle for loss this season. Hardy also rolled up 16 sacks, one of the top totals in Bobcat history. The JC product earned first-team All-American honors in his first season playing defensive end/ by Jason BacajMontana State senior Lance McCutcheon caught five passes for 105 yards in the national title game and a 28-yard touchdown with 5:28 left in the game. McCutcheon finished his senior year with one of the best statistical lines by a receiver in program history. He caught 61 passes for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns. His yardage total breaks Joe Bignell’s record that has stood since 1984Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott checks in with senior QB Tucker Rovig after getting knocked out. Montana State defensive coordinator Freddie Banks helped coordinate one of the best units in the United States in 2021. The Bobcats gave up less than two touchdowns a game and had nationally recognized performers like Andersen, Hardy and Benson. Banks has accepted a job as the defensive coordinator at Colorado State/ by Jason BacajMontana State senior Amandre Williams was a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection at two different positions after transferring to MSU from Washington/ by Jason BacajNorth Dakota State senior offensive lineman Cordell Volson holds up the national championship trophy. The Balfour, North Dakota native is a three-time All-American and one of the best players in the country. His older brother, Tanner, who as also an All-American at NDSU, now plays for the Los Angeles Chargers/ by Jason BacajNorth Dakota State junior fullback Hunter Luepke earned FCS national title game Most Outstanding Player honors thanks in large part to scoring three first-half touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 236-pounder out of Spencer, Wisconsin rushed for 270 of his 543 yards this season during NDSU’s four playoff games, including notching 84 of the Bison’s 380 rushing yards in the title game/ by Jason Bacaj
Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.
