By THOMAS STUBER
There were signs that things might not go well for Montana State leading all the way up to the opening kickoff Saturday in Brookings, SD. And they didn’t go well at all. The Bobcats were on the wrong end of a 39-18 loss to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on a day that didn’t seem like anything was going to go right.
The weather was the talk of the week and while it wasn’t the deciding factor, it did hamper MSU’s outside zone run game and the advantage it had with its overall team speed. Talk leading up to the game centered upon the arctic storm descending on the upper Midwest all week and the equipment for the contest simply making it to Brookings, as much or more as the talk about the Xs and Os of the contest.
To top off the pregame stress, MSU offensive coordinator Taylor Housewright found himself stuck in the Dykhouse Stadium elevator, which caused the game’s kickoff to be upheld by about 10 minutes.
After SDSU scored a touchdown quickly on its first drive, the Bobcats more methodically marched right back down the field going exclusively with quarterbacks Tommy Mellott and Sean Chambers – MSU’s dual-quarterback system – for the entire drive. Chambers finally punched through the Jackrabbits’ front wall for a score and the game appeared to be one that would live up to expectations.
In doing so, Chambers suffered a lower leg injury, limping off the field not to return. He was later seen on the sidelines with a boot on his left foot.
MSU, obviously, had spent the week preparing to run that system and when Chambers went down it threw a wrench into the plan. The Bobcats couldn’t get its vaunted run game going and finished with just 38 yards on 1.6 yards per carry – down over 5.0 yards per carry from its average coming into the game.
To add insult to injury, the Bobcats botched the extra point after Chambers’ touchdown and found itself down 7-6. The ball – leather slick from the cold – slipped through holder Bryce Leighton’s hands and kicker Blake Glessner picked it up. He tried in vain to score only to be tossed out of bounds.
“They took momentum right away and we answered them with a score,” Montana State second-year head coach Brent Vigen said. “But didn’t even follow it up with our extra point. Never really got back as far as momentum.”
On MSU’s second possession of the game, it looked like an option play was set up for a big gain but running back Isaiah Ifanse lost the handle and nearly the ball as the pigskin hit the ground. Fortunately for MSU, the fumble wasn’t recovered by the Jackrabbits until it went out of bounds. MSU wouldn’t go back to that play until late in the second half and was unable to generate its ground game in the meantime anywhere in between.
“We didn’t make enough plays through that critical stretch late in the first quarter on our second and third possessions,” Vigen said. “We had some unforced errors. Credit really goes to South Dakota State. They defended us well and tackled us well. We knew it was going to come down to who could tackle better, and they did that.”
SDSU came into the contest ready and was determined to even the score with MSU after dropping a 31-17 decision last season in Bozeman with the same stakes – a trip to the FCS championship game – on the line.
“I think football is a game of momentum,” Vigen said. “Last year it was back and forth in the first half, and we were able to seize it in the second half. It’s great to play in front of home fans but doesn’t guarantee you of anything.”
MSU had looked sharp defensively over the past three games after being hit-and-miss all season. The Bobcats had a penchant for giving up gash plays over the first two months of the season. Against SDSU, they seemed to revert to that old form as the Jackrabbits had numerous gash plays that put the Bobcats in a big hole.
“As a D-line, we need to do better,” MSU defensive end Brody Grebe said. “They’re a physical, tough team. We got run over a little bit.”
MSU came into the season picked to finish fourth in one of the preseason polls at the Big Sky Conference media day. The Bobcats were thought to be in a bit of a rebuild mode but exceeded those expectations on the strength of a rapidly rebuilt offensive line and great depth throughout the lineup that didn’t allow for any lapses despite a plethora of injuries throughout the season.
“I think you gotta look back and be proud of all we accomplished this year,” Vigen said. “The seniors have done so much for this program and left an outstanding legacy.”
The Bobcats return its offense nearly intact aside from the receiver positions – an area that has a lot of room for growth. The defense will also return numerous experienced players as MSU looks to continue to advance itself overall in hopes of attaining its first championship since 1984.
While MSU has been in the playoffs in four straight full seasons and has reached the semifinals the past three times, it has been roughed up on its exit. MSU lost to North Dakota State in 2018 in the second round by a 52-10 count, then lost to the Bison again in the semifinals in 2019, 42-14. The Bobcats advanced to the FCS championship last season only to be bounced by the Bison a third time, 38-10. This year it was SDSU’s turn to trip them up 39-18.
The Bobcats are slowly making progress in that regard in terms of scoring margin. But it appears obvious that securing a top two seed and the homefield advantage that goes with it is paramount to its success.
Photos by Miranda Sampson for Skyline Sports. All Rights Reserved.
