BOZEMAN – The Bobcats are making a habit of this.
But they keep on winning.
On a beautiful late-October Saturday, Montana State endured a shaky start by the special teams and defense. But that start, lowlighted by a haphazard second quarter that included MSU giving up a kick return for a touchdown, fumbling a kickoff and missing a field goal, was offset by a near-perfect second half that featured 21 unanswered points and a continued resolve to win at all costs.
In its last three home games, No. 3 MSU has been either tied or trailing at halftime. And in each of the three contests, including back-to-back conference wins over Top 25 teams, the Bobcats have found a way.
Saturday, MSU buckled down on defense and found its stride offensively, overcoming a 27-17 halftime deficit to earn a 38-33 win over No. 22 Weber State.
“Really proud of the guys for how we continued to fight,” Montana State head coach Brent Vigen said after leading his team to its 14th straight home win. “When a first half doesn’t necessarily go the way you planned it, there’s a certain amount of credit that definitely goes to Weber. That’s a good team over there, and it wasn’t a surprise watching them. They’re a program that’s being transformed, and they had a good plan and came in here and gave us all we wanted.
“But I think our guys at halftime took the plan and ran with it. Clearly there was a play that needed to be made, and I think Zac (Crews) jumping on that errant snap maybe was that catalyst, but that’s no good if we can’t turn it into points. So we were able to do that, to just continue to keep the pressure on them. I think we grabbed the momentum and never gave it back, period, in that second half.”
The Bobcats didn’t look like they had fixed much on the defensive sidewhen the Wildcats opened the second half with 31 yards on their first four plays, but the tables turned right there when WSU’s freshman quarterback Nate Dahle fumbled the snap and Crews was there to wrestle it away from him.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t have that ball,” Crews said. “The quarterback definitely had it. It’s a fight. Honestly, it’s who wants it more and who’s willing to do what it takes and that’s a testimony to the offseason training and I credit (strength and conditioning) coach (Sean) Herrin for being able to recover that fumble.”
That wasn’t the only play that exhibited the Bobcats’ will to do what it takes.
“I think belief comes from a lot of places,” Vigen said. “It comes from experience. This group has been through a lot together. Overcome deficits before, overcome first halves where maybe we didn’t play exactly how we wanted to. We got another half of football to play. It gives you confidence. One thing I said is, ‘Don’t believe because I said so, believe cuz you do.’ That’s what the guys proved in the second half.”
The Bobcats have had several dicey games over the last 12 contests dating back to the Cat-Griz game in Missoula last season. The experiences have only served to strengthen the team, according to Crews, who said the team is led by the players.
“We try to be a player-led football team,” Crews said. “Obviously, the head man has a lot to do with it. He puts us in positions to have control of our team.
“It builds confidence. Every time you get a win – no matter what it looks like – it builds confidence in your guys.”
A whirlwind of special teams plays and big offensive plays by Weber State highlighted the first half as the Wildcats surged to a 27-17 lead. WSU got a 100-yard kickoff return by Dyson Parker for a score right after MSU had taken a 14-10 lead. Towards the end of the half, Seth Rigtrup went up the seam for 31 yards and a score to give WSU a 24-17 lead.
They weren’t done there as MSU’s Jared White fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Wildcats tacked on three more points but left MSU a minute to strike back. The Bobcats advanced to the Wildcats’ 19 only to see kicker Myles Sansted’s field goal attempt get partially blocked on the last play of the half.
Crews’ recovery swung the momentum at the start of the second half, and the offense promptly drove down and scored on a pass from Justin Lamson to wide receiver Jordan Reed. MSU forced another fumble when Josaiah Asuega swiped the ball away from Dahle and Bryce Grebe recovered. The Bobcats looked like they were primed to take the lead after reaching the WSU 18, but wide receiver Carter Dahlke took a handoff and the ball popped out when he was hit by Tommy Romano. WSU recovered.
The Bobcats’ defense, which held the Wildcats to just 66 yards in the second half prior to their final drive, which started at the 1:54 mark of the fourth quarter, forced a three-and-out and got the ball back in good field position, setting up a 55-yard drive and touchdown plunge by tight end Rocky Lencioni, who was lined up at fullback.
MSU tacked on another score out of the 2:00 timeout when Jones burst through the line for a 27-yard touchdown. White had scored MSU’s first touchdown on a 57-yard carry as the duo combined for 240 yards on 35 carries. White had 125 on 13 rushes and Jones finished with 115 on 22 carries. As a team, MSU amassed 278 yards on 49 carries.
“The look they gave us; before the play I don’t know if Justin heard me, but I said I might crease this one,” White said of his long touchdown run. “We go over the same looks every week. Repetitively. Start licking my chops.”
“I think Jared’s a testament to him being where he belongs and taking whatever he gets,” Vigen said. “That’s a challenge playing that position. Felt strongly that there would be opportunity for him this year. What that would look like, when it would happen, is hard to say. The other two guys that are running the ball are good backs, too, so I think he’s continued to take advantage of opportunities and that’s what that position is all about.
“Long haul for him. It’s been quite a journey. Super happy for him because his attitude has been beyond reproach as far as being ready and certainly he proved that he was ready.”
MSU rolled up 510 yards of total offense on 84 plays, controlling the clock with 38:05 in time of possession, a flip from last week’s win at Eastern Washington, when it had the ball for less than 20 minutes.
The Bobcats allowed 364 yards but 99 of those came on two first-half plays, including a 68-yard pass play on the Wildcats’ second play of the game from Dahle to All-American candidate Noah Kjar. It was reminiscent of the 75-yard touchdown Idaho scored on its first play against MSU earlier this season, but the Wildcats only managed a field goal. WSU also had the 31-yard touchdown run by Rigtrup late in the first half. Those were WSU’s only plays from scrimmage longer than 19 yards.
Freshman wide receiver Carter Dahlke saw his three-game streak of 100-yards receiving come to an end, but he was still productive with six catches for 69 yards. Justin Lamson didn’t get on a roll all game as his completion percentage was just over 60% after he came into the game completing just under 75%. Still, MSU’s senior quarterback completed 23 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns.
The MSU defense kept the two most productive players for WSU – Dahle and wide receiver Noah Kjar – in check. Dahle completed just 21 of 40 passes for 240 yards and Kjar caught only eight of the 16 passes thrown his way. He had a 68-yard reception early in the game, but just 56 on his next seven catches, yet still finished with 124 yards to add to his all-conference résumé.
A year ago, Weber State lost 66-14 in Bozeman, a defeat that led to the firing of head coach Mickey Mental. Less than a calendar year later, Eric Kjar has the Wildcats back to being competitive. Vigen said as much in the week leading up to the game, and WSU’s performance on Saturday confirmed it.
“It was clear watching them through the course of this season, they’ve continued to get better,” Vigen said. “Their culture, their belief is in a much different place than the team we faced last year, same looking uniforms and all that. Some same guys for sure, but completely different mindsets. And that’s credit to Coach Kjar coming in with a plan and executing it. That young quarterback has continued to show a lot of poise, and they’ve been in a lot of these tight games.”
Vigen made a point to thank the fans all the way up to the folks in the standing room only areas to wrap up his interview as he emphatically slapped his hand on the table before departing.
“I want to shout out our crowd,” Vigen said. “Again, this is a weekly thing that the crowd is a factor. In particular, the standing room only people; I mean those are my people right there. They’re early, they get their spot, they stay right where they’re at, at halftime. They don’t leave and shout out to standing room only.”
The Bobcats are home again next week when they take on Cal Poly, which lost 43-26 at home to previously winless Utah Tech on Saturday for its second straight loss. MSU defeated the Mustangs 34-17 in San Luis Obispo last season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
PHOTOS BY BROOKS NUANEZ, SKYLINE SPORTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PHOTOS BELOW BY ABBIE MICKELSON, FOR SKYLINE SPORTS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
