BOZEMAN — Jeff Choate has talked frequently throughout 2017 about his desire for his Montana State team to drag teams into the fourth quarter. Mac Bignell has spoken throughout his senior season about the peak physical condition he feels he and his MSU teammates are in. Bobcat quarterback Chris Murray has lamented his team’s inability to finish close games when Montana State does drag teams into deep water, as Choate likes to say. That is, until recently.
Last week at Northern Colorado, Murray executed a two-minute drill that led to a game-winning field goal, the Bobcats’ first win at the buzzer since 2003. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium against Idaho State, the Bengals’ up-tempo offense had the Bobcats gasping for air.
In the second quarter, MSU junior Zach Wright puked up water while sidelined classmate Tyrone Fa’anono squirted the defensive tackle’s neck and back with a Gatorade bottle to cool him off on a temperate Bozeman afternoon.
By the fourth quarter, the Bobcats were the ones dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, showing the physical fitness Bignell has talked about all season.
Montana State senior linebacker Mac Bignell nabbed his first interception and scored his first touchdown
Wright helped boost a defensive line that dominated the point of attack after halftime. WIth nine minutes to play, Bignell stepped in front of a Tanner Gueller pass, snaring his first interception as a Bobcats and racing 18 yards for the first touchdown of his decorated career for the game-sealing score. For the second week in a row, the Bobcats dragged an opponent into the fourth quarter and finished, this time securing the win thanks to their second and third interceptions of the season.
Montana State nabbed two interceptions in the final nine minutes of action and pitched a second half shutout in a 28-14 win over Idaho State in front of 17,097 on a sunny Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats now take a two-game winning streak into November with a playoff berth still a part of the picture for the young squad.
“This is the stuff you live for,” Wright said after notching seven solo tackles. “You can be the player that says, ‘I’m glad I’m not out there, this ain’t on me’ but the way our defense works, we are always excited to do that and carry the game on our shoulders. If we have to, we will step up.
“Getting momentum with the two wins, it changes the mentality of the team, it changes the culture. It’s not, ‘What do we have to do to win?’ and now more we know what we have to do to win.”
MSU’s second straight victory gives Montana State four Big Sky Conference wins in six games a year after losing its first six league contests in Choate’s first season. MSU is 4-4 overall, equaling last season’s win total with three games, including two at home, remaining.
“That’s the type of team we are: we are going to bow up in the second half,” said Bignell, who’s pick-6 helped MSU turn a 21-14 game with 8:55 to play into a two-touchdown lead. “I felt like we were a lot better conditioned and that allowed for those turnovers. It was a hot day if you are getting used to the 50 degree weather. That showed up today.
“To score, that was unbelievable. I didn’t know what to do there (Laughs).”
Idaho State running back Ty Flanagan (23) tackled by linebacker Brayden Konkol (L) & defensive tackle Zach Wright (R)
The loss is Idaho State’s 11th straight to Montana State, equaled only by ISU’s 11 straight losses to Montana. The Bengals are now 2-4 in Big Sky Conference play, 4-5 overall in Rob Phenicie’s first season at the helm.
“I like the way our kids compete but I was disappointed that we didn’t finish in the second half,” Phenicie said. “Being shutout in a half is not fun.
“Credit to (MSU defensive coordinator) Ty Gregorak and the defense the Bobcats played. I’m always proud of the way these guys prepare, the way they fight and the way they play.”
Zak Johnson kicked the point-after following Michael Dean’s 23-yard touchdown catch to cut the Montana State lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter. James Madison capped an impressive 11-play, 96-yard drive to tie the game 14-14 with 3:39 left in the first half. But Phenicie had to use punter Sean Cheney for the PAT.
The Bengals had to go for it on fourth down three times thereafter because of Johnson’s inability to perform his duties, a factor that played a big influence in the final result, Phenicie said.
“”First thing is you can’t have turnovers,” Phenicie said after watching Gueller throw a second pick on a ball that Bignell tipped and MSU senior Bryson McCabe intercepted for ISU’s second turnover of the loss. “But we HAVE to figure out what to do with our kicking situation. We left nine points out on the field due to our kicking situation. We weren’t able to convert the fourth downs. We were forced to go into four down situations for most of the game.
Montana State wide receiver Mitch Herbert (82) catches a touchdown on Idaho State defensive back Caleb Brown (5)
Montana State’s first possession resulted in a 10-play, 79-yard drive but the Bobcats faced a 4th down and two yards to go inside the red-zone. MSU ran speed option to the wide side and true freshman Troy Andersen gained 10 yards for a first down. Murray hit senior Mitch Herbert from one yard out for the 19th touchdown of the captain’s career, putting him alone in second place in school history in TD catches.
Facing a fourth down on its first possession, ISU went for it from the MSU 25 but Bobcat sophomore Josh Hill punched out the ball to give his team the possession. The Bengals would go for it on fourth down twice more to no avail on Saturday.
“I have no idea,’” Phenicie said when asked about Johnson’s inability to participate. “That’s the second time in three weeks that our kicker, different person, that has decided right before the game or during the game that they can’t kick. We have to go back and figure out what we are going to do.”
The Bobcats have incrementally improved by outlasting teams and owning the final frame. MSU has allowed 38 fourth-quarter points this season, including 10 over the last three weeks. MSU gave up just three points in last week’s 27-24 win at UNC and no points to an Idaho State squad that ran 43 plays before halftime and possessed the ball for more than 34 minutes overall.
“These guys work hard in the off-season and they don’t get enough credit,” Choate said. “We have been a fourth-quarter team all year. Our kids are in great condition and they play well in the fourth quarter.”
MSU’s quick start belied Idaho State’s break-neck tempo for the first 18 minutes of the game. Following Hill’s fourth down stop, Murray ripped off a 28-yard burst, his longest run on a day the Bengals limited the Big Sky’s leading rusher (110 yards per game) to 70 yards. On the very next play, MSU ran Andersen on a wheel route up the Bobcat sideline. Murray delivered a strike, Andersen broke a tackle and 43 yards later, the Bobcats led 14-0.
Idaho State quarterback Tanner Gueller (4) hands off to running back James Madison (23)
Idaho State dedicated itself to running behind a physical offensive line led by NFL prospect senior guard Skylar Phillips to begin the second quarter. The Bengals ran the ball 30 times before halftime, including giving Ty Flanagan four straight carries to kick off the second frame. Madison got the next three touches before Flanagan came in to move ISU close to the red zone. On first down from the 23, Gueller fired the touchdown strike to Dean.
MSU’s ensuing three and out prompted the next of five stellar punts by Jered Padmos. The rugby-style kick — the Boulder native had punts of 64 and 70 yards on a day he averaged 52 yards per boot, leading to Choate calling him Saturday’s “unsung hero”— rolled to the ISU 4 before the Bobcats downed it. The MSU defense was right back on the field trying the handle Madison and Flanagan.
Nine consecutive run plays later, Gueller found his sophomore brother Mitch — who came into the game leading the league with eight touchdown catches and 29.3 yards per catch — for the first time for a 37-yard gain. Two more Madison runs netted 13 yards and tied the game 14-14.
Wright and the gassed Bobcat defense could be found vomiting or gasping on the sideline.
“The fatigue level was pretty high,” Wright, who finished with seven solo tackles, said with a laugh. “The thing about Idaho State is once they finish the first downs, they like going as fast as they can go. We trained for it in practice but even when you train for it, it’s still tough to deal with.
“Once you get to this part of the season, you are pretty worn. You aren’t going into games 100 percent anymore. With all the conditioning we do and making sure all the guys are in the training room at all times, it helps us have the extra push at the end of games and that’s why we live in the second half.”
Montana State Chris Murray (8) steps into the pocket vs Idaho State
The Bobcats took the lead after halftime for good after an all-time first from Murray. The sophomore was flushed in the pocket on MSU’s first second half possession. As he rolled to his left, he cocked and threw a dart to senior running back Nick LaSane on a crossing route, the check-down portion of the play-call.
“For the record, that’s the first one he’s ever hit the check down,” Choate said with a smile. “He came right to the sideline and said, ‘I finally hit the check down.’ Well, maybe do it more often, buddy.”
That check down paid huge dividends as LaSane followed his blockers, rumbling for 77 yards before Nikko Hayes tripped him up two yards short of the end-zone. Murray punched in a two-yard score to give MSU a 21-14 lead.
The momentum continued in MSU’s favor on the next ISU possession. Gueller led a 15-play, 63-yard drive to the MSU 4. On a fourth down, Wright used a swim move to beat the guard in front of him and smash Gueller, who threw short, giving Montana State a turnover on downs.
“A goal line stand is equivalent in my mind to a blocked punt,” Choate said. “What it does for your sideline, the energy that is created, our home stadium, it’s a huge boost of confidence.”
MSU responded with a 14-play, 79-yard drive that finished the third quarter and ended when Buck Buchanan Award candidate Mario Jenkins smeared Murray, knocking his helmet off and forcing an errant that Adkin Aguirre picked off. Yet the Montana State defense stiffened again, forcing a punt.
Padmos’ 70-yard punt ended up leading to the situation with ISU backed up against the Sonny Holland end-zone. Wright said it was the loudest he’s ever heard the student section portion of Bobcat Stadium, The faithful erupted when Bignell housed his first career interception.
Montana State quarterback Chris Murray (8) checks down to running back Nick LaSane with Idaho State linebacker Mario Jenkins (47)
Montana State’s defensive fortitude impressed considering junior defensive ends Grant Collins and Fa’anono, sophomore safety JoJo Henderson and redshirt freshman linebacker Balue Chapman all did not dress. Collins and Chapman are out for the season with shoulder injuries. Henderson has not played yet in Big Sky play after suffering a knee injury against South Dakota State. Fa’anono was a late scratch after suffering an injury in practice on Thursday.
“I’m really freakin’ proud of us,” Wright said. “When Tyrone had his injury, it was the day before. Young guys have to step up and they did. Getting in that position isn’t easy but they did it well.”
MSU did get true freshman cornerback Tyrel Thomas back after missing three games with a broken hand. True freshman Jalen Cole has also risen to the top of the depth chart.
Choate said Montana State covered Idaho State “better maybe than we initially thought we would” on Saturday. That helped MSU’s defensive front, even depleted, put consistent pressure on Gueller. The ISU standout came into the game leading the league in passer efficiency rating in league play, yet finished 17-of-28 for 193 yards.
“I knew (Cole and Thomas) were good but I also knew they had to come out and prove it,” Bignell said. “They did exactly that.”
Montana State enters November with as many wins as it had all of last season. MSU has already doubled its Big Sky win total. The Bobcats wrap up their non-conference schedule late with a game against upstart Kennesaw State (7-1), the leader in the Big South, in Bozeman on Saturday. MSU finishes its conference schedule with a trip to Northern Arizona, a 37-17 winner over Sac State to stay unbeaten in league, on November 11 before hosting Montana on November 18 at Bobcat Stadium.
Montana State Chris Murray (8) breaks the pocket vs Idaho State
“We have been able to win two games in a row, which is a good thing for us, but we haven’t played our best game yet,” Choate said. “That’s one of the things I’m going to hold on to in terms of challenging these guys. Our best football is still ahead of us.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
