Seth Brock’s first start for Montana State was more than just a milestone for the junior defensive end.
Brock keyed the Bobcats’ come from behind win over Central Connecticut State last Saturday when he sacked Brett Griffis on a third down and seven play late in the third quarter with MSU trailing 21-14. The play forced a Blue Devils’ punt and led to the game-tying touchdown.
Two possessions later, the lanky pass rusher sacked Griffis again after the CCSU had reached the MSU 27 and was threatening to tie the game. This time, Brock got to Griffis on first down and the seven-yard loss led to CCSU settling for a field goal.
The Bobcats scored another touchdown on their ensuing possession and suddenly a 21-14 deficit had become a 35-24 lead with under five minutes to play as MSU held on for a 35-30 win.
Despite all that, Brock wasn’t all that impressed with himself, especially with the way he played in the first half.
“I felt like in the first half, I played like crap to be honest,” Brock said. “I felt like I wasn’t doing my job and (defensive line) coach Bap (Nick Jean Baptiste) had to pull me aside and talk to me and kind of give a ‘Take 2’ moment, so after I had that moment with him I did better in the second half.”
A little tough love from the team’s leaders and coaches helped get the Bobcats over the hump against the Blue Devils, who had won the Northeast Conference two years in a row, but lost their first two games by a combined 92 points.
“It comes down to leadership,” Brock said. “The leaders making sure everyone’s together. (Senior captain) Zac Crews talking to the team and gave us a message … a couple of hard talks from the coaches on the sidelines definitely helped too.
“I think we did a great job when our backs were against the wall. It was better now than later in the season, and I think the way we responded was great. We never thought that it was going to be bad, we knew we were in it and it was a good challenge for us.”
Brock was filling in for the injured Dominic Solano, who went down in the second half at Nevada the prior week. His ability to fill that spot seamlessly is what MSU head coach Brent Vigen is looking for from the young Idaho native.
Brock was an outstanding two sport athlete at Eagle High School in Idaho. His senior year he was named Southern Idaho Conference player of the year and first team all-state, as well as team MVP. He was named the Junior of the Year the prior season. He had 31.5 career sacks over his prep career. On the wrestling mats he placed fourth at state his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Last season, Brock made one of the most memorable plays of the year when he scooped up an errant punt attempt and returned it for a touchdown late in the game against South Dakota State. The play tied the game, but MSU eventually fell in double-overtime 31-30.
“Seth is a guy that we’re really counting on to be a regular piece with or without (senior DE) Dom Solano, Seth needs to be that,” Vigen said. “So, I think that was a really good step forward for him on Saturday because he did not start out the game very well in the run game. But he figured it out as the game went along and was able to figure it out with some big, big plays.
“I think the biggest thing for any of those guys – (sophomore) Blaine Downing being the same – it’s just consistency. What we ask those guys in the run game, the detail we ask of them, the execution, that has to be at a high level. You then give yourself the right to rush the passer and I know that’s something Seth does really well. Being able to get in those situations where we can have him and Zac (Crews) rushing the passer – we need more of those opportunities, but it comes with their ability to stop the run.”
Brock has benefited from having one of the top defensive ends in the nation to follow in Crews. The duo is built similarly, with each standing nearly 6-foot-5. Both have long arms and are built almost like storks. And both play with noticeable relentless motors.
“A lot of people say me and Crewsie are similar and I’d agree,” Brock said. “Me and Zac we’re both really good competitors. We like competing against each other and we hold each other to a higher standard than most. Having him as the leader in the room and I’ve been with him for going on three years now and just being able to learn from him and how it’s done here and how he plays football out here. I’ve definitely taken some of his game and added it to mine.
“The thing that has impressed me the most about Crews is his ability to bend,” Brock said referencing a trait of defensive ends when they rush the passer with a lean into an offensive lineman. “Very good I.Q. when it comes to the backfield and calling things out before they happen.”
The Bobcat’ defense has been hit hard early in the season with injuries as five starters – Solano, linebackers Bryce Grebe and Neil Daily and safeties Caden Dowler and JJ Dolan – have missed games.
“We like to pride ourselves on our depth and everyone getting coached and everyone being ready to step up,” Brock said. “I feel like that’s just something that our coaches do a really good job or to have everyone ready for their time and their moment. You never like to see injuries happen, but they’re not worrisome in regards to who’s going to play because they do a great job of making sure everyone’s ready.”
MSU’s defense was a little shaky in the early going as it allowed 259 yards on the first 36 plays (7.2 yards per play) – through the first possession of the second half. Then just 96 yards on 29 plays (3.3 ypp) the rest of the way. Grebe, Daily and Dolan are all probable for this week’s game, which should give the unit a little more gas down the stretch.
MSU re-enters Big Sky Conference play in earnest this week when it takes on Northern Arizona at Bobcat Stadium at 8:30 p.m.. The Lumberjacks haven’t beaten MSU since 2017, but they’ve been a thorn in the Bobcats’ side for years. They had the Bobcats on the ropes in 2022 in Flagstaff only to see freshman Taco Dowler grab a fourth down pass from Tommy Mellott to set up a game-winning field goal. In 2019, the Lumberjacks bolted out to a 21-0 lead in Bozeman only to see the Bobcats roar back with 49-10 run to finish the game.
“Conference ball is the type of ball we want to be playing,” Brock said. “Ball just means a little bit more. Excited to start this next chapter of the season.”
Brock and the Bobcats will have a tall order in containing NAU quarterback Ty Pennington, who is one of the best signal-callers not only in the league, but the nation.
“Yeah, I think he’s a huge piece of their offense,” Brock said. “After breaking it down this morning, it turns out they have a great running back, too. I just feel like he’s going to give us opportunities to rush the passer and I feel like if we read our keys and make the plays that come to us, we’ll be able to capitalize on some of the pass attempts.”
The Lumberjacks are sitting at 3-1 on the season after taking a 35-23 win over Utah Tech last week. They also own wins over Eastern Washington and Incarnate Word with their lone loss coming to the University of Arizona.
