Statistics can be misleading. It isn’t rare that a team will pile up some impressive numbers thanks to making huge plays long after the game has been decided. This is known as “garbage time” and teams that do this are often accused of padding their stats.
In close games, the key stats usually come in “crunch time,” which is always in the second half and generally in the fourth quarter. If a team gets blown out, that usually happens in the first half and teams tend to pull their starters at some point in the second half and mindful coaches take their foot off the gas to not humiliate their opponents, thus limiting the statistical numbers their team might otherwise put up.
Montana State has put together solid defensive numbers through three games this season, but when you pare down the games into their most important segments – and when the starting defense is on the field – MSU’s defensive starts to look other-worldly.
“We’ve put together seven really good quarters and I even look back to the first two quarters against New Mexico,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said of the Bobcat’ starting defense. “That’s a pretty good offense and we were figuring some things out that day. There were some things through the second quarter that we improved upon.”
The second half against the Lobos, the first three quarters versus Utah Tech and the first half in the home opener against Maine are the seven quarters Vigen is alluding to and for good reason.
Against New Mexico, the Bobcats needed to step their game up in crunch time after falling behind 31-14 early in the second half. MSU allowed gains of 11, 4 and 36 yards on the first three Lobo’ plays of the second half in its thrilling 35-31 come-from-behind win in the season opener for both teams.
After that – and still trailing 31-14 – the Bobcat’ defense allowed just 47 yards on 19 plays (32 rushing yards on 12 attempts; 15 passing yards on 4 of 7 passing) an average of just 2.5 yards per play. The Lobos biggest plays in that time frame were two eight-yard gains, while they were stuffed for gains of two yards or less eight times.
New Mexico, despite its 0-3 record, is no slouch on offense. The Lobos put up 470 total yards and 39 points against FBS No. 21 Arizona, then against Auburn they had 448 yards with both of those games being on the road. MSU held UNM to just 324 total yards. MSU’s defense also gave up just 17 points in that game as 14 of UNM’s points came because of strip-sack-fumble recovers that turned into Lobo touchdowns.
The next week the Bobcats put on a defensive clinic against Utah Tech in St. George. MSU allowed no first downs for the first three quarters (eight possessions) in building a 31-0 lead. The Cats called off the dogs after that as UT scored it’s only points in the fourth quarter against MSU’s backups.
With the game still not put away, MSU not only held UT to zero first downs, but to just 46 yards on 26 plays or 1.8 yards per play. The longest play went for seven yards, while four plays went for two or less. The Trailblazers had just 15 yards passing on 18 attempts.
In MSU’s most recent game, the Bobcats’ main rotation on defense gave up a first down to Maine on the Black Bears first possession. Prior to falling behind 35-0 in the second quarter, Maine would manage to squeeze out just two first downs with 57 yards on 19 plays. MSU allowed 45 of those yards on nine pass plays, while holding UM to just 12 yards on 10 rushes.
All told the Bobcats allowed just 150 yards on 64 plays during a seven quarter stretch of what were the most important times of those three games. That equates to just 2.3 yards per play.
“We’ve played really good team, assignment defense,” Vigen said. “I know (against Maine) we had a lot of guys getting to the football. We had very few solo tackles. So, we’ve got guys getting where they’re supposed to be at Mach 1. We are flying around on that side of the ball and we haven’t had – from a run perspective – the miss fits, the missed tackles, which can really hurt you, pile up and create some explosive plays.
No single player is putting up anything that would be considered gaudy numbers on defense, primarily because they’ve been able to take quite a few plays off with big leads on the scoreboard. McCade O’Reilly is tops on the team in tackles with 18, which is just six per game. As a team, MSU has just three sacks on the season after leading the FCS in that category in 2023. The Bobcats are averaging a solid 5.3 tackles-for-loss per game and they are getting good pressure on opposing quarterbacks with 10 QB hurries led by defensive end Brody Grebe with three.
Vigen knows the season is young and the defensive side of the ball isn’t perfect, but he appears happy with what he’s seen so far.
“Now we did have some coverage issues (against Maine) we gotta shore up but by-and-large our guys have been really dialed in on the gameplan, for one, but also with ‘here’s where I’m supposed to be,’” Vigen said. “‘I’m not going to try to do too much. If I’m a guy that has to play in this gap so another guy can make a play, I’m going to do that. If I’m a guy that’s going to keep leverage so another guy can make a play, I’m going to do that.’
“I think there’s an unselfish nature about this defense right now and that’s what you need to see. Playing really good team defense is the level we’re trying to attain.”
The Bobcat’ defense will be on display again this Saturday at 1:00 when Mercyhurst descends upon Bobcat Stadium.
