Notebook: Montana State Bobcats reflect on win over New Mexico, prepare for Utah Tech (2024)

BOZEMAN — At the end of practice, the Montana State football team will usually line up for a two-minute drill to simulate high-leverage situations. Several Bobcats like to joke about why they run those after taxing practices.

But when MSU executes like it did against FBS New Mexico on Saturday — getting the ball with under two minutes to play, converting two third downs and scoring the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds left — it’s easy to understand why the Bobcats run that drill.

“When you're in that situation, you're not panicked,” wide receiver Ty McCullouch said Monday, adding, “It felt like we had all the time in the world. We executed on pretty much every play and it felt really good."

While it wasn’t a perfect showing for the offense — featuring two strip sacks returned for TDs — the Bobcats executed when it mattered most in the 35-31 win over UNM, scoring three TDs in the fourth quarter after being down 17.

The first came on a 15-yard rush by quarterback Tommy Mellott. It was a high snap hauled in by Mellott who, instead of giving it to running back Adam Jones, had Jones block the edge rusher. Mellott then snuck down the sideline for the score.

Saturday’s game featured few opportunities for Mellott to use his speed, with only 30 yards on nine carries. With a 12-game season, MSU head coach Brent Vigen said the Bobcats are going to be “more selective” when running with Mellott in 2024.

“Even his touchdown run, it really should have been Adam running it,” Vigen said, adding, “I think Adam scores a little bit easier than Tommy had to score on that play.

"(Mellott) will need to use his legs from time to time. But the volume isn't going to be what it was in the past."

Jones scored the second TD with a 93-yard burst to the left side. McCullouch — who blocked cornerback Noah Avinger on the play — was praying for Jones to not get caught.

“And I ran the whole 93 with him,” McCullouch said. “It was so fun. I was so happy. I was like, 'Oh yeah, we're about to come back and win this.'”

The senior receiver was both a playmaker and motivator Saturday, giving a halftime speech to rally the team. He said Monday it mainly focused on not reliving the same feelings after the season-ending playoff loss to North Dakota State in December.

On the field, McCullouch led the team with seven catches for 66 yards, along with a 17-yard TD catch in the second quarter. He also made a key play on the final drive with a 12-yard catch, setting up the game-winning TD from RB Scottre Humphrey.

McCullouch had an option route on the outside, allowing him to either go to the corner or sit in the middle. He chose the middle, made eye contact with Mellott and made the catch with UNM CB Ishmael Az-Zahir draped over him.

“I didn't feel (the potential pass interference) in the moment," McCullouch said. "But I caught it, and that's all that matters.”

After Humphrey scored, it left the defense to play out the final two snaps to close it out.

“That (last drive) was beautiful,” CB Simeon Woodard said. “We were on the sideline, just first down after first down after first down. Plays after plays being made, just praying, just holding each other. It was great to watch.”

Woodard emphasized that it was just a one-game sample size. Still, he added that the fourth quarter performance gives the Bobcats even more confidence going forward in tightly contested games.

Jones, O’Reilly, Hall named Big Sky Conference Players of the Week

Despite MSU being the only team from the Big Sky Conference to play in Week 0, Jones, linebacker McCade O’Reilly and kicker/punter Brendan Hall earned player of the week honors, the conference announced Monday.

Jones was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week after posting a team-high 167 yards and a TD on 17 carries. Vigen said Jones made phenomenal plays, including the 93-yard TD and a 6-yard catch on the final drive where he blocked a rusher, fell down, popped up and moved the chains.

“He did his job in pass protection, rolled out and really made a challenging catch,” Vigen said.

Hall earned Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week. He had six touchbacks on kickoffs and landed both of his punts inside the 20-yard line, including a 52-yarder in the second quarter.

“Keeping them to zero return yards in the game was all his doing, really,” Vigen said.

O’Reilly was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week after posting a team-high 10 total tackles and 1 1/2tackles for loss.

“McCade was all over the place,” Vigen said. “Statistically, he had a good game. And that's what we expected of him.”

Injury updates

Placekicker Casey Kautzman missed the UNM game after straining a quad the previous Saturday, Vigen said. He tried to rehab it early last week but couldn't make it back in time and will miss the Utah Tech game as well. Sansted went 5 for 5 on point-after tries against UNM.

“To have all those five go through I think was a great start from a placekicking perspective this year,” Vigen said. “We'll see where it continues to take us.”

RB Elijah Elliott was injured on a kickoff return Saturday and will be out for a few weeks. Vigen said the hope is for Elliott to return by conference play — MSU opens at Idaho State on Sept. 28 — but that's still to be determined.

Other players that missed last week — such as RB Julius Davis, free safety Dru Polidore, center Justus Perkins and offensive guard JT Reed — will miss the game against Utah Tech Saturday, Vigen added.

A look ahead to Utah Tech

Much like last week, MSU will face another opponent with a new head coach and plenty of roster turnover. The Utah Tech Trailblazers — who lost to MSU 63-20 in the annual Gold Rush game last season — will host the Bobcats at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Former head coach Paul Peterson moved to a different position in the athletics department this offseason and was replaced by new head coach Lance Anderson. Utah Tech also lost its starting QB, leading rusher, top four WRs, three of four leading tacklers and the starting kicker.

Offensively, the Trailblazers brought in transfer QBs Deacon Hill (Iowa) and Luke MacPhail (Syracuse) to compete for the starting spot. The duo was separated by an “OR” on the first two-deep of the season. Vigen said Utah Tech will likely lean on the passing game if Hill is the starter, but will still find balance based on skill position talent.

The Trailblazers return players like RB Chris Street (No. 2 rusher in 2023), WR Daniel Thomason (No. 5 receiver), and redshirt freshman WR Bryce Parker. Utah Tech added UMass transfer tight end Eni Falayi and Golden West Community College transfer WR Tru Tanner as well.

Defensively, Vigen pointed to Anderson’s previous experience at Stanford from 2007-22, where he worked in various roles on that side of the ball. New defensive coordinator Patrick Moynahan also spent six years with Anderson at Stanford (2017-22). Vigen said the Trailblazers will look different than they did in 2023, but will still feature players that contributed to last season’s contest.

That includes LB Jared Fotu (second-leading tackler), defensive end John Sniffen, safety Brevin Hamblin and CB Jayden Sheridan. The Trailblazers added pieces like BYU transfer LB Fisher Jackson and Memphis transfer LB Spencer Rich as well.

While there will be some mystery surrounding an opponent for the second game in a row, Vigen said it’s important for the Bobcats to study the knowns and go from there.

“We can't be practicing against ghosts this week," Vigen said. "We've got to be confined to what we think we're going to get, and then, like last week, be able to get in that game and make some adjustments to whatever they ultimately are doing."