Kicking game, defense please Kramer in win over Adams St.

The Daily Inter Lake

Montana State's 19-0 win over Adams State last Saturday was not a masterpiece by any stretch, but it was a win, something that has been elusive for the Bobcats both in season openers and against Division II opponents in the Mike Kramer era.

The No. 14 Bobcats were victorious to start the season for just the second time in Kramer's five years as coach, and evened their record at 2-2 against D-II schools.

Most of the credit goes to the MSU defense.

"I was very much thrilled by the way we played on defense and in the kicking game," said Kramer during a phone interview from his Bozeman office Tuesday. "Our defense was absolutely as advertised.

"And Travis Doroski kicked the ball out of the end zone three times. That hasn't happened in my entire career coaching, never mind at Montana State.

"Our kicking game did great."

Indeed, Doroski's three touchbacks equaled the number MSU had all of last season.

But while the defense played well, the Bobcats' offense was a mess, failing to generate a first down on its first six possessions (Montana State did get a first down on the sixth drive, but it was via penalty).

"Our offense … nine dropped passes, and the first play a fumbled quarterback-center exchange," Kramer said. "After our first quarterback-center exchange I would have rather been at the lake."

But quarterback Travis Lulay and the Bobcats started to get things together late in the first half and did some good things in the second half.

"The second half we ran the ball with authority," Kramer said. "Both Justin Domineck and Morris Milton ran downhill. And Travis threw much better in the second half.

"A couple of positives dwarfed by nine drops. Our receiving corps played a little afraid."

The Bobcats host No. 22 Cal Poly-SLO Saturday.

- LULAY LAUNCHING 'EM: Lulay, who doubles as the MSU punter, got a lot of work versus Adams State. He had six punts for an average of 48.3 yards and a long of 81.

That was good enough to be honored by Don Hansen's Football Gazette as the I-AA special teams player of the week.

- YOUNG GUNS: At wide receiver and running back, Montana State used five players who had never before played for the Bobcats.

Kramer said that was a factor in the offense not clicking like he'd hoped.

- DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: The Mustangs of Cal Poly run the exact same offensive (mid-line option) and defensive (flex) schemes as Adams State, the only two times MSU will see those formations.

"It's an absolute stroke of genius scheduling-wise, and I had nothing to do with it," Kramer said. "Because what they do on offense and what they do on defense it's great to have these two games back-to-back."

- LONG TIME RUNNING: With the offense sputtering in the first half against Adams State, the time of possession at halftime was skewed heavily in the Grizzlies' favor - 21:19 to 8:41.

But Kramer said it wasn't all the offense's fault.

"The time of possession was more a situation of our defense not being able to get themselves off the field," he said. "They let Adams State complete some short passes that kept drives going."

- HISTORIC SHUTOUT: MSU's blanking of Adams State was the first shutout to start a season since 1965 (22-0 versus South Dakota State (SDS) at Great Falls) and only the third since World War II (the Bobcats recorded another shutout of SDS in 1959, this one in South Dakota).

- SENSATIONAL SEBESTYEN: Ray Sebestyen, who moved from tackle to end on the defensive line the week before the season started, recorded five tackles, two for a loss, and a sack.

- MARVELOUS MOLLOHAN: Former Flathead Brave Mac Mollohan had the Bobcats other sack on the afternoon and added 3.5 tackles, one for a loss.