Bobcats hold off UC Davis, 30-28

DAVIS, Calif. — McCade O’Reilly, take a bow.

The Montana State linebacker intercepted a PAT pass with 34 seconds left Saturday, preserving the No. 2 Bobcats’ huge 30-28 win over No. 4 UC Davis. 

The Bobcats, 11-0 and 7-0 in the Big Sky, clinched the league’s automatic berth into the FCS postseason. But they had to hold on after the Aggies ate almost all of a 30-8 deficit in the final six minutes and change. 

First UCD running back Lan Larison capped an 81-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run at the 6:21 mark, bringing the Aggies (9-2, 6-1 in the Big Sky) to 30-15. He helped the drive along with a 34-yard burst up the middle. 

The Aggies then forced a punt and, starting from their own 11, got a 77-yard catch and run from Chaz Davis, who broke a couple tackles along the MSU sideline. That set up Miles Hastings’ 4-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Gbatu, Jr.  

The Bobcats’ lead was down to 30-22 with 1:49 left. 

The Aggies then executed a perfect onside kick, Angelo Genetti’s boot getting the requisite high hop. Starting from its 49, UCD scored in seven plays: Hastings hit Larison for 27 yards down to the MSU 11 and then found Davis — who had four catches for 128 yards — for the score on the next snap. 

That left the Aggies two points from a tie, but O’Reilly stepped in front of Hastings’ pass over the middle for the pickoff. 

UC Davis tried another onside kick, but Rylan Ortt covered it for MSU. The Bobcats then ran out the clock. 

While the Aggies led this one 8-0, the Bobcats dominated for a large portion of the game. 

Tommy Mellott threw touchdown strikes of 53 yards to Rohan Jones and 17 yards to Ty McCullough as MSU took a 14-8 lead at 14:19 of the second quarter. 

The Bobcats then forced a punt, and Taco Dowler broke a pair of tackles and returned it 79 yards for a 20-8 MSU lead with 12:43 left in the half. 

Myles Sansted added a 42-yard field goal and MSU took a 23-8 lead into halftime. Coming out of the break the Bobcats drove 75 yards to a 30-8 lead; Julius Davis, who ran 13 times for 91 yards, scored from 7 yards out at 10:22 of the third quarter. 

The teams then combined on seven straight punts before suddenly, the Aggies found their footing. Hastings was 22 of 33 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns; Larison ran 23 times for 112 yards and caught eight passes for 109. 

Mellott was 18 of 25 passing for 174 yards, and ran three times for 4 yards. Adam Jones had 34 yards on 11 carries; Scottre Humphrey managed 30 yards on seven totes. 

The hosts outgained the Bobcats 414-333 — with 221 of their yards coming in their final three drives. 

Montana State returns home for the 124th Brawl of the Wild with the Montana Grizzlies Saturday at noon.