Bobcats pull away from ISU, 37-17

POCATELLO, Idaho — And just like that, it was a runaway.

Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott connected with tight end Rohan Jones on a 70-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to give the Bobcats a 24-10 lead, and MSU finished a 37-17 win at Idaho State on Saturday. 

The longest completion of Mellott’s Bobcat career and Jones’ longest catch answered an Idaho State field goal that trimmed the lead to one score.  

“That was a big play to re-establish the lead,” said MSU coach Brent Vigen. 

Montana State extended its season-opening streak of scoring at least 30 points to five games, the second-longest stretch to begin a campaign in school history (after 2015).  

With Scottre Humphrey running for two late touchdowns, the Cats piled up 268 rushing yards and 410 total. Idaho managed 276, 75 on the ground. 

After the long completion from Mellott to Jones, Humphrey had a 6-yard run to make it 31-17.  

The Bengals scored with just under five minutes remaining, and Humphrey provided an answering touchdown, crossing the goal line for the third time as time expired. 

Montana State dominated much of the first half, but big plays on conversion downs by ISU compounded by Bobcat mistakes kept the Bengals in range. 

They Bengals extended their last drive of the half with two fourth-down conversions and benefited from a pair of Bobcat penalties. Kobe Tracy found Michael Shulikov in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the Bobcat 5 with six seconds left for Idaho State’s first score. 

After Montana State’s Myles Sansted nailed a 45-yard field goal, the Cats drove 74 yards on their next possession, with Mellott scoring from 7 yards out for a 10-0 lead. 

The teams then exchanged turnovers. Adam Jones fumbled at the Bengals 41 to give Idaho State its best field position of the day, but Rylan Ortt intercepted a pass three plays later to set up another Bobcat touchdown.  

This time, Humphrey battered his way across the goal line to give the Cats a 17-0 lead. He finished with 159 yards on 27 carries. Jones ran 12 times for 61. Mellot was 10 of 17 passing for 142 yards and ran six times for 23 yards. 

Danny Uliulakepa had 10 tackles to lead the MSU defense. McCade O’Reilly had eight stops.