Bobcats Earn Homecoming Win – Montana State University Athletics

Brian Morse

Ryan Lonergan had two catches per touchdown against Northern Colorado on Saturday.

football
Oct 5, 2024 5:56 p.m

Tommy Mellott accounted for five touchdowns on Saturday and Taco Dowler had more than 200 all-purpose pitches as Montana State defeated Northern Colorado 55-17 in the Bobcats' annual homecoming game.

On MSU's first offensive play, running back Scottre Humphrey broke free with a 43-yard gain. Five plays later, Mellott found himself with a wide lead Ryan Lonergan to give the third-seeded Bobcats a 6-0 lead. Mellott scored later in the first quarter Rohan Jones from 6 yards out to make it 13-0, and the Bobcats were on their way to a 6-0 overall record (2-0 in Big Sky play) for the first time since 2012.

Dowler, who had 102 yards in punt returns, made the score 20-0 as a wide receiver Ty McCullouch faked an end-around and connected with Dowler for a 34-yard touchdown. It was McCullouch's first pass attempt of his MSU career. moments later, Danny Uluilakepa intercepted an errant UNC pass for a 13-yard Mellott running score that made the score 27-0 at halftime.

Mellott's touchdown run was tied for the 33rd of his outstanding career Sean Chambers And Troy Andersen No. 2 on the Bobcats all-time list. He now trails only Cody Kirk, who finished his career in 2013 with 47 rushing scores.

MSU increased the score to 34-0 in the third quarter. MSUs Brody Grebe helped the Bobcats keep UNC out of the end zone with his third sack of the season. On the ensuing offensive series, MSU was successful on a fourth down play near midfield. On the next play, Mellott found McCullough, a senior, for a 50-yard scoring strike.

During the game, Mellott, a senior, completed eight of 12 passes for 225 yards and scored four scores. He also ran for 37 yards and a touchdown. But he wasn't finished yet. After Carver Cheeks got the Bears on the scoreboard with a 16-yard pass from Caden Meis, Mellott and Dowler finished their day with a 72-yard scoring pass that gave MSU a 41-7 lead. Dowler finished the game with two scores on two catches for 106 yards. McCullouch and Lonergan also had two receptions. Overall, MSU gained 510 total yards while UNC was held to 356.

Before the third quarter ended, UNC's Kia'i Keone hit Brayden Munroe for a touchdown, and then Humphrey, who led MSU with 81 yards rushing, scored from 17 yards out and MSU led 48-14 entering the final quarter. Humphrey's score was his eighth of the season and followed a 56-yard bomb from Mellott Aidan Garrigan.

Hunter Green kicked a field goal for UNC (0-6, 0-2), which has now lost 18 straight games since the start of the 2023 season. Chance Wilson A 5-yard run for MSU ended the scoring.

McCade O'Reilly led the Bobcats with 10 tackles and Uliulakepa added eight with his third career interception.

The announced attendance of 22,007 was the third largest attendance in Bobcat Stadium history. MSU is back at home this week against Idaho, while UNC travels to Weber State, which shocked Montana 55-48 in overtime on Saturday.