The Montana State Bobcats wear down the Idaho State Bengals

POCATELLO, Idaho – No. 3 Montana State opened Big Sky Conference play with a 37-17 win at Idaho State on Saturday at the ICCU Dome.

The Bengals received the opening kickoff and narrowly missed the opportunity to strike first. ISU quarterback Kobe Tracy couldn't get a deep ball over the middle to wide receiver Ian Duarte. It likely would have been a touchdown as Duarte flew past MSU defenders Caden Dowler and Miles Jackson. Instead, the Bengals punted.

ISU got the ball back after forcing an MSU punt. DB Andrew Powdrell broke up a pass on third down and forced an ISU punt. MSU WR Taco Dowler weaved through defenders on a 50-yard return, bringing the Bobcats to the ISU 43-yard line.

MSU quarterback Tommy Mellott had two broken up passes, including a jump ball to WR Lonyatta Alexander Jr. Kicker Myles Sansted hit the 45-yard field goal. It is the Bobcats' longest FG since December 9, 2022 (50 yards from Blake Glessner against William and Mary in the FCS quarterfinals).

Mellott orchestrated another drive down the field, rolling for a 23-yard pass to WR Jacob Trimble and running inside the 10 for a first down. MSU capped the drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Mellott, its first in three games.

MSU's next drive was stopped by a mistake by running back Adam Jones. But that was negated three plays later when MSU safety Rylan Ortt jumped a route to intercept. The Bobcats capitalized on an 18-yard touchdown from RB Scottre Humphrey, with Humphrey running through defenders into the end zone. MSU led 17-0 with 4 minutes, 33 seconds left in the first half.

ISU drove to the MSU 41 but faced a fourth-and-10. Tracy – the benefactor of a free play when MSU linebacker McCade O'Reilly jumped offsides – launched a deep ball 31 yards that was caught by WR Jeff Weimer at the MSU 10. A pass interference in the end zone by Jackson moved the ball to the 2nd.

After an ISU false start, WR Christian Fredericksen brought the ball to the 5th line. Two timeouts followed before fourth down and the goal came. Tracy rolled right and found WR Michael Shulikov in the back of the end zone for the TD, with Shulikov getting inbounds with both feet.

The Bobcats outscored the Bengals (158-101) and led by one possession at halftime (14:24 to 11:02). MSU led 17-7 at halftime.

Three punts opened the second half. With just over five minutes left in the third quarter, the Bengals offense finally got going. RBs Dason Brooks and Justice Jackson picked up first downs on the ground. Tracy connected with Shulikov (26 yards) and Fredericksen (15 yards) to bring ISU to the MSU 18. The Bengals settled for a 33-yard FG to make it a one-score game.

That didn't even take one game. Mellott faked the handoff and threw it over the defense to fullback Rohan Jones, who ran for a 70-yard TD. Humphrey added a 6-yard TD run on the following drive to make the score 31-10 Bobcats.

On ISU's next drive, cornerback Jon Johnson – who had missed the last two games due to injury – was sent off for targeting. He will miss the first half of next week's game.

Meanwhile, with MSU defensive end Brody Grebe preparing for a possible sack, Tracy launched a pass to Weimer for the 16-yard TD.

Humphrey scored his third TD on an 8-yard run as time expired.

It was Montana State's first win in Pocatello since 2015.

MSU will host Northern Colorado next Saturday.

This story will be updated.