The #3 ranked team in all the FCS, the Montana State Bobcats, ran for 232 first half yards in building a commanding 38-7 halftime lead in defeating the Maine Black Bears 41-24 in non-conference action at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana Saturday night.
Montana State (3-0) scored the first 35 points of the game, highlighted by touchdown runs of 79 and 40 yards by Scottre Humphrey and Adam Jones in the first quarter. Tommy Mellott also tossed a first period score of four yards to Ryan Lonergan, while Humphrey and Jones each added a TD rush in the second quarter. Maine got their lone touchdown of the first half on a five-yard pass from Carter Peevy to Montigo Moss.
The Black Bears didn’t have any quit however, outscoring the Bobcats 17-3 in the second half getting a 19-yard touchdown run from Trevin Ewing in the third quarter and a Peevy to Declan McKevitt 25-yard connection in the fourth in falling to 1-1 in the early season.
Peevy went 18-31 passing on the night for 224 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Maine loss. Tavion Banks led the running game with eight carries for 74 yards. Moss had five receptions for 47 yards, while McKevitt had three for 43 yards with both players registering one touchdown each. Nick Laughlin also added three catches for 34 yards. Kesean Dyson had eight total tackles to lead the defense (four solo) with one sack and one tackle for a loss. Mellott went 12-15 passing for 144 yards and a touchdown, and also ran five times for 66 yards in the win for Montana State. Humphrey rushed just four times, but had 110 yards with two touchdowns. Jared White also contributed to the running game (15 attempts, 99 yards), while Jones finished with four attempts for 63 yards and a pair of TDs. Ryan King and Lonyatta Alexander Jr. both led the Bobcats receiving core with three catches a piece, for 39 and 31 yards respectively, as the team put up a total of 526 total yards of offense (344 rushing). Rylan Ortt had six tackles. The Black Bears return to Orono to prepare for their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) opener next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when they host Monmouth at Alfond Stadium. The Hawks are led by former Maine QB and transfer player Derek Robertson.
Nick Laughlin makes a catch during a 17-14 Maine football win over Colgate during their season opener on August 30 in Orono. The Black Bears fell to #3 Montana State 41-24 on Saturday night in Bozeman, Montana. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco
