BOZEMAN – It’s been a dream season for Montana State, and that dream has now led the Bobcats to a shot at their first national championship in 40 years.

Top-seeded MSU, again led by superstar quarterback Tommy Mellott, defeated South Dakota 31-17 in Saturday’s FCS semifinals at Bobcat Stadium to earn a spot in the title game on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.

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With the win, the Cats improved to 15-0 and secured their second championship appearance in four seasons under coach Brent Vigen. The Bobcats face FCS star and No. 2 seed North Dakota State (13-2) in Frisco as they look to win their first crown since 1984.

The game became a back-and-forth game early before Mellott and the Bobcats took control despite the efforts of South Dakota running back Travis Theis.

MSU’s offense fired up the ball, and Mellott dropped a sweet 34-yard touchdown pass over the top into the arms of Taco Dowler for a 7-0 lead on the game’s first possession.

But the Coyotes didn’t need much time to find an answer, as Theis broke loose on their first drive with a 45-yard TD run to tie the score.

Slim Kimmel / MTN Sports

Late in the first quarter, Mellott reached the end zone on a 5-yard run to put MSU back in the lead, 14-7. But South Dakota came back when Charles Pierre Jr. broke free down the sideline for a 45-yard TD run, tying the score early in the second.

The touchdown trade continued as MSU took a 21-14 lead on a 1-yard rush by Scottre Humphrey.

But it was a key Kenneth Eiden IV sack of QB Aidan Bouman on USD’s next possession that allowed the Cats to gain some distance. The sack helped force a punt, and Myles Sansted later kicked a 28-yard field goal to increase the score to 24-14 just seconds before halftime.

The Coyotes got the ball early in the third quarter but went out of bounds three times, giving MSU a chance to further extend its lead. That’s exactly what happened.

And Mellott made the game a success. On third-and-1, Mellott mishandled an errant snap but caught it in the backfield, ran forward, jumped to avoid a tackle, kept his balance and ran into the end zone for a 41-yard score.

That left the Bobcats leading 31-14 and fans began to think about their travel plans to Texas. But it wasn’t quite over yet.

Slim Kimmel / MTN Sports

Montana State defensive lineman Miles Jackson appeared to force a fumble and return it for a touchdown, but was called back after review as Theis was removed from the game due to contact. USD’s Will Leyland then added a 46-yard field goal to bring the score to 31-17.

The Coyotes got to the brink of a touchdown later in the fourth, but a pass from Bouman to tight end JJ Gilbreath wasn’t enough for a first down on fourth-and-13, and MSU took it alone at 2. A bad snap to start the series gave the USD a break harmed.

MSU’s defense stopped the Coyotes again on fourth down in the red zone on their next possession as another snap issue entered the series.

Mellott’s 41-yard TD run in the third quarter was about the only thing the Bobcats could muster on offense after halftime, but the defense held firm.

A mistake on a hook-and-ladder play with 1:41 left was recovered by Brody Grebe, and the Bobcats were able to run out the clock and secure a spot in the title game.

Turning point: Eiden’s sack of Bouman midway through the second quarter, followed by a false start, set USD back on a second-and-22 play. The Coyotes eventually hit a punt and Sansted’s 24-yard field goal gave MSU a two-possession lead.

Slim Kimmel / MTN Sports

Statistics of the game: The trip to the championship game further illustrates the heights the Bobcats have reached under Vigen. MSU has now won 15 games, the most of any Big Sky Conference team since Montana’s 2001 national title season.

Under Vigen, the Bobcats are now 31-1 in home games since he was hired prior to the 2021 season. Vigen’s overall record at Montana State is now 47-9, a winning percentage of .839. The only thing missing? A national title.

Bobcat game balls: QB Tommy Mellott (Attack). By scoring three touchdowns and pulling off the game’s most thrilling play, the Butte quarterback further cemented his legacy as an all-time Bobcat great.

DE Kenneth Eiden IV (defense). The Bobcats were able to build a lead in the second quarter thanks to Eiden’s sack, and the Bozeman High product helped overcome Bouman and USD’s passing game.

P Brendan Hall (Special Teams). The 6-foot-9 Hall continues to be a weapon as he threw five punts for an average of 54.0 yards.

What’s next?: The Bobcats will now look to cap off a perfect season with the national title. And they’ll face the team that beat them in the 2021 championship game – perennial rival North Dakota State.

NDSU beat two-time defending national champion and Missouri Valley Football Conference rival South Dakota State 28-21 in the other semifinal Saturday in Fargo, N.D

As the most decorated program in FCS history, the Bison are returning to the title game for the 11th time in the last 14 years and seeking their 10th crown.