Kelly Gorham

Tommy Mellott

football
12/20/2024 8:23:00 am

Bill Lamberty

Montana State, Coyotes meet for the third time in history

THE MATCHUP

Montana State advances to the FCS playoff semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons and hosts fourth-seeded South Dakota on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MSU manages 307.1 yards per game (2nd in the FCS) while the Coyotes allow just 107.9 ypg (10th).

MATCH DATA
START: 1:30 p.m WEBSITE: Bozeman STADIUM: Bobcat Stadium FCS Playoffs Semifinals
State of Montana set a school record with his 14th win in a 57-19 quarterfinal win over Idaho. South Dakota is 11-2 after defeating UC Davis, 35-21.

SERIES
RECORD: 2-0 near Bozeman: 2-0 at Vermillion: 0-0 Neutral: 0-0
Montana State and the Coyotes met twice during South Dakota’s transition to the FCS, with the Cats winning in Bozeman in 2008 and 2009.

NOTES ON THE BOBCAT TEAM

*The Bobcats’ 14 wins and six road victories both rank among the best for programs.
* MSU’s current 14-game winning streak is the longest in program history, exceeding the 13-game streak from 1976-77.
* Montana State has gained over 400 total yards in 22 of its last 26 games, allowing opponents just four 400-yard attempts in that span.
* The Cats have made it to the FCS semifinals in four of the last five seasons.

TO MSU VIOLATION

* Tommy Mellott posted his first 300-yard passing game as a Bobcat against UT Martin and had a 131-yard passing game against Idaho in the quarterfinals last week.
* Scottre Humphrey (2., 7.49) and Adam Jones (4th, 6.89) are among the FCS yards per rush leaders.
* Adam Jones’ 1,068 rushing yards and 14 TDs are MSU freshman records, and he trails FCS freshman leader CharMarr Brown of NDSU by 13 yards in a game.
* MSU is the only FCS team to score 30 points in every game in 2024.
* The Cats lead the FCS with averages of 41.3 points and 496.5 yards per game.
* MSU had scored in 12 consecutive quarters and in 51 of 56 quarters this season.

ABOUT THE MSU DEFENSE

* MSU has 16 sacks in the last 4 games, including 6 at UC Davis and 5 against UTM.
* Montana State allows 14.4 points per home game. Of the 115 points MSU gave up at Bobcat Stadium, only 30 came before halftime.
* The Cats are allowing 301.4 total yards per game, 10th nationally.
* Montana State’s defense has allowed three first-quarter touchdowns this season.
* Neil Daily has 27 total tackles, 5.5 for a loss and a forced fumble in his 6 starts.

ABOUT MSU SPECIALTY TEAMS

* Taco Dowler is now MSU’s career punt return yards leader (1,036).
* Brendan Hall pinned opponents inside the 20 with an FCS-best 63% of his punts.

STADIUM HISTORY

* MSU is 34-1 at home since Sac State’s 34-21 win in 2019, the last win by a Big Sky opponent at Bobcat Stadium, and 30-1 under Brent Vigen.
* MSU and the Coyotes met twice, both times at Bobcat Stadium.