DeNarius McGhee threw for four touchdowns in MSU's win at PSU Saturday
Bobcats Escape Portland with Win, League Lead
10/8/2011 6:09:00 PM | Football
MSU grabbed sole possession of first place in the Big Sky with a 38-36 win
In a game featuring 74 points and scores of all varieties, it was a non-scoring drive of less than three points that made the difference.
Clinging to a 38-36 lead, Montana State's valiant, injury-depleted offensive line paved the way for 23 rushing yards in a game-clinching drive that allowed the Bobcats to escape with a 38-36 win over Portland State. The win leaves MSU alone in first place in the Big Sky at 3-0, while PSU falls to 2-1.
“There are a lot of ways to win a football game,” MSU coach Rob Ash said after his team held the Vikings to 213 rushing yards Saturday, 100 below their FCS-leading average. “The defense was fabulous. The offense made some big plays. It was a great team win.”
After surviving a game-opening rush by the Vikings that led to an early 10-0 margin for the home team, the Bobcats grabbed a 21-13 lead at halftime. After Cory McCaffrey scampered 49 yards for a touchdown to open the second-half scoring less than two minutes in, DeNarius McGhee engineered a 61-yard touchdown drive to answer. The Cats then pushed the lead to 35-19 late in the third quarter when McGhee found Portlander Elvis Akpla for a touchdown.
But Portland State kept fighting. Zach Brown and MSU's Jason Cunningham traded fourth quarter field goals, then McCaffrey scored from one yard out to bring PSU within 38-30. The Vikings then recovered the kickoff, and Kalua Noa caught a 15-yard pass for bring the Vikings within two. But, Darius Jones and Zach Minter helped stop Cavanaugh on the two-point try, and the kickoff sailed for a touchback, setting up MSU's game-sealing drive.
The first half was dotted with both sloppy play and big individual efforts. Portland State's two blocked punts led to 10 of PSU's 13 first-half points. The Vikings' do-everything tailback McCaffrey rushed for 76 yards in the first half, while Kavanaugh rushed for 49 and threw for 18. The Vikings' offense was subverted in the first half, though, with 10 penalties for 115 yards.
Clinging to a 38-36 lead, Montana State's valiant, injury-depleted offensive line paved the way for 23 rushing yards in a game-clinching drive that allowed the Bobcats to escape with a 38-36 win over Portland State. The win leaves MSU alone in first place in the Big Sky at 3-0, while PSU falls to 2-1.
“There are a lot of ways to win a football game,” MSU coach Rob Ash said after his team held the Vikings to 213 rushing yards Saturday, 100 below their FCS-leading average. “The defense was fabulous. The offense made some big plays. It was a great team win.”
After surviving a game-opening rush by the Vikings that led to an early 10-0 margin for the home team, the Bobcats grabbed a 21-13 lead at halftime. After Cory McCaffrey scampered 49 yards for a touchdown to open the second-half scoring less than two minutes in, DeNarius McGhee engineered a 61-yard touchdown drive to answer. The Cats then pushed the lead to 35-19 late in the third quarter when McGhee found Portlander Elvis Akpla for a touchdown.
But Portland State kept fighting. Zach Brown and MSU's Jason Cunningham traded fourth quarter field goals, then McCaffrey scored from one yard out to bring PSU within 38-30. The Vikings then recovered the kickoff, and Kalua Noa caught a 15-yard pass for bring the Vikings within two. But, Darius Jones and Zach Minter helped stop Cavanaugh on the two-point try, and the kickoff sailed for a touchback, setting up MSU's game-sealing drive.
The first half was dotted with both sloppy play and big individual efforts. Portland State's two blocked punts led to 10 of PSU's 13 first-half points. The Vikings' do-everything tailback McCaffrey rushed for 76 yards in the first half, while Kavanaugh rushed for 49 and threw for 18. The Vikings' offense was subverted in the first half, though, with 10 penalties for 115 yards.
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