Bobcats bounce back with win over Northern Arizona

MSU football regrouped after a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the University of Idaho (UI) and marched to a dominant 45-21 win over Northern Arizona University (NAU).

"I really appreciate the effort, the intensity, that our guys came out with today. It's the only way you can move forward, don't look back, try to do better than the last time, but more just be concerned about what can we do on this particular Saturday to put our best foot forward and I think we did that from the start,” head coach Brent Vigen said during a post-game press conference.

The game was a microcosm of what largely has come to be expected of Bobcat football thus far through the Vigen era. The defense was stifling, the offense was better on the ground than through the air and the team handled business in Bobcat Stadium for their 25th consecutive home win. Despite all the familiar calling cards of the team being on full display, the return of two starting players, a change in place-kicking duties and slightly different style of quarterback usage all gave the game a different look than Bobcat fans have become accustomed to. 

The game saw the return of senior players Lane Sumner and Level Price Jr., both of whom are starting-caliber players who missed time with injury. Sumner, a running back, was eased back slowly into action and only had two carries during the game. Price Jr. played at nickelback as part of an MSU defense that allowed only 254 yards of total offense throughout the game. “It felt good being back out on that field, especially in front of those Bobcat fans,” Price Jr. said of his first game back from injury.

A missed field goal attempt at UI that would have tied the game helped bring about a change in place-kicking duties. Brendan Hall, who has acted as the team’s kicker thus far, continues to handle punting and kickoffs. Despite Hall’s struggles with field goals this season — he’s only made six of 12 — he has been a fantastic punter. Hall has led the way to MSU being second in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in net punting. The place-kicking job went to redshirt freshman Casey Kautzman. He stepped up to the plate by scoring his only field goal attempt from 42 yards out as well as going six for six on his extra point attempts. 

“Perfect on extra points, had the field goal opportunity and put it through. That's what we expected out of Casey and he got the job done today,” Vigen said. Hall seemed to take the change in stride, sending his kickoffs sailing toward the end zone for touchbacks and congratulating Kautzman after his field goal.

The storyline that the Bobcat faithful have followed all year is the balancing act of distributing snaps between two exceptional quarterbacks in Tommy Mellott and Sean Chambers. Mellot had 12 completions on 18 attempts for 126 yards to go along with his 107 rushing yards, including a spectacular touchdown pass to Bozeman native and junior Ryan Lonegran in the closing minutes of the first half.

“I can’t put in to words,” Lonegran said of scoring his first collegiate touchdown in his hometown. “That was a great experience.” 

Chambers had three passing attempts in the game for nine yards in addition to his 52 yards rushing. After only throwing three times against NAU and not at all against UI the previous week, his declining usage will be something worth paying attention to in the coming weeks.

The win allowed MSU to regain a few spots in the FCS poll as they claimed the number five slot. As the regular season winds down with only two games remaining, the team will need to turn this victory into a streak to end the year in order to get favorable playoff seeding.