Bobcats Ground Seahawks, Take Flight

The Bobcats returned home Saturday for their final non-conference game of the season, where they welcomed the Seahawks of Wagner College for a gridiron matchup under the Big Sky. Both teams came into the game with a .500 record and were hungry for a win. After a back-and-forth first half, the Cats ran away from the Seahawks eventually winning 47-24.

The Cats found themselves in a bind early as the Seahawks took the opening kickoff 98 yards to the house, putting Wagner up seven before the Cats’ offense even touched the ball. After an unsuccessful drive, redshirt freshman quarterback Tucker Rovig, getting his second straight start, connected with freshman Isaiah Ifanse from 27 yards out to tie the game at seven apiece.

The Cats forced another punt on the ensuing Seahawks possession and took advantage. After marching 75 yards, Sophomore transfer running back Tyler “Big Bacon” Natee punched the ball across the goal line from four yards out to take a 14-7 lead. The Seahawks answered back at the end of the first with an 18-yard score to tie the game. The Cats weren’t done on offense and flexed their muscles in the form of a field goal from junior place-kicker Tristan Bailey and a 73-yard touchdown scamper by Ifanse.

With the score 23-14, the Seahawks raced for a 66-yard touchdown run to close the gap. The Cats took over and answered back by means of a 10-yard touchdown toss from Rovig to junior wide receiver Kevin Kassis with 18 seconds on the clock. At halftime, the Cats held the advantage 30-21 and did not allow a touchdown in the second half. The Seahawks managed to muster up a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter to push them to 24. But second half touchdowns from Kassis and Anderson sealed the deal for the Cats.

Rovig finished an impressive day of passing, throwing for 310 yards and three touchdowns. Ifanse made the most of his day accounting for 218 all-purpose yards, a receiving and a rushing touchdown. Defensive end stars from the Gold Rush games, junior Bryce Sterk and senior Tyrone Fa’anono, kept up their impressive start of the year each tallying a sack.

Next, the Cats will start conference play at Portland State University. The Bobcats return home Sept. 29 for a touted Big Sky Conference bout against Eastern Washington University.