Historic Bobcat football season ends with defeat in Frisco, Texas

For the first time in 37 years the Bobcats made a trip to the FCS National Championship, where they fell to the North Dakota State (NDSU) Bison, 38-10. The Bison claimed their ninth national championship in 11 years and their second of the Head Coach Matt Entz era. The Bobcats received the ball to start the game and put together a sustained drive before freshman sensation Tommy Mellott was pulled from the game with an apparent lower leg injury. Senior quarterback Tucker Rovig took over the quarterbacking duties and the MSU offense never seemed to find its footing for the rest of the contest. 

The Bobcat defense also failed to stop the Bison offense, giving up a season high 38 points on 126 yards through the air and 380 yards on the ground. The Bison’s leading rusher was junior running back Kobe Johnson, who recorded 106 yards on four carries. This was a stark contrast to a Bobcat offense that heavily relies on the run game. The Cats recorded a mere 156 rushing yards behind an 84 yard effort on 18 carries by junior Isaiah Ifanse. 

Although the result was not what the Cats and Bobcat Nation were hoping for, MSU is trending in the right direction as a football program. The team has made the semifinals in its past two seasons (2019 and 2021) but has fallen both times to the Bison. MSU football coach Brent Vigen had the most successful inaugural season in Bobcat history, going 12-3.

Looking ahead to the 2022 season, the Cats will open play against McNeese State when the Cowboys come to town on Saturday, Sept. 3. Follow along with the Exponent’s coverage of Bobcat football in the off season and beyond at msuexponet.com and on social media @MSUExpo on Twitter and @MSUExponent on Instagram.