Montana State Back in the FBS? MSU defeats UNM with 4th Quarter Rally

Montana State Back in the FBS? MSU defeats UNM with 4th Quarter Rally

If you were watching the game on Saturday, you were possibly in the conglomerate of Cats fans letting out an exhausted sigh after the second touchdown for the Lobos with 13:45 left in the second quarter after the Lobos went ahead by 17. A disastrous fumble, a pair of empty drives, and 90 yards to their name, Cats fans were wondering if this game was even going to be competitive. Enter Touchdown Tommy.

One 3-minute, 75-yard drive later and the Cats had finally gotten on the board, capped off by a 5-yard pass from Tommy Mellott to Ryan Schlepp. The Cat’s defense made another stop, only allowing 4 total yards from the Lobos and setting the Cats up for their second touchdown drive of the game. Another 76 yards later and the Cats were only down by a field goal.

A nerve-wracking 3rd quarter.

New Mexico managed to score once more before the half, though the Cats had gotten the momentum to swing in their favor… until they fumbled on the first drive out of the locker room. Scooped up by the Lobos, and the Cats found themselves back down by 17. A demoralizing way to start the second half, it wasn’t until the 4th that MSU would score again.

And score they did!

A trio of runs lead the Cats to storm back, with Touchdown Tommy leading the charge with a 15-yard run to cap off a 5:30, 80-yard drive to mark the beginning of the comeback. Another stop by the Cats had the offense backed up on their own 7, although Adam Jones had something to say about that... 93 yards, to be exact.

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With under 5 minutes left in regulation, everyone looked to the Cats’ defense, which had held the Lobos to only 55 yards thus far in the 4th. 5 plays and 12 yards later, the ball was back in the Cats’ hands. With only 2 minutes on the clock, Touchdown Tommy showed his poise, leading the offense to an 11-play, 89-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a Scottre Humphrey 4-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left on the clock.

Montana State may not be competing in the FBS anymore, but they showed on Saturday that they can still keep up with the big boys.