No. 3 Montana State starts fast, dominates Portland State and improves to 8-0

HILLSBORO, Ore. – Another game, another step toward what could be a historic season for the Montana State football program.

After dominating Idaho in a nationally televised game last week, the third-ranked Bobcats quickly put aside any thoughts of disappointment Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium, posting a 44-14 victory over Portland State. Montana State is now 8-0 for the first time since 1956.

Scottre Humphrey set the tone early for the Bobcats, scoring an easy 7-yard touchdown run on the game's first possession. It was just the beginning of a dominant first half.

Tommy Mellott threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter and Humphrey added another scoring run as Montana State rolled up more than 400 yards of offense en route to a 35-0 lead at halftime. Mellott's TDs went for 57 yards to Taco Dowler, 24 yards to Jared White and 48 yards to Rohan Jones.

The Jones TD was particularly devastating for Portland State. Mellott and White scored for their touchdown with just 1:55 minutes left in the first half.

But the Bobcat defense forced a Portland State punt to get the ball back with 51 seconds left in the half. Montana State's offense needed just 21 seconds to score another touchdown, with Mellott finding an open Jones fending off several tacklers before diving into the end zone for the touchdown.

Mellott finished the game completing 15 of 20 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns. He added 34 yards on four carries, while Humphrey totaled 160 yards and his two touchdowns on just 14 carries. Montana State finished the game with 607 yards of offense – 323 rushing and 284 passing yards.

A week after rushing and passing for more than 200 yards, Portland State quarterback Dante Chachere struggled to find space against Montana State. He was 10 of 17 passing for just 65 yards and one interception. He had seven carries for 4 yards.

The Vikings managed 236 total yards, only 87 of which came through the air.

Turning point: Dowler's 57-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Portland State hung tough in the early going and was just 0-7 heading into the second quarter, but Dowler's long touchdown ended the game. Montana State dominated the rest of the way.

Statistics of the game: Montana State's defense, which has given up just 14 total first-half points in seven games against FCS opponents this season, was once again dominant. The Bobcats held Portland State to 87 yards rushing in the game, nullifying Chachere and the Vikings' offense.

Bobcat toy balls: RB Scottre Humphrey (Attack). That could easily be Mellott, who once again played a nearly flawless game at quarterback. But Humphrey established the Bobcats' running game early with a 35-yard run on the first possession and then led the Bobcats to 210 rushing yards on 21 carries in the first half alone.

LB Neil Daly (defense). Daly has settled in well at linebacker, filling in for the injured Danny Uluilakepa. Daly led the team with six total tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss, but the entire defensive unit deserves credit for once again holding an opponent scoreless in the first half.

PK Myles Sansted (special teams). Sansted wasn't used much, but when his name was called in the second half, he made all three of his field goal attempts. He was good for 28, 25 and 45 yards.

What's next?: Montana State (8-0 overall, 4-0 Big Sky) and Portland Stare (1-6, 1-3) are idle next week as they head into the home stretch of the regular season. Both teams return to the field on November 2nd – Montana State at Eastern Washington and Portland State at Sacramento State.