Montana State Wins Showdown of Top 10 Foes in Resounding Fashion

Saturday, September 23

Ogden, UT

6 pm

Montana State University

3-1 , 1-0

Weber State

2-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana State

Weber State

Montana State Wins Showdown of Top 10 Foes in Resounding Fashion

9/24/2023 1:57:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Bobcats top Weber State 40-0

By: Bill Lamberty

OGDEN, Utah – Call it the ground and pound approach.

In a showdown between two top 10 teams, third-ranked Montana State beat No. 10/8 Weber State 40-0 by gaining 346 yards on the ground while MSU's defense pounded Weber State's offense to the tune of just 208 total yards and 13 first downs. The resulting shutout was MSU's first since 2016 against Western Oregon, and the first against a Big Sky foe since Portland State in 2006.

"We came down knowing we'd have to play hard and play physical and be really dialed in," said Bobcat coach Brent Vigen. "I think we did all those things. Weber State is a physical, aggressive team, and we knew we'd have to play well."

After building up a 20-0 lead in the first half, MSU dominated the second half. But it didn't happen immediately. After forcing a Bobcat punt on the half's opening drive, Weber State drove from the team's own 35 to the Bobcat 13. On fourth-and-two, though, Montana State held. After a Bobcat punt on the next possession, Weber State attempted a fake punt from its own 17 early in the fourth quarter, which the Cats thwarted.

On the first play, Montana State flipped the game on its ear. Chambers found Treyton Pickering on a 24-yard touchdown pass giving MSU a 26-0 lead that, coupled with the effectiveness of the Bobcat defense was insurmountable. After a flat third quarter in which Weber State gained 73 yards and the Bobcats 51.

"I think we were wearing them down" with MSU's run game, Vigen said, and the fruits of that labor came in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats rushed for 104 yards in the final stanza.

Montana State controlled the first half, statistically and on the scoreboard. The Bobcats entered the locker room with a 20-0 lead, 15 first downs to Weber State's three, and 311 total yards to WSU's 69. Despite some ball insecurity on MSU's part, the first half's only turnover was Wildcat fumble forced by McCade O'Reilly and scooped up by Jon Johnson.

Neither team threatened opponent territory in the game's first three drives, but the Bobcats worked their way to the Weber State 16 on MSU's second drive. Brendan Hall missed a 33-yard field goal. On MSU's next drive Chambers hit Treyton Pickering on a 29-yard scoring pass, and MSU led 7-0. That capped a 94-yard drive, MSU's longest of 2023 to that point.

The Bobcats staged a 72-yard, six play drive early in the second quarter, with Chambers scoring from 10 yards. The PAT failed. Then with 6:26 to play in the second quarter, MSU's takeaway gave the Bobcats possession on the Weber State 46. Julius Davis rambled for 17 yards on first down, then Chambers scampered 29 yards for the touchdown. The kick gave MSU a 20-0 lead. Coupling the two missed field goals with a missed extra point kick, MSU left seven points on the field.

On the other hand, Hall's punting and kickoffs proved exceptional. The only kickoff he allowed a return on, by WSU legend Abraham Williams, was stopped short of the 25. Every other first half kickoff was a touchback, and WSU returned only one punt for two yards.

Outsiders may find MSU's margin of victory surprising, but both Vigen and Chambers identified it as a 'statement.' It stands as the second-largest Bobcat win as a ranked team against a ranked opponent, after last December's 55-7 win against William & Mary.

The Cats raise their record to 3-1 on the season, and host Portland State next Saturday at 2 pm for MSU's Homecoming game. Weber State is now 2-2 on the season.

#GoCatsGo