Montana State 52-19 Idaho (December 13, 2024) Game Recap

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Adam Jones ran for four touchdowns Friday night, Tommy Mellott accounted for three TDs and Montana State beat Idaho 52-19 in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs for its program-record 14th straight victory.

Top-seeded Montana State (14-0) will play the winner between No. 5 seed UC Davis and fourth seed South Dakota in the semifinals.

Montana State, which entered the game averaging an FCS-leading 41.3 points per game. game, took the opening kickoff and used a nine-play, 75-yard drive cap as Mellott hit Rylan Schlepp for a 3-yard TD on third-and-goal to make it 7-0 with 10:07 left in the first quarter , and the Bobcats were never behind.

Mellott finished with 174 yards passing and two touchdowns and added 131 yards rushing. Jones had 95 yards rushing on 23 carries with 66 yards receiving.

A botched onside kick attempt by the Vandals gave Montana State possession at the Idaho 38, and eight plays later, Mellott drove up the middle for an 8-yard TD to make it 17-10 with 3:47 left in the second quarter.

Mark Hamper caught a pass from Jack Layne, fumbled and Brody Grebe recovered for the Bobcats at the Idaho 28. Jones scored on a 2-yard run five plays later, and after and Idaho punt, he added a 1-yard TD run to the 31. -10 at the break.

Jordan Dwyer had 11 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns for Idaho (10-4).

The Bobcats have won six consecutive home games against Idaho, including a 38-7 victory on Oct. 12.

Scottre Humphrey (14 rushing touchdowns and his 101.9 yards rushing per game is 13th in the FCS) and tight end Rohan Jones (eight receiving TDs) did not play for Montana State.

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