Montana State football outlasts Illinois State in OT for national title

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For the first time in more than four decades, the Montana State football team has captured a national championship.

The Bobcats (14-2) held off a furious Redbird rally at Vanderbilt University’s First Bank Stadium in Nashville on Monday, Jan. 5, as Taco Dowler scored on their first possession in overtime and kicker Myles Sansted booted through the decisive extra point for the 35-34 championship win.

Illinois State scored on a Dylan Lord catch from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse to open overtime but MSU managed to block the ensuing PAT.

Facing fourth-and-10 on the next possession from the 14-yard line, Bobcat quarterback Justin Lamson found the Billings West alumni Dowler wide open for the equalizer, and the following kick clinched the trophy.

It was the first national title for the Bobcats since 1984 and fourth overall for the program, which won the NAIA championship in 1956 and NCAA Div. II crown in 1976.

“Bobcats from all the generations are a part of this,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen told ESPN. “The teams that have preceded and built us to this point. This group wanted to finish (it) off for all of them. It’s amazing. This crowd is amazing. All us Bobcats are champions.”

The title triumph marked the third appearance in the championship game for MSU under Vigen, who led the program to runner-up finishes in 2021 and last season – both to North Dakota State.

The game was broadcast on ESPN with Montana native and former NFL quarterback Brock Osweiler on the call along with play-by-play announcer Dave Flemming.

Lamson threw for 280 yards on 18-of-27 passing with two touchdowns while also rushing for a pair of scores.

Dowler hauled in eight catches for 111 yards and the would-be game-winner in overtime for MSU while also rushing for a 22-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

C.M. Russell High graduate Cole Taylor – a former star quarterback for the Rustlers – led the Bobcats in tackles at linebacker with four solo stops and 12 assists.

Trailing 21-7 at the half, Illinois State held the Bobcats to just one score in the second half and Rittenhouse threw two fourth quarter touchdowns to tie it up as the Redbirds dominated the time of possession 39:41 to 20:19 in regulation.

Illinois State attempted a go-ahead field goal with just over a minute to go in the fourth from 38 yards out, but the kick was blocked. MSU nearly reached field goal range in the waning moments, but a bad snap set the Bobcats back and forced them to punt, ultimately setting up overtime.

MSU scored on its opening drive of the game as it marched 90 yards in 10 plays with Lamson running it in from three yards out. The drive was sparked by a 17-yard run by tailback Adam Jones and 26-yard connection between Lamson and Taco Dowler on second-and-23.

The Bobcats took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter as the offense went 80 yards in eight plays, with Lamson powering across the goal line for a two-yard score.

After the Redbirds got on the board late in the first half, MSU struck fast with less than a minute left in the second. Lamson completed three passes for 75 yards including a 33-yard score to Dane Steel – who broke a tackle and hurdled a defender before diving into the end zone for the touchdown.

The Bobcats started off the season 0-2 with losses to FBS power Oregon and South Dakota State but ripped off 13 straight wins to reach the championship game.

MSU earned the Big Sky Conference title with a 31-28 victory over the University of Montana in November before a 48-23 victory over the Grizzlies in a semifinal rematch of the Brawl of the Wild on Dec. 20.

Illinois State (12-5) became the first team in FCS history to win four straight road playoff games, according to the ESPN broadcast.

MSU 7 14 7 0 (7) – 35

ISU 0 7 7 14 (6) – 34

First quarter

MSU – Justin Lamson 3 run (Myles Sansted kick) (4:55)

Second quarter

MSU – Lamson 2 run (Sansted kick) (10:50)

ISU – Scotty Presson Jr. 6 pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Michael Cosentino kick) (0:58)

MSU – Dane Steel 33 pass from Lamson (Sansted kick) (0:27)

Third quarter

ISU – Logan Brasfield end zone fumble recovery (Cosentino kick) (5:45)

MSU – Taco Dowler 22 run (Sansted kick) (3:25)

Fourth quarter

ISU – Daniel Sobkowicz 4 pass from Rittenhouse (Cosentino kick) (10:17)

ISU – Dylan Lord 25 pass from Rittenhouse (Cosentino kick) (5:19)

Overtime

ISU – Lord 10 catch from Rittenhouse (kick blocked)

MSU – Dowler 14 pass from Lamson (Sansted kick)

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana State football outlasts Illinois State in OT for national title

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