121st Brawl of the Wild: Montana State Bobcats season in review

BOZEMAN — Coming off their journey to the nationwide championship, there was a variety of noise surrounding this yr’s Bobcat soccer workforce questioning if the lack of a number of stars would affect their success going ahead.

That clearly has not been the case this fall as Montana State stays only one win away from a Massive Sky common season championship in a daily season that’s culminating with the 121st version of the Brawl of the Wild.

Season in evaluation

Beginning off with Gold Rush, the Bobcats got here into the season ranked No. 4 within the FCS as they opened 2022 motion towards McNeese State, 40-17. Montana State obtained off on the proper in entrance of a sold-out crowd that was led on the bottom by Lane Sumner’s 176-yard speeding efficiency.

The Bobcats adopted with one other convincing win at dwelling towards Morehead State, however their actual take a look at got here in Week 3 once they hit the highway to Oregon State. The play of the sport got here on a 98-yard kickoff return by Marqui Johnson, however the Pac-12 foe was a pink zone monster rolling previous the Bobcats to win by 40.

The next week Montana State seemed to bounce again on the Pink Inferno at Japanese Washington to open up Massive Sky play, however little did they know they’d be with out their beginning quarterback Tommy Mellott after a scary hit within the first quarter. Nonetheless, an offensive shootout capped off by a 13-yard Sean Chambers landing took down the Fifteenth-ranked Eagles, 38-35.

Week 5 featured a Massive Sky After Darkish matchup on primetime tv because the Bobcats hosted UC Davis, and with Mellott out it was Chambers who answered the decision on his first begin. The Wyoming switch set a brand new program document, accounting for greater than 200 yards on each the bottom and thru the air of their 41-24 win.

Montana State’s protection was the winner towards Idaho State notching six takeaways to tie a program document, whereas in Greely, Colorado, it was Willie Patterson who placed on the present towards the Golden Bears.

Week 8 noticed motion within the polls due to a North Dakota State loss, establishing what was a marquee High-5 matchup towards Weber State, which was a sport riddled with rain. Which will have contributed to the Wildcats’ 4 safeties, however together with a 273-yard speeding efficiency by Landing Tommy, the Bobcats remained undefeated within the Massive Sky, taking down the Wildcats by 5.

Following a much-needed bye, the Bobcats headed down south to Flagstaff, Arizona, to a venue that’s identified to present them some issues – and it did. Northern Arizona took Montana State all the best way right down to the wire with simply over a minute remaining, however an unscripted 64-yard go from Mellott to Taco Dowler arrange a 24-yard game-winner by Blake Glessner, 41-38.

Then after all this previous weekend the workforce traded in frigid temps for sunny skies, and it was Marqui Johnson who shined serving to the Bobcats set a brand new single-game speeding document with 554 yards for each this system and the Massive Sky.

Now Montana State faces the granddaddy of all of them as they put together for his or her neighbors over the divide, however a win within the 121st Brawl of the Wild additionally secures them their first Massive Sky championship since 2012.

Montana State versus Montana kicks off at midday, which will likely be broadcast on the Montana Tv Community.