Cats crush Utah Tech, Griz survive opener

BOZEMAN - Freshman running back Scottre Humphrey rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns and the Montana State defense intercepted three passes as Montana State beat Utah Tech 63-20 in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday.

In his college debut, Humphrey ignited a Bobcat ground game that churned out 407 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Junior quarterback Tommy Mellott threw for 157 yards on 8-for-14 passing, and the Bobcats didn't turn the ball over.

"The offense was able to stay ahead of the chains," Bobcat coach Brent Vigen said, "and the defense was able to get (Utah Tech) off the field. We wanted to set the tone tonight, and I think we did that."

Humphrey scored the season's first touchdown with 4:55 to play in the first quarter, then Sean Chambers scored from three yards out to give MSU a 14-0 cushion. A 62-yard pass sparked Utah Tech's first points, a 32-yard Connor Brooksby field, but the Bobcats answered with a 47-yard Jared White touchdown catch by Jared White and a 29-yard Humphrey run. After Utah Tech's first touchdown of the game, the Cats responded with a Julius Davis touchdown in the last minute of the first half to build a 35-10 lead.

For all the offensive fireworks, the day's big play may have been provided by defensive end David Alston. With just under five minutes to play in the first quarter and the Cats leading 7-0, Trailblazers quarterback Boone Abbott fired a pass that deflected off his receiver and toward Alston. He snapped the ball as Kenneth Eiden IV reached for it, and came down with his first college pick. The Cats scored five plays later.

MSU won for the ninth straight time when opening its season at home. The Bobcats travel to South Dakota State to face the No. 1 Jackrabbits next Saturday at 5 pm MT.

MISSOULA - The Montana Grizzlies jumped out to a 1-0 start to the 2023 season with a 35-20 victory over the Butler Bulldogs on a warm, early September day inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium Saturday.

On the debut of two new coordinators and a pair of quarterbacks who split halves, Montana put up a balanced 441 yards of total offense and still left plenty of points on the field with a handful of untimely penalties. The Grizzly defense, meanwhile, held Butler to just 41 yards rushing yards and without a touchdown in the first half with six first-time starters on that side of the ball.

In a back-and-forth game that came as close as one score early in the second half and a first half with no game clock on a malfunctioning scoreboard, the Griz worked through plenty of adversity to come away with a win.

"This win feels great. There's a lot to unpack from this, but Butler has a good team. They're well-coached, they do a nice job. They line them up, and they play hard, and they tackle well. Their quarterback is a tough kid, and I admire tough kids. So, it was good to get a win. I think we have a lot to clean up, but it's always good to correct when you're 1-0," said head coach Bobby Hauck.

The Griz received a special performance from freshman running back Eli Gillman, who led all rushers with 119 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start, as Montana averaged over five yards per tote behind its veteran O-line.

With quarterback Clifton McDowell adding 80 more rushing yards and a score in the second half and Xavier Harris putting up 40 more and a TD as well, the Griz ground game controlled the possession.

The Griz are 1-0 as they head to Utah Tech Saturday night in St. George, Utah.