Bobcat's title hopes dashed by North Dakota State

FRISCO, Texas – A furious second half rally came up short for the Montana State football team on Monday night as the Bobcats suffered their first loss of the season in the FCS national championship game, 35-32, to North Dakota State.

North Dakota State took control on the game's first possession, driving 75 yards for a touchdown. Miller completed both of his passes for 36 yards and carried five times for 16 yards, scoring on a two-yard run. That marked the first touchdown MSU allowed on a game-opening drive this season. After forcing a Bobcat punt, the Bison marched 92 yards on the next possession to take a 14-0 lead. Miller's 64-yard touchdown run gave NDSU a 14-0 lead.

Montana State's next drive, spilling from the first quarter into the second, proved its best of the first half. The Bobcats used 17 plays to march to the Bison 13, but the drive stalled there and Myles Sansted connected on a 32-yard field goal. The MSU defense responded with a three-and-out, but the offense was stopped on a fourth down near midfield, setting up NDSU's late-half touchdown. Miller connected with Lance four times, including a one-yard touchdown with 12 seconds in the half. NDSU led 21-3 at the intermission.

Miller finished the first half 10-11 passing for 92 yards, rushing for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The Bison out-gained MSU 226 yards to 108, averaging 7.5 yards per play.

Trailing by three scores at halftime, Montana State roared back with 15 points in the first 11 minutes of the third quarter.

First, Tommy Mellott led the Cats down the field on the opening possession of the second half, completing a big pass to Ryan King to the one-yard line to set up a short Scottre Humphrey touchdown run.

After the Bobcat defense forced a quick three-and-out, Mellott again orchestrated a scoring drive capped by a five-yard touchdown pass to Rohan Jones. The two-point conversion on a Ryan Lonergan reception made it 21-18 in favor of the Bison with 4:03 to play in the third quarter.

North Dakota State pushed the lead back to ten with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.

Montana State then responded with a signature run from Mellott, a 44-yard scamper down the right sideline that found the end zone and cut the margin back to 28-25 with 11:25 to play in the game.

North Dakota State delivered the dagger with a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that took more than five minutes off the clock.

A late 19-yard touchdown pass from Mellott to Taco Dowler with 1:09 to play gave the Cats a chance to attempt an onside kick, but the Bison recovered to seal the title.

Mellott finished the game completing 13 of his 24 pass attempts for 195 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding 135 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well.

North Dakota State wins its 10th FCS Championship and its 18th overall, finishing the season 14-2. Montana State finishes the season 15-1.