One of the major points of emphasis for the University of Maine’s football team this season was to eliminate explosive plays.
UMaine had allowed 107 plays of 20 or more yards the last two seasons, which contributed to back-to-back 2-9 campaigns.
The nation’s third-ranked team in the Football Championship Subdivision, Montana State, unleashed its high-powered offense on Saturday night, using five plays of 20 or more yards in the first half to build a 35-0 lead, and the Bobcats went on to post a 41-24 victory at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana.
Montana State is now 3-0 while UMaine fell to 1-1.
The Bobcats, who entered the game averaging 350.5 rushing yards per game, which is second best in the FCS, and with a fourth-best 529 overall yards per game, needed just six plays to jump out to a 21-0 lead over the first 10:21 of the contest.
Scottre Humphrey, who came into the game as the FCS’ rushing yards leader with 241, dashed 79 yards to open the scoring on Montana State’s second offensive play.
On their next possession, quarterback Tommy Mellott threw a 28-yard pass to Adam Jones and then, on the next play, Jones raced 40 yards for a TD.
The Bobcats capitalized on a blocked punt by Taki Uluilakepa to expand the lead to 21-0 as an 18-yard run by Mellott set up his four-yard TD pass to Ryan Lonergan with 4:39 left in the first period.
The Bobcats strung together a six-play, 62-yard drive spanning the first and second quarters which culminated in Humphrey’s six-yard TD run.
Montana State made it 35-0 when Jones’ 19-yard run finished off an eight-play, 71-yard march.
UMaine got on the scoreboard when quarterback Carter Peevy tossed a five-yard touchdown pass to Montigo Moss with 3:15 left in the half.
But the Bobcats received a 24-yard field goal from Myles Sansted with 21 seconds remaining in the half to take a 38-7 lead into the halftime break.
The Black Bears showed some grit and heart in the second half albeit against a Montana State team that rested Mellott, Humphrey and Jones, although Humphrey did have a 23-yard run in the opening drive of the second half.
Wide receiver Trevin Ewing sprinted 19 yards for a Black Bear TD 3:57 into the second half and, after Sansted kicked a 31-yard field goal, Peevy threw a 25-yard TD pass to back-up tight end Declan McKevitt, who is playing in place of injured co-captain Cooper Heisey.
UMaine’s Joey Bryson capped the scoring with a 25-yard field goal with 4:30 left in the game.
Montana State finished with nine plays of 20 or more yards and had a 526-373 edge in total yards.
Mellott completed 12 of 15 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball five times for 66 yards.
Humphrey gained 110 yards on just four carries, Jared White had 99 on 15 carries and Jones had 63 on four.
Javonte King had three catches for 39 yards and Lonyatta Alexander had three for 31.
Rylan Ortt’s six tackles and five apiece by Neil Daily and Danny Uluilakepa paced the defense.
Peevy completed 18 of 31 passes for 244 yards and two TDs. He was intercepted once.
Tavion Banks carried the ball eight times for 74 yards and Brian Santana-Fis had 38 yards on seven.
Moss led all receivers with five catches for 47 yards. McKevitt had three receptions for 43 yards and Nick Laughlin had three for 34.
Kesean Dyson had a game-high eight tackles for UMaine and he also forced a fumble. John Costanza had six tackles.
“We had a really poor first half,” said UMaine head coach Jordan Stevens. “And when you are playing the number three team in the country at their home, you can’t start that way. Defensively, we gave up two massive runs. That’s why we can’t be giving up the big plays. They’re deflating.
“We had a great second half. Our guys kept playing hard. There was something positive to pull out of the second half going into conference [Coastal Athletic Association] next weekend.”
UMaine will entertain Monmouth on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with last year’s UMaine quarterback, Derek Roberson, returning to face his old teammates.
