Blasted in Bozeman: Montana State races past injury-plagued Sacramento State in blowout
The Sacramento State Hornets do not use the rash of injuries that have crippled their football season as an excuse for a lost season because it’s part of a game big on collisions.
In taking on the No. 2 ranked team in the FCS on Saturday afternoon, the red-hot host boasting of star power and a healthy roster owned the day in the Gallatin Valley. Montana State ran all over Sacramento State, rushing for a home-game program record 508 yards and a record seven rushing touchdowns for a 49-7 triumph in Bozeman to remain unbeaten in Big Sky Conference play at 6-0.
The Bobcats rushed 51 times, accumulated 607 yards of total offense, and moved to 10-0 for the first time since the program started playing the sport in 1897 in downing the Hornets for the 12th time in the last 14 meetings. Montana State seeks its 18th Big Sky championship and first FCS national championship since its magical season of 1984.
Sacramento State defeated Montana State in Bozeman in 2019, en route to the Hornets’ first of three successive Big Sky crowns, but the Bobcats have not lost a regular-season game at home since. They have gone 30-1 at Bobcat Stadium since last facing the Hornets. Montana State moved to 28-2 in the Big Sky since 2021, which included 42-30 effort last season at Hornet Stadium when Montana State was ranked second in the FCS and Sacramento State third.
The Hornets on Saturday suited up just three starters from that 2023 showdown against Montana State, reflective of a roster depleted by injuries, including down four projected preseason starting offensive linemen and eight defensive lineman total.
Hornets coach Andy Thompson has played in the Big Sky, for the Montana Grizzlies, and has spent a career coaching in it, so he has a pretty good judge of talent. Asked after the game by Sacramento State sports information director Brian Berger if this was one of the finest teams he has seen in the Big Sky, the coach said, “They’re really high up there, a really good team, really well balanced, really physical. They had an answer for everything we did.”
Montana State broke the Bobcat Stadium record of 483 yards rushing in 1973 against Fresno State. The school-record for rushing in a game is 554 against Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in 2022.
Montana State led 28-0 at the half. Curron Borders provided Sacramento State with its only points, the Antelope High School graduate breaking free for a 43-yard touchdown sprint with 8:39 left to play in the third quarter. He did so against the Montana State reserves.
Borders led the Hornets in rushing with 57 yards. Carson Conklin passed for 138 yards for Sacramento State, which visits Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo next week and closes the season at home Nov. 23 in the 70th Causeway Classic against No. 4 UC Davis.
Scottre Humphrey rushed 12 times for 129 yards and a score for Montana State, which visits UC Davis next week in the FCS Game of the Week. Adam Jones carried five times for 159 yards and had a 78-yard scoring romp for the Bobcats, Julius Davis rushed 15 times for 76 yards and a score, and fourth-year starting quarterback Tommy Mellott ran four times for 40 yards and two scores for the top-rated offense in the Big Sky.
“We’ve got to get better,” Thompson said. “Have to keep going. Have to get ready for Cal Poly and play a better football game.”
This story was originally published November 9, 2024 at 4:53 PM.