Montana State entered Saturday’s Week 0 game against New Mexico with a 13 1/2 point lead despite being an FCS program traveling to an FBS school. The Lobos may have beaten the odds, but the Bobcats made the bookies look smart by heading to Albuquerque and pulling out a 35-31 win.
Scottre Humphrey ran four yards for the game-winning score with 10 seconds left, capping an 11-play, 89-yard run. Tommy Mellott’s 37-yard pass to Lonyatta Alexander Jr. was the big play of the run, bringing Montana St. to the New Mexico 26-yard line.
Montana St. coach Brent Vigen earned his first victory over an FBS team with Saturday’s win. He is in his fourth season coaching the Bobcats, who were 8-4 last year and began the season ranked No. 4 in the FCS.
The Bobcats overcame a 31-14 fourth-quarter deficit and outscored the Lobos 21-0 in the final quarter, but a comeback victory was within reach when Adam Jones ran 93 yards for a touchdown with 4:35 left in the game to bring Montana State within 31-28.
On the next possession, Montana St. forced New Mexico to punt at their own 37-yard line, allowing them to tie the game or win.
Mellott threw for 205 yards and completed 21 of 32 passes. But the Bobcats dominated the running game: Jones ran for 167 yards and scored a touchdown, followed by Humphreys’ 140 yards and a touchdown.
For a coach who prides himself on his toughness, that kind of defensive performance had to frustrate Bronco Mendenhall, who was entering his first season at New Mexico, where the team went 4-8 last year. The Lobos did score two defensive touchdowns, however, which could encourage the veteran coach.
New Mexico QB Devon Dampier threw for 173 yards and a touchdown, completing 19 of 27 passes. He also ran for 35 yards and scored a touchdown. Eli Sanders was the Lobos’ leading rusher with 87 yards, while Luke Wysong added 95 yards receiving.
Next week, Montana St. travels to Utah Tech, which went 2-9 last year in the United Athletic Conference. New Mexico travels to No. 21 Arizona in Week 1 to face the Wildcats after the team finished a 10-3 season.
