BOZEMAN, Mont. (ABC4 Sports) – In a top-five national showdown on a rainy day that saw a little bit of everything, No. 2 Montana State handed No. 5 Weber State its first loss of the season with a 43-38 win Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.
The loss snapped a school-record eight-game road-winning streak and an overall eight-game winning streak.
Montana State put up 487 yards of total offense with 347 rushing yards and 140 passing yards. MSU quarterback Tommy Mellott had 32 carries for 273 yards and rushed for three touchdowns.
Weber State had 338 yards of offense with 187 yards rushing and 151 yards passing.
The game saw a kickoff return touchdown, a punt return touchdown and a blocked kick by Weber State and four bad snaps that resulted in safeties for Montana State.
On just the third play of the game, Eddie Heckard picked off an MSU pass that led to a 25-yard field goal by Kyle Thompson.
The Wildcats then snapped a punt into the endzone leading to an MSU safety. The Bobcats scored on a 42-yard run on the next possession to take a 9-3 lead.
That’s when the Wildcat special teams kick returners got things going.
On the ensuing kickoff, Abraham Williams returned the kick 100 yards for a touchdown, his second 100-yard return of the season.
Late in the first quarter, Hudson Schenck returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown to give the Wildcats a 17-9 lead. It was the third-longest punt return in Weber State history and the first punt return touchdown by a Wildcat in four years.
The Wildcats opened the second quarter with a 70-yard drive, culminated by a five-yard touchdown run by Damon Bankston to give Weber State a 24-9 lead with 12:42 to play in the second quarter.
Maxwell Anderson blocked a field goal attempt on MSU’s next possession, but the Bobcats scored the next 34 points.
With 6:19 to play in the second quarter, the ‘Cats had a bad snap again that resulted in an MSU safety to make it 24-11.
Montana State scored a touchdown with 2:34 to play to make it 24-18, before another bad snap made it 24-20 with 1:39 to play in the half.
MSU scored on its next possession with 59 seconds left in the half to end the half at 27-24.
The Wildcats had another bad snap that led to a safety to start the second half to make it 29-24. The four safeties is a new FCS record for safeties in a game.
Montana State scored two-straight touchdowns to take a 43-24 lead before Barron connected with Ty MacPherson for a 21-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. The ‘Cats got a two-point conversion to make it 43-32 after three quarters.
Weber State put together a 14-play, 86-yard drive that took 5:46 and ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Barron to make it 43-38 with 6:49 to play.
The Wildcats had a chance on the final drive and converted on two fourth downs, but couldn’t convert on a third fourth down attempt with 25 seconds to play.
Individually, Barron was 14 of 30 passing for 151 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 40 yards and a touchdown.
MacPherson had five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown.
On the ground Dontae McMillan led the Wildcats with nine carries for 76 yards.
Montana State dominated the time of possession 37:45 to 22:15 and the Bobcats had three sacks.
At 6-1, Weber State now returns home for three-straight games at Stewart Stadium, starting with Montana on Saturday, October 29 at 1 p.m. in a blackout game.
Weber State gives up four safeties in wild 43-38 loss
- Advertisment - 
Recent Comments
on Iowa State starting RB Jirehl Brock among latest college football players charged in gambling probe
on The Rev. Al Sharpton to lead protest after Florida governor’s ban of African American studies course
on Sports World Hails ‘Superwoman’ Lindsey Vonn for Her Grand Comeback Despite Career-Changing Injury
on San Mateo County Community College District sues five companies over role in ‘pay to play’ scandal
on Saipan, placid island setting for Assange’s last battle, is briefly mobbed – and bemused by the fuss
on ‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Violet’ Fan Theories Suggest Legendary Time Travel, Alternate Dimension Plot
on Joe Manchin and Tommy Tuberville introduce bill on name, image and likeness rules for college sports
on Inside the Michael Jordan ‘Air’ movie, plus why NFL, others are buying into the sports film industry
on If you’re a frequent traveler, these wrap tops from Aday will revolutionize your on-the-go wardrobe
on How Does Jack Nicklaus Travel? Exploring the Private Jets Owned by the ‘Golden Bear’ Over the Years
on Hollywood Reporter: Tom Cruise negotiated with movie studios over AI before the actors strike began
on Ford Blue Cruise: US regulators investigate fatal crashes involving hands-free driving technology
on Dozens of boats cruise the Seine in a rehearsal for the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on July 26
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on David and Victoria Beckham so ‘Charmed’ by Tom Cruise They Have His Photos on Display at Their Home
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Boise State vs. Air Force live stream, odds, channel, prediction, how to watch on CBS Sports Network
on Biden to tout bill’s prescription drug prices, energy provisions in pitch to Americans, aide says
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show. Longtime analysts Simms and Esiason depart
on Carlos Sainz’s Soccer Fanboy Emerges as Spaniard Shares Defining Moment With This Real Madrid Legend
on Biden: ‘At this point I’m not’ planning to visit East Palestine, Ohio, after toxic train derailment
on ‘Best Intention’: Chris Kirk Has Absolute Trust in Jay Monahan and PGA Tour’s Widely Debated Model
on Ahead of big sports weekend, dispute with Disney leaves millions of cable subscribers in the dark
on A heavy wave of Russian missile attacks pounds areas across Ukraine, killing at least 4 civilians
on 2024 Super Bowl: CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports HQ to combine for 115 hours of weeklong coverage
on 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team: CBS Sports draft expert, former GM unveil league’s best first-year players
on Army vs. Coastal Carolina live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez Spreads Joy and Sportsmanship to the Youth of Loma de Cabrera
on After UFC Fallout, Conor McGregor Offers a Valuable Piece of Advice to Free Agent Francis Ngannou
on Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019
on Devout athletes find strength in their faith. But practicing it and elite sports can pose hurdles
on Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
on Dave Portnoy: Taylor Swift’s security should ‘drag Kim Kardashian to jail’ if she attends Eras Tour
on CONCEPT ART: New Details Revealed for Disney Cruise Line Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Destination
on “Completely Knocked Me Out”: Rob Lowe Recalls Boxing Match With Tom Cruise On 1983 Brat Pack Classic
on CBS Sports, Serie A announce new TV rights deal; Paramount+ to air over 400 Italian soccer matches
on Cam Newton’s Violent Public Incident Draws Hilarious Reaction From 3x All-Star: “Where Do I Sign Up
on Boston College vs. Army live stream, how to watch online, CBS Sports Network channel finder, odds
on Angel Reese Launches Foundation Dedicated To Empowering Women Through Sports & Financial Literacy
on A weaker dollar, skyrocketing prices and ‘record’ visitor numbers: Good luck in Europe this summer