by Danny Waldo
Coming into the 2022 season, questions abound for the Montana State Bobcat football team following their first appearance in the FCS national championship game since 1984. MSU not only lost the title to North Dakota State back in January, but they also graduated once-in-a-generation player Troy Andersen, as well as a host of other key contributors, leaving the Bobcat faithful to wonder who would fill those shoes in 2022.
Key among those questions could have been how well sophomore quarterback Tommy Mellott would handle being given the keys to the Bobcat offense right out of the gate. Mellott burst onto the scene in 2021, taking over at the quarterback position for Matthew McKay after a lackluster performance in the ‘Cats loss to the Griz in the ‘21 Brawl of the Wild. Mellott earned his first start in Montana State’s opening round playoff victory, and proceeded to lead MSU all the way to Frisco, TX before suffering a game-ending injury on the opening drive of the national title game.
Following successful offseason surgery, Mellot was named the Bobcats’ starter heading into 2022, ahead of FBS transfer Sean Chambers, who had played previously for head coach Brent Vigen at the University of Wyoming. Through eight games, the true sophomore has not disappointed, although Chambers has made a huge impact as well, as the quarterback tandem has led the Bobcats to a 7-1 (5-0 Conf.) heading into the bye week.
Through the first three weeks of the season, Mellot threw for 548 yards and four touchdowns, while adding another 226 yards and a score on the ground. However, after a concussion Mellott suffered versus Eastern Washington knocked him out of action for two weeks, Chambers stepped in to take the reins for MSU and picked up right where Mellott had left off. Chambers passed for 277 yards and rushed for another 203 versus UC Davis, earning National Player of the Week accolades in the process, and led the ‘Cats to two victories over Davis and Idaho State in Mellot’s absence. Chambers has been a touchdown machine for MSU, leading all of the FCS in scores with 16 touchdowns through 8 games.
The Bobcats will need continued production from the quarterback position if they are to make another deep run in the playoffs, but a host of other offensive weapons have emerged this season, as well, to take some of the burden off of the ‘Cats two signal callers. Tops amongst them are senior receiver Willie Patterson and junior running back Lane Sumner. Patterson has taken over for Lance McCutcheon, who produced one of the greatest seasons ever by a Bobcat receiver, and Patterson has not disappointed, leading the team in receiving with 29 catches for 411 yards and eight touchdowns, already surpassing his totals from 2021. Aside from the quarterback position, Sumner has been MSU’s leading ball carrier, rushing for over 450 yards in place of Isaiah Ifanse, who has yet to play a snap of football this season following offseason surgery. Ifanse entered the 2022 season as a preseason All-American and Walter Payton candidate, but his recovery from knee surgery has been slow, and MSU has been careful not to rush him back, with hopes of him returning in the second half of the season for a push in the playoffs.
But offense alone does not win ball games, and MSU’s defense has risen to the occasion as well following the graduation of Daniel Hardy and Troy Andersen. Hardy and Andersen are both now earning paychecks on Sunday for the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons respectively. Thankfully for ‘Cat fans the defensive cupboard was not bare coming into the season, and several guys were looking for the opportunity to take the next step and become key contributors in Andersen and Hardy’s absence. Key amongst them have been seniors Callahan O’Reilly and Ty Okada who have returned to anchor the back end of the Bobcat defense, but relative newcomers Brody Grebe and Sebastian Valdez have also shown flashes of dominance in their increased roles.
O’Reilly is second on the team in tackles with 53 through eight games, but leads the team in interceptions with three, while Okada leads the team in pass break ups, and is third on the team in tackles with 44. Danny Uliulakepa has stepped in to fill Andersen’s vacated linebacker spot and leads the team with 58 tackles.
Grebe and Valdez have tried to fill the void in the pass-rushing game, combining for 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss while continually harassing opposing quarterbacks and disrupting the offense. As a unit, MSU’s defense is holding opponents below their season averages in all statistical categories and rank No. 6 overall in team defense in the Big Sky Conference. Their bend, but don’t break mentally has kept the Bobcats on the right side of the scoring column through five games of conference play, as had MSU positioned for a league crown for the first time since 2012.
However, there is much football left to play as Montana State comes out of their bye week. The Bobcats will be on the road for two contests, heading first to Flagstaff, Arizona to take on Northern Arizona before heading south again to take on Cal Poly. MSU will return to the friendly confines of Bobcat Stadium on November 19th to face the Montana Grizzlies in the annual Brawl of the Wild to conclude the regular season. But MSU has their sights set on greater things than just a Big Sky championship; the Bobcats would love nothing more than to return to Frisco, TX to try and atone for their humbling defeat to North Dakota State in last year’s championship. The Bison have ended the Bobcats’ season with a loss the last three years. Currently, national prognosticators have Montana State earning a top seed in the FCS playoffs, setting the ‘Cats up for home field advantage through the semifinals. Montana State currently sits at No. 3 in the STATS FCS Top 25, but are No. 2 in the FCS Coaches’ poll.
Next up for Montana State:
– November 5th at Northern Arizona
– November 12th at Cal Poly
– November 19th vs. Montana
For complete season stats and game schedule, log onto www.msubobcats.com. •
