Bobcats continued to climb ladder in 2019
by Danny Waldo
Another season of Bobcat football has come and gone, leaving fans to look forward to another year, but before we close the book on 2019 let’s take a look back on the season that has reenergized the Blue and Gold faithful.
Jeff Choate’s program reached new heights in his fourth year in charge, as Montana State ascended to a Top 5 ranking after finishing with an 11-4 record. Not only did MSU win its most games since the 2012 season, but they continued their dominance over in-state rival Montana, winning their fourth consecutive game in the series, the longest such streak for MSU since the 1970s, and they reached the semifinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time since the magical 1984 season in which the ‘Cats claimed their last national championship.
In short, the 2019 season was one to remember for the Bobcat faithful, and shows that Choate has the program headed in the right direction as we head into a new decade. When Choate was named MSU’s 32nd head coach back in December of 2015, he laid a plan for Bobcat football that included owning the state, winning the Sky and claiming a national championship. He has accomplished the first of those goals, owning the state of Montana, as he has yet to lose to the rival Grizzlies, including this season’s 48-14 pasting in Bozeman, and the Bobcats continually beat out UM for the state’s top recruits. Even the return of the most disliked man in Bozeman, Bobby Hauck, hasn’t turned the tide in Montana’s favor, and there is no reason to believe that MSU won’t continue its success over UM into the future. 
The Bobcats came oh so close to accomplishing the second goal on Choate’s list, winning the Big Sky Conference, but a mid-season slump that saw MSU lose two straight conference games to Sacramento State and North Dakota derailed any thoughts of a league title in 2019. After an opening-season loss on the road at Big 12 member Texas Tech, the ‘Cats reeled off five consecutive wins to improve their record to 5-1 (2-0) in conference heading into their bye week. However, the offense had begun to show cracks heading into the break, with inconsistent quarterback play the leading culprit. Choate vowed changes coming off the bye, but MSU looked uninspired in a home loss versus Sacramento State, and the wheels completely fell off the following week in a 16-12 loss at North Dakota. The two losses left MSU at 2-2 in the league and looking up at league-leaders Weber State, Sac State and UM.
With their chances of a league title all but gone, MSU refocused their attention on reaching the FCS playoffs for the second consecutive season. A fire was lit in the belly of the Bobcat offense as the ‘Cats rolled through the final month of the season on a four-game winning streak that saw the Bobcats put up video game numbers on both sides of the ball. The MSU offense averaged 40.5 points and 483.5 yards of offense during the closing winning streak, while holding opponents to just 9.5 points and 302 yards during that same stretch. The dominating close to the season saw Montana State earn the No. 5 seed in the FCS playoffs and a First-Round bye.
The Bobcat juggernaut did not slow down once post-season play began. MSU opened the FCS playoffs by hosting Albany in a Second-Round matchup at Bobcat Stadium with the offense continuing its dominating run, as MSU posted 47 points and 483 yards of offense. The defense also picked up where it had left off, holding Albany to 333 yards and 21 points, with 14 of those points coming in garbage time in the fourth quarter after the game had already been decided. MSU was rewarded for its performance by getting to host a quarterfinal matchup in the friendly confines of Bobcat Stadium after Austin Peay upset Sacramento State. The ‘Cats capitalized on the opportunity by steamrolling the Governors from Tennessee, 24-10, to earn MSU its first trip to the semifinals in 34 years.
That’s where the feel-good story ends, as Montana State’s season came to another abrupt end at the hands of FCS power North Dakota State. The Bobcats were humbled by the Bison in 2018 following a 52-10 dismantling, and the 2019 season was not much different as the Bobcats fell again, 42-14. However, in defeat there was improvement. Whereas in the 2018 season the Bobcats were physically dominated at the line of scrimmage, 2019 saw MSU done in by big plays as three of NDSU’s scores came on plays of 70+ yards. Overall, the ‘Cats were much-improved in controlling the line of scrimmage, but the loss once again highlighted how far MSU has yet to go before they can check off the third of Choate’s goals, winning Montana State’s first national championship since 1984.
However, the Bobcats did not want to leave 2019 with a sour taste in their mouths, and thanks to the early signing period for new recruits, good news once again surrounded the football program heading into the new year. Montana State landed 23 new recruits on Signing Day on December 18th, including 10 players from the Treasure State. Among those were the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Montana in Butte High quarterback Tommy Mellott, as well as McCade O’Reilly from Bozeman, who was a pre-season favorite for the player-of-the-year award before a leg injury in August sidelined him for the entire season. O’Reilly’s name should sound familiar to Bobcat fans as his brother, Callahan, was a leading tackler for the ‘Cats as part of the Bobcat linebacking corps after making an off-season switch from quarterback. O’Reilly’s older brother, Payton, is a member of the University of Miami-Ohio’s football team.
Several other players have the Bobcat coaches excited for the future as MSU looks to replace a number of peak performers due to graduation, most notably on the defensive side of the ball. The true test of a program’s strength is in its ability to reload, rather than rebuild, and MSU will be looking to do just that in the 2020. Several key pieces do return, giving the Blue and Gold faithful legitimate hopes of a title contender heading into the new decade.
The Bobcats’ 2020 schedule will provide a stiff test for the Blue and Gold as MSU will have to visit league stalwarts Weber State and Eastern Washington, as well as return to Washington-Grizzly Stadium for the annual Brawl of the Wild versus Montana. MSU kicks off the 2020 season at home versus Long Island on September 5th.
Danny Waldo is a local freelance writer covering Montana State Bobcat and Bozeman Hawk athletics. •
