BOZEMAN, Mont. — In a commanding performance, Tommy Mellott passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns, leading the top-seeded Montana State to a 49-17 victory against Tennessee-Martin in the second round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday. With this victory, the Bobcats tied a school record by achieving their 13th consecutive win. This impressive streak keeps them undefeated at 13-0 as they look forward to a home match next weekend against the winner of the upcoming clash between Lehigh and eighth-seeded Idaho.
Scottre Humphrey was a key player in the game, rushing for 102 yards and contributing a touchdown. He was one of three players to record rushing touchdowns for the Bobcats, who have demonstrated outstanding offensive prowess by scoring at least 30 points in each game this season. The last time Montana State recorded 13 wins in a season was in 1975-76.
During the first half, Mellott delivered a stellar performance, amassing 178 passing yards and three touchdowns, helping the Bobcats establish a 28-10 lead. His touchdown passes included 24 yards to Hunter Provience and 12 yards to Taco Dowler in the opening quarter, followed by a 39-yard connection with Ty McCullouch in the second quarter. McCullouch also contributed to the score with a 6-yard touchdown run.
The touchdown pass to McCullouch capped off an impressive six-play drive that covered 73 yards in just 53 seconds. This scoring sequence followed Trevonte Rucker’s spectacular 78-yard touchdown reception from Kinkead Dent, which had initially narrowed the score to 21-10.
Defensively, the Bobcats were solid, allowing only 10 total points in the first half of their home games throughout the regular season. In the third quarter, Humphrey showcased his speed with a 36-yard touchdown run, while Mellott connected with Dowler again for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Adam Jones added to the scoring with a 30-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Mellott’s final stats reflected his accuracy and control, completing 22 of 25 pass attempts while the Bobcats amassed a total of 501 yards in the game. On the other side, Dent threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns for the Skyhawks, with both touchdowns going to Rucker, who finished the game with six receptions for 107 yards. Tennessee-Martin, wrapping up their season at 9-6, totaled 264 yards.
