Bobcats rush their way into the FCS semifinals

BOZEMAN — The defining moment of Montana State's 55-7 FCS Playoff win over William & Mary in Bozeman Friday night came early.

  With the Bobcats leading 10-0 early in the second quarter, Isaiah Ifanse took a handoff from Tommy Mellott, tore through a hole in the Tribe defense, and dashed 68 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest rush in MSU's playoff history, and gave the Bobcats what was pretty obviously an insurmountable lead. But it also made history, boosting Ifanse to the top of Montana State's career rushing record list.

  "It was obvious that when he got back (from the injury that kept him on the sideline for the first 11 games this season) he would break the record," said Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen. "You could see out there how hard he is to deal with. He's hard to bring down."

  After setting MSU's playoff yards per carry record with 9.1 last week, his 162 yards on 11 carries, for a 14.7 average, set a new standard this week. He also scored twice.

  "It was very special," he said of becoming his school's all-time leading rusher. "We're not guaranteed to have another home game, so to do it in the last game of the year, but thinking about the start of this year and (overcoming the injury) makes it even more special."

  Ifanse's first touchdown boosted MSU's lead to 17-0, and seven minutes later Tommy Mellott scored his second of three touchdowns to expand the lead to 24-0. The sophomore finished with 45 rushing yards and 106 passing (on 7-for-9 with one touchdowns and no interceptions). The Cats rolled up 344 rushing yards and gained 473 on the night, but that total was held in check by MSU's electrifying special teams Taco Dowler returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown, and Marqui Johnson slipped short of the end zone after 87 yards on a kickoff return.

  As good as the Bobcats were with the ball in their possession, they were better when William & Mary had it. Montana State held the Tribe to three first downs in the first half and just nine total, and limited the visitors to just 197 yards. That matches the fewest yards a Bobcat team has allowed in the NCAA Playoffs. Of that total, 94 came in the final quarter after the game had been decided.

  "We definitely set the tone right from the get-go," Vigen said. "The defense played great, special teams really had some big plays, and the offense did what it needed to do."

The Bobcats' record-setting performance sends them to the FCS semifinals for the third straight season they've played, dating back to 2019. Now, MSU will battle No. 1 South Dakota State Saturday in Brookings, South Dakota with a trip to the national title game on the line.