BOXSCORE

Bozeman, MT - Portland State got off to a great start at Montana State's Homecoming, but the Bobcats came back, running off 41 straight points and eventually beating the Vikings, 44-31.

The 10th-ranked Bobcats hold on to first place and finish the day as the only undefeated team in Big Sky Conference play. MSU stands at 3-0, the Vikings drop to 1-1 in Big Sky play. PSU is 2-3 while the Bobcats are 5-1.

The Vikings took the opening drive and, with help of a Bobcat personal foul penalty, drove for a 31-yard Zach Brown field goal.

The defense got a three-and-out against the Bobcat offense, setting up another Portland State score. Kavanaugh hit tight end Julius Thomas on a short middle route, and Thomas rumbled 55 yards for his first career touchdown.

Late in the first period, Kavanaugh broke a third-and-five play for 75 yards and suddenly the Vikings were up 18-3.

Montana State finally got in the end zone in the second period. A pair of touchdown passes by Denarius McGhee on third-down plays pulled the Bobcats within 18-16 at the 4:17 mark.

Following a Viking fumble, the Bobcats took their first lead of the game with 48 seconds left in the first half. MSU went 54 yards in the last three minutes of the half. McGhee rolled out and scrambled in for the score. Montana State went into the locker room with a 23-18 lead.

The momentum continued as MSU took the second half kickoff and drove 84 yards for another score. The extra point made it 30-18 at the 12:11 mark of the third period.

Orenzo Davis scored on a 39-yard run in the final minute of the third period and MSU led 37-18.

The Bobcats tacked on a fourth-period touchdown to go up 44-18. PSU wasn't giving up and scored twice on 10- and four-yard runs by Cory McCaffrey.

Montana State brought the league's top offense into the game and proved their superiority. In a game with nearly 1,000 yards of total offense, MSU gained 546, including 326 on the ground. The Vikings had 456 yards, including 248 on the ground.

McCaffrey ran for 153 yards on 20 carries. Kavanaugh completed 16 of 27 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown. His main target was Julius Thomas, who had a career day, with seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.

Manoa Latu led the Vikings with nine tackles, while Ryan Rau had eight stops in the game.

McGhee threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 71yards and a score. Davis rushed for 135 yards to lead Montana State.

GAME NOTES: Montana State has now won five straight in the series and eight of the last nine… Portland State returns home next week to host the University of Montana at Hillsboro Stadium. Game time is 5:05 p.m. and it can be heard on KXL 750 AM. It will also air live on Comcast Sports Net.