Box Score
boxscore
Bozeman, MT - The snow fell on Bozeman for two days before the Portland State Vikings showed up. Then a Montana State avalanche fell on the Vikings at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Bobcats rolled over PSU, 65-30, in a Big Sky Conference game.
The second-ranked Bobcats moved to 9-1 on the season, 6-1 in the Big Sky Conference as they contend for the league championship. Portland State has dropped to 3-7, 2-4 in the Big Sky.
Some 8-10 inches of snow had fallen in Bozeman in the 36 hours prior to kickoff. The temperature was 10 degrees at kickoff with a wind chill of -2. Those conditions accentuated the difficulties the Vikings had throughout the day.
A pair of first quarter turnovers gave Montana State two short-field touchdowns. The Bobcats recovered a fumble at the PSU 16 and running back Cody Kirk scored on the next play. A few moments later, the Bobcats picked off a pass and returned it to the PSU 11. On a third-and-13 play, Kruiz Sieweng caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from DeNarius McGhee putting MSU up 17-7.
That was part of a run of 49 straight points in the first half for the Bobcats.
DJ Adams had a burst of 69 yards for a touchdown for the Vikings, but that was the only highlight of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, MSU added an interception return for touchdown, a punt return for touchdown, two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in a 35-point flurry.
The Vikings finally stopped the run with a 25-yard
Zach Brown field goal at the end of the half and PSU trailed 59-10.
Portland State outscored MSU 20-6 in the second half, but the game was already out of hand.
Collin Ramirez, in a backup role at quarterback, led the Vikings to four scores - three field goals and a one-yard touchdown pass to
Justin Monahan.
The Bobcats out-gained the Vikings, 470-434. McGhee completed 12-17 passes for 232 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground, MSU totaled 232 yards. Cody Kirk led the way with 122 yards and two touchdowns. Orenzo Davis added 76 yards and a score.
PSU actually rushed for 295 yards. Adams had 107 yards and a touchdown.
Shaq Richard ran the ball 11 times for 57 yards and
Ben Bowen tacked on a late 61-yard TD run.
Ian Sluss had 10 tackles to lead the Viking defense.
Dionte Brooks made eight tackles.
GAME NOTES: Brown kicked three field goals in three attempts for the Vikings and now has 64 in his PSU career… Montana State has won seven straight games over the Vikings…
DJ Adams had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season… Portland State plays its season finale next Saturday at JELD-WEN Field when the Vikings host Eastern Washington. Kickoff is 1:05 p.m. The game airs on Comcast SportsNet Northwest and Freedom 970 AM.