Hillsboro, OR – Montana State finally took advantage of its powerful running game and tailback Isaiah Ifanse in the second half, took the lead from Portland State, and walked away with a 30-17 victory at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
Montana State's defense came in with the impressive resume, but it was Portland State's defense that made the biggest impression in the first half. The Bobcats were able to move the ball across midfield, but unable to get near the goal line. MSU settled for three first-half field goals from Blake Glessner from 34, 41, and 39 yards. The Viking defense also got three three-and-outs defensively and an interception by Semaj Bolin.
 
On the Viking side, quarterback Davis Alexander was effective, completing 9-17 passes for 132 yards and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Nate Bennett. Gianni Smith, the Vikings' backup kicker, was pressed into duty and converted a 41-yarder. That had PSU ahead 10-9 at halftime.
 
Montana State was able to grab its first lead of the day following a 45-yard punt return by Coy Steel in the third quarter. With a penalty tacked on, MSU was at the Viking 9-yard line. It took only one run by Ifanse to put the Bobcats on top, 16-10, at the 9:08 mark of the second half.
 
The Vikings answered back with a 75-yard drive, culminating in a one-yard scoring run by Malik Walker. The key play was a 41-yard strike by Alexander to wide receiver Marquis Spiker, all the way to the Montana State two-yard line. PSU was back on top 17-16 with 4:39 to go in the third.
 
On MSU's next series, wide receiver Lance McCutcheon made three receptions of eight, 25 and 20 yards from quarterback Matt McKay. The final grab went for a touchdown and the Bobcats finally had the lead for good with just a minute to go in the third quarter.
 
McKay tacked on another touchdown at the 9:03 mark of the fourth quarter, hitting Jaharie Martin for a nine-yard score. Montana State led 30-17 and it was desperation time for the Vikings.
 
Portland State's only two drives of the fourth quarter ended in Montana State territory at the 22 and 18-yard lines. When PSU needed touchdowns, the Bobcats held, making sacks to end both series. The first was by MSU's Brody Grebe, forcing an Alexander fumble that was recovered by Chase Benson. The second was by Amandre Williams on 4^th and goal from the 18-yard line with 6:30 to play. With that stop, the Bobcats took over and ran out the clock.
 
The loss ruined an otherwise spectacular sunny fall day for the Vikings. PSU dropped to 1-3 on the season, 0-1 in the Big Sky. 13^th-ranked Montana State improved to 3-1, 1-0.
 
Ifanse led a rushing attack that gouged the Vikings for 254 yards. He had 217 on 30 carries, and the one score. McCutcheon had eight receptions for 161 yards and two scores. MSU went for 479 yards overall.
 
The Viking passing attack was effective again with 297 total yards. Alexander threw for 266 yards and caught a 31-yarder on the first play from scrimmage. Beau Kelly had six receptions for 83 yards and threw the completion to Alexander.
 
But PSU managed only 54 yards on the ground, losing 26 on sacks.
 
"They ran the ball well," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum said of the Bobcats. "(Ifanse) was tough running. We'd wrap him up and he would try to drag us to a first down. They did a nice job running. It wasn't a four-minute offense but it was run the ball to win essentially, and burn that clock in the fourth quarter.
 
"That was as physical a football team as we will play. I thought we matched it for most of the game.  There at the end we got taken over a little bit by their run game and momentum."

GAME NOTES

• FR LB Parker McKenna had eight tackles and one tackle for loss. SR DT Semise Kofe made a career-high eight tackles and a sack to lead the defense.
• SR QB Davis Alexander (8,582 yards) passed Jimmy Blanchard (1997-2000, 8,509) for number two all-time in total offense at Portland State.
• JR WR Beau Kelly passed 1,000 career receiving yards. He now has 72 career catches for 1,080 yards and seven touchdowns in 25 career games.  
• Montana State has won three in a row and 11 of the last 12 in the series.
• Portland State goes on the road for Big Sky Conference play the next two weeks. The Vikings play at Southern Utah on Oct. 2, then Idaho on Oct. 9.