Bozeman, MT – Third-ranked Montana State passed the ball early for intrigue, but in the end had another big rushing day on its way to a 38-22 Big Sky Conference win over Portland State.
 
MSU entered the game averaging 325 yards on the ground each Saturday afternoon - best in the Big Sky. The Bobcats gained 313 on the ground behind quarterback Sean Chambers' 118 yards. The Bobcat signal caller also finished off three drives with TD passes on 143 yards passing.
 
Montana State improved its season record to 4-1 overall, 2-0 in the Big Sky. The Vikings actually scored the most points by a Bobcat opponent this season, but are now 2-3 overall, 1-1 in the Big Sky.
 
The Bobcat Stadium matchup included a pair of teams competing to remain in a tie for first place in the Big Sky Conference. Montana State was trying to continue its school-record 22-game home winning streak and maintain its number-three national ranking. Portland State was attempting to validate its two-game home winning streak, show that it belonged in the upper echelon of the conference and beat a top-five team for only the third time in school history at the FCS level. After a tightly-played 30 minutes, things went the Bobcats way in the second half.
 
A run-heavy team, the Bobcats incorporated the pass early and had the Vikings on their heels. MSU scored on its first series of the game, but flubbed the extra point try to lead 6-0.
 
The Vikings took the lead in their second series of the afternoon. PSU drove 65 yards on eight plays with quarterback Dante Chachere taking a third-and-one option run 31 yards for a score. That had the Vikings on top 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Montana State was able to put together sustained drives and keep the Vikings off the field. A touchdown and a field goal in the second quarter put the Bobcats back on top 17-7 with 6:18 on the clock. At that point, they had nearly doubled the Vikings in offensive plays.
 
Portland State then took advantage of some Bobcats mistakes. Three penalties on the ensuing drive, including roughing the quarterback, targeting and pass interference allowed PSU to sustain its own drive. The Vikings made the Bobcats pay as Chachere rushed in for his second touchdown of the day, this time from 19 yards. That closed the Bobcats advantage to 17-14 late in the half.
 
After PSU's opening drive of the second half managed only 15 yards the Vikings were able to pin the Bobcats back on a 52-yard punt by George Triplett. But on MSU's second play of the ensuing series, Chambers broke the biggest play of the game – an 88-yard run for a score. Suddenly, the Vikings were again down by 10 at 24-14.
 
The Vikings went on their own run-heavy drive, burning eight minutes off the clock. A rush by Quincy Craig inside the MSU 20 had PSU looking promising, but a holding penalty brought it back. Finally, the Vikings had to settle for a 57-yard field goal attempt. It was no good and PSU went empty in the third quarter.
 
Montana State was driving entering the fourth quarter and put up another touchdown just one minute in on Chambers' 20-yard touchdown pass to Clevan Thomas. The Bobcats were ahead, 31-14.
 
Each team added scores later in the period for the 38-22 final.
 
Montana State out-gained the Vikings 456 yards to 311 yards. Jared White added 102 rushing yards to Chambers' 261 yards of total offense.
 
PSU got 105 yards passing from Chachere and 83 yards rushing with two TDs. But he also threw two interceptions and was sacked five times.
 
"They are good up front," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum of the Montana State defense. "We came in short up there. We need to be healthy to beat a team like that. Their defensive line played a heck of a game. Their front four took it to us.
 
"I told the team, '(Montana State) was in a national championship game (in 2021), so there is your gauge of where you need to be, starting here going forward. They are solid all the way across, but I felt it came down to their front four. They were in our backfield a lot when we needed to throw the football. Our quarterback was hurried. It's a good group."
 
Running back Quincy Craig had 60 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards to lead the Vikings. He also completed a 22-yard pass.
 
Safety Michael Hurst led the Vikings with seven tackles, one for a loss and a pass breakup. Linebacker Jaymason Willingham had five tackles including two for losses.
 

GAME NOTES

• Montana State had outscored opponents 42-3 in the first quarter this season. However, the Vikings outscored them 7-6 in this game… the Bobcats went on to win their fourth game in a row in the series.
• MSU entered the game leading the Big Sky in scoring offense (44.0) and scoring defense (15.0).
• JR QB Dante Chachere had 83 yards rushing and passed 1,000 rushing yards in his career (1,026)… SR WR Jermaine Braddock passed 1,000 career receiving yards and now has 1,016 total.
• Portland State will take next week off then resume play at Northern Arizona on Oct. 14.