Jack Thorsen recaps Montana State University’s 2013 Season of ups and downs, and looks to the playoffs

November, what a month for the Bobcats. They had lots of downs, and a few ups. McGhee led the Cats to a four game winning streak coming back from the near season ending injury. He became a member of the 10 thousand yard club at MSU. Tanner Bleskin claimed the record of most caught passes by a receiver at MSU, and the team won one of the two last road games before coming home to end the season with two home games including the Brawl of the Wild; the 113th meeting of Montana and Montana State.

Now for the downs, the Bobcats were on that four game winning streak and you could feel the excitement in the air. Bobcat fans everywhere were waiting for the game of the year and the biggest game in the Big Sky conference; Montana State vs Eastern Washington. This game was set as the game for the Big Sky crown. With both the Bobcats and the Eagles posting records of 5 and 0 in the Big Sky conference, the winner taking the lead in the Big Sky and with some debate the Big Sky championship. Montana State would be travelling to Eastern Washington, this year it will mark the last time these two team will meet in Big Sky football until the 2015 season. Last year the Eagles upset the Bobcats at home 27-24, in a roller coaster of a game. The Bobcats holding the lead at half time, then giving up 24 points in the second half, Bobcat fans were freaking out. With a last minute attempt to the win the game the Cats came marching down the field only to be stopped short of a game tieing field goal.

This year they were trying to pull the upset in EW’s house the home of the big red carpet Eastern Washington’s red turf. Boy it was an upset for all Bobcat fans plain and simple. The Bobcats were out played on both sides of the football, Eastern Washington ran over Montana State 54-29. McGhee just wasn’t in top shape or form and Cody Kirk’s running game was stopped cold by the dominating defensive line of the Eagles. McGhee just wasn’t completing his passes and didn’t seem to have control of the game at all, he just wasn’t playing the kind of football that Cats fans are use to. Cody Kirk was running it well but Eastern Washington’s line was just too powerful. And it seems that the Cats O line was not making the holes needed and the Bobcat defensive secondary fell apart missing coverages down field that gave sophomore Vernon Adams the opportunity to have his way with the Bobcats defense. Deante Flowers and Sean Gords seemed overwhelmed on covering the Eagles receivers, and were unable to stop the scoring rampage.

Vernon Adams, that kid is a great quarterback, he has the running skills that not many quarterbacks have plus an incredible throwing arm, and a team with some great receivers. Vernon Adams has got my vote for Big Sky conference quarterback and player of the year.

Now going to the Southern Utah game the Cats needed a win to get a chance to host a home playoff game. This game started with a blast of crazy weather and if that wasn’t enough the storm raged on, SUU scores on the first drive – a field goal; 3-0. Next they get a touchdown, we block the point after, 9-0 at halftime.

Jack and DNarius

The third and fourth quarters were filled with much of the same the Bobcats looking the same as they did against Eastern Washington running on empty and sluggish, not able to convert on either side of the football. Cody Kirk was shut down on more than one occasion and posted a whopping 20 plays for 19 total yards. In the first half the biggest disappointment was the two dropped balls from McGhee to Ellis. Ellis couldn’t hang on to passes from McGhee which would have for sure resulted in two Bobcat scores. Southern Utah lead at the end of the 3rd quarter 15-0. Then the freshman Chad Newell gets into the endzone with a 2 yard dive to the endzone 15-7. After a 3 and out the Cats get the ball back and McGhee throws his 4th interception of the night. The season couldn’t be ending any worse for McGhee at this point, when you think the bad luck may be slipping away SUU capitalizes with a touchdown run. 22-7 SUU. Then all of a sudden its like McGhee comes alive storming down the field with the power and confidence that Cats fans have seen for most of the season, McGhee makes the score from 3 yards out 22-14. With time ticking down the Cats had to use all their remaining time outs on defense. With a quick three and out the Cats get the ball back. And with a couple quick pick ups from Flotkoetter and Bleskin the Bobcats get the ball down to the 24 yard line. With only a few remaining seconds left on the clock the last pass from McGhee was completed to Newell but he was unable to get out of bounds to stop the clock with no time-outs. The clock ticks down from 9 and it then hits 0 before the Cats could pull off another play. It was over. Southern Utah beat Montana State ending our home playoff hopes. Because of that loss the Bobcats might not make the playoffs.

This is how I see it; the Bobcats need to win against the Griz and Portland State needs to beat Eastern Washington to keep the Cats playoff hope alive. If the Eagles win and we beat the Griz we may still have a chance of a playoff game. It seems slim to none if the Cats don’t beat the Griz.

Coin toss

Now moving on to the game that everybody in Missoula and Bozeman wait for all year. The Cat Griz game. [This article was written ahead of this game due to early print dates] This game will determine the second place finish in the Big Sky conference. I have some predictions: It is a must win for the Bobcats but what I think is that with the luck of Montana the away team always wins in this rivalry. I am calling a last second field goal for the Griz. I’m calling a 10-7 win; a low scoring game, but the Griz will win second place for the Big Sky conference.

Thanks to everybody who cheered on the Cats this season. Here’s hoping that the Cats are still playing football in December.

Jack Thorsen is a 12 year old 7th grader at Sacajawea Middle School. Find him at every home Bobcat game, on the field or in the press box.