Box Score Bozeman, Mt.  Mercyhurst knew its week four opponent would be exceptionally tough. It was all of that. The Bobcats of Montana State University (MSU) of the Big Sky Conference, one of the top teams in the FCS, jumped to a 31-0 lead at halftime and went on from there to down the newly-minted Division I Mercyhurst Lakers 52-13. MSU improved to 4-0 while Mercyhurst fell to 1-3. The game-time temperature was a chilly 49 degrees with sunny skies.
 
Highlights
 
The Bobcats took the opening kickoff and wasted little time, driving 70 yards in 12 plays before settling for a 23-yard field goal by sophomore Myles Sansted. The Lakers were forced to punt on their first possession and MSU drove 57 yards in 8 plays with sophomore RB Scottre Humphrey finding paydirt from 5 yards out, his fourth rushing TD of 2024. The quarter ended without further scoring. The Bobcats had the early advantage in plays (19-6), first downs (7-0), total yards (127-13) and time of possession (11 minutes to 4).
 
Montana State increased its lead to 17-0 midway in the second quarter, going 57 yards in a half dozen plays. Senior QB Tommy Mellott found sophomore Taco Dowler from 5 yards away. The Bobcats then used a blocked Hunter Pittman punt for a special teams' score. Sophomore DE Zac Crews recovered in the Lakers' end zone. Mercyhurst had a promising drive late in the half, but senior QB Adam Urena  fumbled attempting to pass and the Bobcats took over at their 20. Six plays later, Mellott connected with RB Adam Jones for a 50-yard score and the teams left for their dressing rooms with MSU ahead by 31. The Bobcats scored on four of their five first half possessions while the Lakers punted three times and surrendered the ball on downs twice. The Bobcats amassed 278 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes and held the Lakers to 71, including -9 on the ground. Urena completed 10 of 15 for 80 yards. Graduate student Cameron Barmore caught 4 for 42. Junior DB Anthony Mackey and senior LB Tyler Buterbaugh led the Mercyhurst defense with 6 tackles apiece.
 
Montana State forced a Mercyhurst punt to start the third and Mellott took the team 85 yards in 8 plays, tossing his third TD pass of the contest, a 16-yarder to junior TE Rohan Jones. Late in the third, Mercyhurst scored its first-ever points "west of the Mississippi" when freshman DB Adonis Marshall returned a Montana State fumble 43 yards. The bobble was forced by graduate LB Zach Hill. The attempted point after, however, was missed. The Bobcats answered moments later when RB Colson Coon scampered 50 yards to the endzone, the team's second rushing TD of the contest.
 
Mercyhurst put together an impressive 18-play, 75-yard drive midway in the fourth. The drive ended with the Lakers' first offensive TD "out west" as Urena threw to junior WR Joe Kerbacher for 5 yards and a score. It was Urena's 9th TD pass of the campaign and Kerbacher's first TD reception. Senior K Nathan Nagucki converted. With under 4 minutes to play, MSU freshman QB Chance Wilson scored on a 5-yard run to complete the scoring.
 
The final numbers were solidly in MSU's favor: total yards, 502-233; rushing, 256-20; passing, 246-213.
With Mercyhurst unable to sustain a rushing attack, Urena was 28 of 44 and 1 touchdown. He hit 10 different receivers (Barmore and Kerbacher combined for 13 catches), but was sacked 5 times. As strange as it may seem, time of possession actually favored the Lakers, 33 minutes to 27. Buterbaugh led the Mercyhurst defense with 9 total tackles, 7 solo.
 
Notes:

• Mercyhurst has now played teams from 13 different states and the District of Columbia.  Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
• Until 2024, Mercyhurst had never started a season with four successive away games. The Lakers opened at home against Canisius in 1994 before playing the next four on-the-road. They started the 2007, 2008, and 2010 campaigns with three straight road trips.
• Montana State's 4-0 start is its best since 2012 when the Bobcats began 5-0. It's the 10th time in program history the Bobcats have started 4-0.
• MSU has now outscored its first four opponents 97-31 in the first half.
• Montana State has now prevailed in 28 of its last 29 home games.
• The only other Northeast Conference team Montana State had played until Saturday was Wagner, which it defeated 47-24 in 2018
• Montana State began football in 1897; Mercyhurst started in 1981.

 
Next Game
 
After beginning the season with four straight road games, three against first-time opponents, the Lakers play at home Saturday, September 28, vs. Mountain East Conference member Frostburg State at 1pm. That will be the first contest between the schools on the gridiron since October 16, 1995. Mercyhurst will stay at Saxon Stadium the following Saturday when it hosts Buffalo State as part of Homecoming Weekend.