Quarterback Tommy Mellott led Montana State, ranked No. 4 in the FCS, to a road win over FBS opponent University of New Mexico in a Week 0 matchup (Photo: Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Montana State entered Saturday’s Week 0 game against New Mexico as a 13.5-point favorite despite traveling to play an FBS school as an FCS program. The Lobos may have beaten the spread, but the Bobcats made the oddsmakers look smart by traveling to Albuquerque and winning, 35-31.
Scottre Humphrey ran for four yards with 10 seconds left to finish off an 11-play, 89-yard drive for the winning points. Tommy Mellott’s 37-yard pass to Ronyatta Alexander Jr. was the big play of the drive, leading Montana State to the New Mexico 26-yard line.
Saturday’s win was Montana State’s first against an FBS program for coach Brent Viggen, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the Bobcats, who went 8-4 last year and start the season ranked fourth in the FCS.
The Bobcats rallied from a 31-14 fourth-quarter deficit to outscore the Lobos 21-0 in the final quarter, but Adam Jones’ 93-yard touchdown with 4:35 to go put Montana State within 31-28 and put the win within reach.
On the next drive, Montana State forced New Mexico to punt from their own 37-yard line, setting up a chance to tie or even win the game.
Mellott completed 21 of 32 passes for 205 yards, but the Bobcats dominated the running game, with Jones rushing for 167 yards and a touchdown and Humphrey rushing for 140 yards and a score.
For a coach who prides himself on toughness, that kind of defensive effort must have frustrated Bronco Mendenhall, who started his first season at New Mexico 4-8 last year, but the Lobos did score two touchdowns on defense, which might encourage the veteran coach.
New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier completed 19 of 27 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 35 yards and a score. Eli Sanders was the Lobos’ rushing leader with 87 yards and Luke Wysong added 95 yards receiving.
Next week, Montana State will travel to Utah Tech, which went 2-9 last year in the United Athletic Conference, while New Mexico is coming off a 10-3 season and will host No. 21 Arizona State in Week 1, where the Wildcats will take on the team.
