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Montana State Beats Portland State in Shootout

By Beacon Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Jack Rolovich passed for 296 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score as Montana State blew open a close game with a huge fourth quarter on the way to a 50-36 victory over Portland State on Saturday.

It was Montana State’s second straight victory over Portland State, and the Bobcats (6-4, 4-3 Big Sky) have now won five of the last six against the Vikings (2-8, 2-5 Big Sky).

Portland State held a 15-14 lead after three quarters, thanks to a safety, two Danny Urrego field goals and a seven-yard touchdown pass from Drew Hubel to Kenneth Mackins. The rest of the game belonged to the Bobcats, who scored five fourth-quarter touchdowns.

The final period started with a nine-yard TD pass from Rolovich to Derek Green, which gave Montana State at 22-15 lead. The Bobcats got some breathing room a short time later when corner back Michael Beach intercepted Hubel and returned it for a 72-yard touchdown to make it 29-15.

Portland State got that touchdown back when Hubel connected with Tremayne Kirkland on an eight-yard scoring toss. But the Bobcats answered with a 59-yard drive that ended with Rolovich’s 28-yard TD pass to tight end Kyle Begger, which made it 26-22 with 7:06 left.

Beach then followed with his second interception of the quarter, this time returning the ball 57 yards to the Portland State 11-yard line. One play later, Issiah Taito scored on an 11-yard run up the middle and Montana State had a 43-22 lead.

The game’s final four minutes featured three more touchdowns two by Portland State and one by Montana State. It was the third time this season that Portland State has given up at least 50 points and the seventh time that the Vikings have yielded at least 30.

Hubel, who set a national collegiate record with nine TD passes two weeks ago against Weber State, was held this time to two touchdown passes and five interceptions.