Youthful Bobcats Coast Past Fort Lewis

Courtesy of Montana State Athletics

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Saturday marked a ‘fresh’ start for Montana State football.

Or rather, a ‘freshman’ start.

Quarterback Denarius McGhee became the first Bobcat frosh to open a season as MSU’s signal caller since 1987, Cody Kirk the freshman running back to do so since 1992, and they led a wave of one dozen freshman that participated in the Bobcats’ season-opening 59-10 home win over Fort Lewis College. Montana State’s 59 points matched the team’s 59 points in 2008 as the most a Bobcat team has ever scored in a season opener.

Rob Ash said the wave of youthful achievement Saturday was neither purposeful nor accidental, but was welcome. “We didn’t start anybody today because they were a freshman, or hesitate to start anyone because they were a freshman,” said MSU’s fourth-year head coach. “That’s always been my philosophy, to play the player who is the best at that time.”

That collection of talent allowed MSU to roll up and down the field offensively, and to stifle Fort Lewis’ offense. Montana State rolled up 532 total yards and 30 first downs, limiting the Skyhawks to just 238 yards and eight first downs. McGhee’s efficient afternoon sparked the offensive onslaught. The freshman finished 11-for-17 passing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Four Bobcat running backs rushed for over 50 yards.

Just as impressively for a season opener, MSU was whistled for only two penalties and didn’t turn the ball over.

“I was very, very happy with our consistency all day long,” Ash said. “It was one of the best first games a team of mine has ever played.”

The Bobcats came out of the gates on fire, scoring touchdowns in the team’s first three drives – and five of the first six – of the day. Kirk, the freshman running back, blasted in from one yard out on MSU’s first possession of 2010, and from three yards out on the second. On one of the day’s most artistic plays, McGhee found fellow freshman Tanner Bleskin on a 32-yard fly route.

“That was a beautiful play,” Ash affirmed.

MSU led 35-3 at halftime and had 52 points in the bank after blanking Fort Lewis in the third quarter. One of the day’s top performances was turned in by Skyhawk receiver Justin Johnson, who caught 10 passes for 161 yards. His 62-yard catch set up the Skyhawks’ first half field goal, and accounted for all but 80 of the team’s total yards at the intermission.

Aleksei Grosulak, like Bleskin and McGhee a redshirt freshman, led the Bobcats with six tackles on the afternoon. Senior defensive tackle Dan Ogden forced a FLC fumble, which was recovered by fellow senior Jordan Craney for the day’s only turnover to set up the team’s third touchdown.

Montana State takes its show on the road next week, facing Pac 10 foe Washington State in Pullman’s Martin Stadium. Fort Lewis is does not play next weekend.