Instantly traditional, the Montana State Bobcats outlasted the Illinois State Redbirds in a 35-34 additional time win within the FCS Nationwide Championship Sport.
Justin Lamson threw a landing move to move to Taco Dowler on fourth-and-10 in additional time, and Myles Sansted booted by means of the additional level to provide the Bobcats their first nationwide title in additional than 40 years.
The Redbirds scored first to start out the additional time, however Michael Costentino’s additional level try was blocked, denying Illinois State its shot at its first ever nationwide championship.
Costentino additionally had a subject purpose blocked late in regulation, serving to create probably the most heartbreaking losses possible for an Illinois State squad that had received 4 consecutive highway video games simply to get to the title battle in Nashville.
Tommy Rittenhouse threw for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Redbirds, who erased a 14-point second-half deficit to tie the sport and pressure additional time. Two of these touchdowns went to Dylan Lord, who hauled in 13 catches for 161 yards within the shedding effort.
Dowler had eight catches for 111 yards for the Bobcats, who got here into the match because the No. 2 nationwide seed. Lamson threw for 280 yards and a pair of scores within the victory.
The Bobcats struck first within the first quarter, embarking on a 10-play, 90-yard drive that culminated with a Lamson landing scamper to provide Montana State a 7-0 lead.
One other eight-play, 80-yard drive unfolded for the Bobcats within the second quarter, with Lamson as soon as once more scoring on a landing run to make it a 14-0 recreation after simply over 19 minutes of play.
The 2 groups traded touchdowns to wrap up the second half, with Montana State going up 21-7 on a wild 75-yard drive that culminated with Dane Metal hurdling a defender on his option to the tip zone within the closing seconds of the body.
After forcing a punt, Illinois State put collectively a 17-play, 85-yard drive to open the second half scoring, with offensive lineman Logan Brasfield choosing up a Victor Dawson fumble ultimately zone to chop the Montana State result in 21-14.
Montana State scored once more late within the third to construct their lead again to 28-14, however similar to they’d completed so many occasions within the postseason, the Redbirds refused to again down. A prolonged drive within the fourth quarter concluded with a Rittenhouse landing move to Daniel Sobkowicz to trim the result in seven, and after a three-and-out Illinois State scored once more on their subsequent drive, capped off by Rittenhouse discovering Lord for a 25-yard landing to tie the sport at 28-28.
Illinois State had an opportunity to win the sport within the closing seconds, however a 38-yard subject purpose try by Costentino was blocked by Jhase McMillan. It was returned to the Illinois State 45-yard line, organising the Bobcats with prime subject place.
Issues went south shortly for Montana State nonetheless, with a botched third-down snap knocking them out of subject purpose vary and organising an additional time for the title.
Illinois State scored in simply two performs as Rittenhouse discovered Lord for a 10-yard landing to provide the Redbirds the lead, however Costentino’s additional level was blocked, opening the door for Montana State.
On a fourth-and-10 play from the 14-yard line, Lamson stood within the face of a blitz and located Dowler for a landing, and Sansted transformed on the additional level to provide Montana State the nationwide championship.
