Gorgeous in spots and dragging in others, Montana State’s 35-34 overtime win over Illinois State Monday in the NCAA Division I Football Championship was, once Myles Sansted’s PAT kick split the uprights, artful.

That it was 41 years between national championships — MSU beat Louisiana Tech for the 1984 title in what we called Division I-AA — is fitting. The Bobcats chose 41 for their legacy jersey, worn by a Montana native, beginning in 2019; the number in part honors the 1941 team that lost so many players in World War II. 

That the Cats had to weather the storm that is the ISU Redbirds, who dictated play for most of the final 30 minutes at Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium, was maybe kismet as well. 

“I say this is an odd game for us, but for them this is kind of the script,” MSU coach Brent Vigen said afterward. He pointed toward Illinois State’s huge advantage in offensive plays (33) and time of possession (2-to-1).  

Helping out the Redbirds were 14 Bobcat penalties for 93 yards, including nine false starts. Four of those turned probable run plays into second- or third-and-long; the Cats kept throwing into heavy pressure while thousand-yard rushers Julius Davis and Adam Jones combined for just 10 carries. 

That number seems absurd, to borrow a word from Redbird linebacker Tye Niekamp. 

All those big plays, like Dane Steel’s hurdling, lunging TD to close the first half and Taco Dowler’s double-cut back, get-those-ankles-wrapped 22-yard score, seemed about to come to naught with 2 minutes left.  

The Redbirds were in field goal range, the game was 28-all and things were quiet along a press row shoulder to shoulder with Montana media.  

Then came Jayse McMillan’s field goal block; a blocked PAT in OT by Hunter Parsons gave MSU that final opening. Justin Lamson found Dowler for the game-tying touchdown and the kick by Sansted — Vigen’s nephew — set off the long-awaited celebration. 

“Then it happens and you look out there and the field is full and the stands still seem full,” Vigen, whose Bobcats lost in the title games in 2021 and last year. “And it just feels great to be at a place that is so well-supported and so many people that care. 

“If tonight doesn’t reinforce this group’s never say die attitude, I don’t know what will.” 

Overcoming negative plays was a Bobcat hallmark, from Brawl I to the Super Brawl to the struggle with Yale. If it seems prudent to employ a silent snap count from here to forever, 14-2 don’t lie. 

Meanwhile Illinois State had four kicks, including three field goals, blocked coming into Monday night. That had to be a concern for the Redbirds, but you couldn’t expect the Cats to knock two more, could you? I mean, that would be absurd. 

To borrow that word. 

Reach Fritz at 406-758-4463 or at [email protected].

NOTE: This article has been updated to correct MSU's opponent in the 1984 championship.