The many things that went right for the Montana State Bobcats Saturday, in their 28-26 win over Idaho State in triple-overtime, barely outnumbered the things that went wrong.

Still, several good plays bear revisiting. Let’s start at the end instead of the beginning. 

Rylan Schlepp’s game-winning catch of a reverse pass. That was a play the Bobcats put in after the overtime rules changed to limit the first-and-10 from the 25 possessions to two per team. Better get a page of two-point PAT plays ready, they figured. 

Caden Dowler’s stick on ISU’s two-point attempt, a shovel pass, one play before. That dude just keeps making plays. 

John Hurst Daniels getting a hand on Mason Lindberg’s 56-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation. The kick still got to MSU’s Dane Steel at the 11, so it had plenty of leg. That kept it 20-20, forcing the first OT. 

Montana State’s fourth-and-5 play late in the first half, when Idaho State up 10-0. Needing momentum, the Bobcats drove from their 19 to Idaho State’s 23 where, on third-and-4, Bengal Bronson Childs pulled the helmet off MSU quarterback Justin Lamson, then went all Fred Smerlas and bounced his face mask off Lamson’s face. 

No penalty; loss of 1 yard. 

A bloodied Lamson calmly hit Steel for 22 yards on the next play. Adam Jones scored on the next snap with 35 seconds left in the half, capping a drive that took just under 2 minutes. 

It’s hard to see MSU improving to 9-1 without shaking off that third down. 

“We should have executed the play, first and foremost,” coach Brent Vigen said. “But then you don’t get the benefit of what should have been a first down, based on the penalty. Now it’s fourth-and-5.  

“I personally had enough confidence in our offense and Justin and whoever he was going to throw to that we could make it. And we did make it and got it to 10-7, and I think that was critical not only in the moment but in the long haul for that game.” 

Bengals Bruising Front 

Lamson’s 70-percent completion percentage took a hit against ISU; he was 22 of 37 (59 percent) for 209 yards. He was also sacked twice and the Bengals also rallied to the ball well, allowing the Bobcats 4.0 yards a rush and 5.6 yards per pass attempt. 

It was a stern test. 

“They’ve got a good front,” Vigen said of the Bengals. “They’ve got some really active, big, strong players. And they do a good job of moving them and making it challenging.” 

Then he added: “As much as I want to get them credit, I want our guys to take the onus that we could play better. We need to play better. We had some opportunities to spring some runs and didn’t do a good enough job in some of those situations on the second level.” 

Next for the Bengals are the Montana Grizzlies, who host Idaho State Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2. 

“We’re going to have to play really well,” Montana coach Bobby Kennedy said Monday. “They’re either one or two or three in nearly every defensive category. Our offensive line has to step up to the challenge.” 

OK, One More

Back to Saturday in Pocatello: Vigen was asked about sophomore Rocky Lencioni’s impact on the Bobcat offense, and no wonder. It was his acrobatic catch through tight coverage that allowed MSU to tie the game at 20-all with 2:24 left in regulation. 

The 20-yard catch was Lamson’s only touchdown throw of the game. Lencioni, who was also returning kicks on Saturday, has 22 catches for 257 yards this season, with two touchdowns. 

“Rocky’s earned that right to play in a more versatile way over the course of his time here, 

 Vigen said. “And I think getting our best 11 out there more consistently (we) probably should include him more times than not.” 

Montana State is at Northern Colorado Saturday. Kickoff is at noon Mountain. 

Glowing Report Card

Montana’s sack total dropped from 11-0 from its 42-33 win at Eastern Washington to its 57-24 home victory over Portland State Saturday, but perhaps we’re picking nits. 

“After looking at the film, it was really satisfying,” Kennedy said. “On offense we probably played our cleanest game — coach (Brent) Pease would say -- ever. No turnovers, No penalties. We only had one penalty on defense, one on special teams. Obviously the one on special teams was a pretty big one.” 

That erased at 95-yard kickoff return by Monte Gillman.  

“Defensively, I really thought the guys played fast,” Kennedy said. “We allowed 5.5 yards per pass play.” 

Quotable

“I would have liked to have seen it from film and not in person for him to get that number. That’s a heck of a record.” 

— Portland State coach Chris Fisk on Griz Eli Gillman’s 78th career TD.