In an instant classic, the Montana State Bobcats outlasted the Illinois State Redbirds in a 35-34 overtime win in the FCS National Championship Game.
Justin Lamson threw a touchdown pass to pass to Taco Dowler on fourth-and-10 in overtime, and Myles Sansted booted through the extra point to give the Bobcats their first national title in more than 40 years.
The Redbirds scored first to start the overtime, but Michael Costentino’s extra point attempt was blocked, denying Illinois State its shot at its first ever national championship.
Costentino also had a field goal blocked late in regulation, helping create one of the most heartbreaking losses imaginable for an Illinois State squad that had won four consecutive road games just to get to the title battle in Nashville.
Tommy Rittenhouse threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns for the Redbirds, who erased a 14-point second-half deficit to tie the game and force overtime. Two of those touchdowns went to Dylan Lord, who hauled in 13 catches for 161 yards in the losing effort.
Dowler had eight catches for 111 yards for the Bobcats, who came into the tournament as the No. 2 national seed. Lamson threw for 280 yards and a pair of scores in the victory.
The Bobcats struck first in the first quarter, embarking on a 10-play, 90-yard drive that culminated with a Lamson touchdown scamper to give Montana State a 7-0 lead.
Another eight-play, 80-yard drive unfolded for the Bobcats in the second quarter, with Lamson once again scoring on a touchdown run to make it a 14-0 game after just over 19 minutes of play.
The two teams 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 Steel hurdling a defender on his way to the end zone in the closing seconds of the frame.
After forcing a punt, Illinois State put together a 17-play, 85-yard drive to open the second half scoring, with offensive lineman Logan Brasfield picking up a Victor Dawson fumble in the end zone to cut the Montana State lead to 21-14.
Montana State scored again late in the third to build their lead back to 28-14, but just like they’d done so many times in the postseason, the Redbirds refused to back down. A lengthy drive in the fourth quarter concluded with a Rittenhouse touchdown pass to Daniel Sobkowicz to trim the lead to seven, and after a three-and-out Illinois State scored again on their next drive, capped off by Rittenhouse finding Lord for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28-28.
Illinois State had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds, but a 38-yard field goal attempt by Costentino was blocked by Jhase McMillan. It was returned to the Illinois State 45-yard line, setting up the Bobcats with prime field position.
Things went south quickly for Montana State however, with a botched third-down snap knocking them out of field goal range and setting up an overtime for the title.
Illinois State scored in just two plays as Rittenhouse found Lord for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Redbirds the lead, but Costentino’s extra point was blocked, opening the door for Montana State.
On a fourth-and-10 play from the 14-yard line, Lamson stood in the face of a blitz and found Dowler for a touchdown, and Sansted converted on the extra point to give Montana State the national championship.
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