BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — No. 2 Montana State rushed for a season-high 227 yards and Adam Jones ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns to beat seventh-ranked Stephen F. Austin 44-28 on Saturday in the FCS quarterfinals on Saturday.
Montana State will face the winner of No. 3 Montana State or No. 11 South Dakota State in the semifinals.
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The Bobcats scored six points in the first eight possessions and never trailed, improving their record to 12-2 while earning a berth in the national semifinals. Stephen F. Austin hasn’t lost since Sept. 6 and ends the year with an 11-3 record.
Montana State took its first lead midway through the first quarter as Jones finished with 10 carries, 65 yards rushing and a 1-yard touchdown. Justin Lamson threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, receiving a 21-yard score from Jones and a 3-yard touchdown pass from Luvance Valsin to take a 24-0 lead.
Stephen F. Austin responded before halftime, rushing 75 yards in 1:22 and scoring two points on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Sam Vidlak to Clayton Wayland to make it 24-8.
The Lumberjacks pulled within 24-14 early in the third quarter on Jalen Jenkins’ 5-yard run, but Montana State responded with a Myles Thornstead field goal and a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Rumson to regain control. Jenkins scored again late in the third quarter to keep the Lumberjacks within range.
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All momentum came to an end early in the fourth quarter when Jones rushed for a 16-yard touchdown on the Bobcats’ first possession of the quarter.
Stephen F. Austin became the second FCS team this season to score 28 points against Montana State. No other FCS opponent scored more than 17 points during the regular season.
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