HILLSBORO, Ore. – One more game, one more step toward a potentially historic season for the Montana State football program.

After dominating Idaho in a nationally televised game last week, the third-ranked Bobcats quickly put aside any thoughts of disappointment Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium, rallying to a 44-14 victory over Portland State went. Montana State is now 8-0 for the first time since 1956.

Scottre Humphrey set the tone for the Bobcats early, scoring on an easy seven-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the game. It was just the start of a dominant first half.

Tommy Mellott threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter and Humphrey added another scoring run as Montana State rolled up more than 400 yards of offense en route to a 35-0 halftime lead. Mellott’s TDs went for 57 yards to Taco Dowler, 24 yards to Jared White and 48 yards to Rohan Jones.

The Jones TD was especially devastating for Portland State. Mellott and White connected for their touchdown with just 1:55 to play in the first half.

But the Bobcat defense forced a Portland State punt to get the ball back with 51 seconds left in the half. The Montana State offense needed just 21 seconds to score another touchdown, with Mellott finding an open Jones, who shook off multiple tacklers before diving into the end zone for the TD.

Mellott finished the game 15 of 20 passing for 239 yards and three touchdowns. He added 34 yards on four carries, while Humphrey totaled 160 yards and his two TDs on just 14 carries. Montana State finished with 607 yards of offense: 323 rushing and 284 passing.

A week after both rushing and passing, Dante Chachere struggled to find any space against Montana State. He was 10 of 17 passing for just 65 yards and an interception. He had seven carries for 4 yards.

The Vikings totaled 236 yards, of which only 87 came through the air.

Turning point: Dowler’s 57-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Portland State held on early and entered the second quarter trailing just 7-0, but Dowler’s long touchdown broke the game open. Montana State dominated the rest of the way.

Statistics of the game: Montana State’s defense, which has given up just 14 first-half points in seven games against FCS opponents this season, was dominant again. The Bobcats held Portland State to 87 passing yards in the game, shutting down Chachere and the Vikings’ offense.

Bobcat Toys: RB Scottre Humphrey (Attack). This could easily be Mellott, who had another near-flawless game at quarterback. But Humphrey established the Bobcats’ run game early with a 35-yard run on the first possession and then led the Bobcats to 210 rushing yards on 21 carries in the first half alone.

LB Neil Daly (Defense). Daly acclimatized himself well as a linebacker, replacing the injured Danny Uluilakepa. Daly led the team with six total tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss, but the entire defensive unit deserves credit for once again holding an opponent scoreless in the first half.

PK Myles Sansted (Special teams). Sansted wasn’t needed much, but when his name was called in the second half, he made all three of his field goal attempts. He was good at 28, 25 and 45 meters.

What’s next: Montana State (8-0 overall, 4-0 Big Sky) and Portland Stare (1-6, 1-3) are on hiatus next week before heading into the regular-season homestretch. Both teams return to the field on November 2: Montana State at Eastern Washington and Portland State at Sacramento State.