DAVIS, Calif. – Most of the Big Sky Conference showdown on Saturday night was in the hands of Montana State. Then suddenly that was no longer the case.

A frantic fourth-quarter rally from UC Davis yielded three late touchdowns, but No. 2-ranked MSU held on for a 30-28 victory over the No. 4-ranked Aggies to clinch at least a share of the Big Sky Championship and claimed the league’s automatic berth for the upcoming FCS playoffs.

Quarterback Tommy Mellott threw two touchdown passes and Taco Dowler returned a punt for a score as the Bobcats rattled off 30 straight points in one stretch — all of which were needed.

It ranks as MSU’s 16th Big Sky title and second under fourth-year coach Brent Vigen (2022). With the win, the Bobcats (11-0, 7-0 Big Sky) extended the longest winning streak and started a season in program history.

UC Davis (9-2, 6-1) took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Miles Hastings to Ian Simpson and a subsequent two-point conversion, but the Bobcats started sprinting away after that. That.

Mellott hit a wide-open Rohan Jones for a 53-yard touchdown pass later in the first, and found Ty McCullouch on a 17-yard TD pass to put the Cats up 14-8.

MSU’s defense forced a punt on Davis’ next possession, and Dowler took it 79 yards back to the end zone to extend the lead, although the extra point kick was blocked.

Myles Sansted scored a 42-yard field goal with 2:00 left in the half as the Cats took a 23-8 lead.

Early in the third quarter, Bobcats running back Julius Davis scored on a 7-yard run, making the score 30-8.

UC Davis stopped the bleeding with about 6:30 left in the game when Lan Larison took a Wildcat snap into the end zone from 1 yard out to close the gap to 30-15 and begin a comeback.

A 77-yard catch-and-run by Chaz Davis led to a 4-yard TD pass from Hastings to Samuel Gbatu and the Aggies came within striking distance at 30-22 with 1:45 to go.

The Aggies then recovered an onside kick and got another touchdown on a pass from Hastings to Davis to get within two points, but linebacker McCade O’Reilly intercepted the ensuing two-point attempt to preserve MSU’s lead.

UC Davis’ next attempt at an onside kick was unsuccessful and the Bobcats were able to run out the clock.

MSU survived an all-around performance from Aggies star Larison, who finished with 112 rushing yards, 109 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Turning point: Dowler’s punt return in the second quarter was the moment that changed the game, and it gave the Bobcats a two-possession lead to build on. It was the first MSU punt return for a TD since Dowler did it in the 2022 playoff against William & Mary.

Statistics of the game: The Bobcats disrupted Hastings most of the night, sacking him a total of six times. Kenneth Eiden IV and Zac Crews each had two sacks, and Neil Daily and O’Reilly had the others.

Bobcat Toys: QB Tommy Mellott (offense). Mellott’s efficiency once again sparked MSU’s offense. Mellott completed 18 of 25 passes for 174 yards and two scores without an interception.

DE Kenneth Eiden IV (Defense). The Bobcats had nine tackles for loss and Eiden had three, including two quarterback sacks to lead a solid team effort on defense.

PR Taco Dowler (Special teams). Any time you can score on special teams you get a huge boost. Dowler made sure the Bobcats needed it on Saturday.

What’s next: The most important game of the season is now on the docket, as the Bobcats face archrival Montana (8-3, 5-2 Big Sky) at home next Saturday.

MSU hasn’t lost a home game to the Grizzlies since 2015. The Bobcats will look to capture the outright Big Sky title with a win and cap off an undefeated regular season.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon and the game will be televised throughout Montana by Scripps Sports.