CHENEY, Wash. – In one of the toughest tests of the season, the No. 2-ranked Montana State football team held on for a 42-28 victory over Eastern Washington on Saturday at Roos Field.

The Bobcats improved to 9-0 for the second time in program history.

The opening drive for MSU stalled. The Bobcats were flagged for delay of play on the first play and were forced to punt on an incomplete pass intended for wide receiver Ty McCullouch. The Eagles went three-and-out on their first drive after MSU safety Rylan Ortt forced an incompletion.

MSU was flagged for holding the ensuing punt return, and running back Adam Jones dropped a pass first. Fellow RB Julius Davis made his season debut on second down — a rush from quarterback Tommy Mellott for a first down — and got his first touch on the next play, a 10-yard run for another first down.

WR Ryan King (27 yards) and fullback Rohan Jones (24 yards) made key catches to get the Bobcats into the red zone. Adam Jones was later tackled at the 1-yard line and Scottre Humphrey punched him in for the first score of the game.

On the next kickoff, EWU’s Michael Wortham brought the ball out of the end zone and was tackled by MSU’s Max Murphy, who knocked the ball loose. Carson Williams recovered it for the Bobcats at the EWU 19-yard line. Mellott found WR Taco Dowler on the next play for the 19-yard TD to make it 14-0 MSU.

Wortham brought the ball to the EWU 37 on the next kickoff. Eagles QB Jared Taylor – replacing the injured Kekoa Visperas – nearly broke off a long TD run on a third-and-2, but ran into teammate JP Murphy and was tackled by Ortt.

EWU still capitalized on the 13-play, 63-yard drive with a 4-yard TD catch from Efton Chism III. Chism turned his head back just in time to adjust for the back shoulder throw into the end zone. The score marks the first time MSU has surrendered an offensive TD in the first quarter of 2024.

MSU added another TD on the next drive. Mellott broke off runs of 26 and 23 yards, respectively, and Adam Jones capped the drive with a TD run of 20 yards. Jones drove over EWU safety Armani Orange on his way to the end zone.

On the other end, Wortham got a handoff from Taylor on second-and-10. Wortham faked a throw to Chism, got the lead closed by his offensive linemen and broke away for the 75-yard TD run. It’s the longest TD the MSU defense has given up this season. MSU led 21-14.

The Bobcats converted three third downs on the next drive. On a third-and-6 at the EWU 38, Mellott rolled out and found Dowler for seven yards. Jones converted consecutive third-and-3s to get the ball to the EWU 6. Humphrey capped the drive with a 4-yard TD run.

The 16-play, 70-yard drive lasted 9 minutes, 33 seconds and was the second-longest drive this season by number of games.

MSU safety Dru Polidore made his first career interception as a Bobcat on the next EWU drive. The Bobcats looked to get another score before halftime, but after a diving catch by Dowler was overturned on replay review, MSU elected to go into the break up 28-14.

Taylor dropped the ball on the ground, but picked it up and fired 19 yards to WR Wesley Garrett. RB Tuna Altahir later had a 16-yard run and Wortham took a handoff from Taylor and threw an 18-yard pass to JP Murphy. Altahir capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown reception on third-and-goal.

MSU led 28-21 after that drive – the most points the Bobcats’ premier defense has given up all season.

Humphrey nearly broke off another TD run on the next play of a scrimmage, but settled for 13 yards after being tripped by EWU safety McKel Broussard. Humphrey added later in the drive runs of 11 and 17 respectively.

But Jones was stopped short on a third-and-2 and Mellott was sacked for a 10-yard loss by EWU defensive end Brock Harrison on fourth-and-1. The Eagles took over from the EWU 36.

Two plays later, Altahir broke off a 33-yard run. He later scored an 11-yard rushing TD to tie the game 28-28 with 1:26 left in the third quarter. It is the first time this season that MSU has been tied with an opponent in the second half.

Mellott took matters into his own hands and feet on the next play. He faked the handoff to Humphrey, dodged DE Jaden Radke off the edge and burst through the EWU defense for the 76-yard TD run. Mellott became the fourth Bobcat player and first QB to break 3,000 career rushing yards.

It is also MSU’s fifth play (third rush) of more than 70 yards this season, giving the Bobcats a 35-28 lead. It is the first time MSU has scored more than 30 points in the first nine games of a season.

Meanwhile, Wortham’s pass to Chism came up short on a third-and-12. EWU faked the punt, with punter Landon Ogles firing a pass to TE/FB Austin York for a first down. But the play was called back due to an ineligible man on the field. Dowler returned the next kick at the MSU 35.

The Bobcats had a three-and-out on the next drive and EWU — after a tackle by MSU DE Zac Crews on third-and-13 — also punted again.

MSU’s offense later faced a third-and-5, and Mellott threw his first interception of the season. EWU’s Ahmani Williams picked off the pass intended for McCullouch. The Eagles took over at the MSU 32.

Taylor fumbled for the next play – forced by MSU nose tackle Paul Brott – but it was recovered by Altahir. But the Eagles turned it around on downs when Taylor – under pressure from MSU DE Brody Grebe – threw a pass wide of the sticks to Wortham on fourth-and-4.

After a false start on third down, Mellott fired a pass to McCullouch down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown. McCulluch beat EWU cornerback Alphonse Oywak on a go route and ran to the end zone.

MSU hosts Sacramento State next Saturday.

This story will be updated.