MSU had never faced Maine before Saturday. The Bobcats, who have won their last five Gold Rush games, are 30 1/2-point favorites to beat their FCS counterpart. The Black Bears went 2-9 in each of their last two seasons.

Maine running back Jaharie Martin played at MSU from 2019-22, while MSU fullback/tight end Rohan Jones played the previous two seasons at Maine. Martin is Maine’s leading rusher and Jones is MSU’s leading receiver.

The Cats are coming off a 31-7 win over Utah Tech, and they opened the season with a 35-31 comeback win over New Mexico. The Black Bears defeated Colgate 17-14 last week.

MSU will be without starting cornerback Jon Johnson, who suffered a hand injury against Utah Tech, MSU announced Saturday. Andrew Powdrell and Simeon Woodard will start at CB against Maine.

CB Takhari is questionable, while three other MSU reserves are questionable due to injuries: linebacker Bryce Grebe, offensive lineman Burke Mastel and OL Jaden Perkins.

Starting left guard Conner Moore, who missed the second half of last week’s game with an injury, is active.

Five Bobcats who started in previous seasons and were expected to see significant playing time this season will miss their third straight game due to injury: RB Julius Davis, kicker Casey Kautzman, OL Justus Perkins, safety Dru Polidore and OL JT Reed.

After giving up no first downs last week, MSU’s starting defense gave up a first down on the opening play from scrimmage. But Maine punted four plays later.

On MSU’s second scrimmage, running back Scottre Humphrey ran up the middle and went untouched for a 79-yard touchdown with 11 minutes, 21 seconds left on the clock.

Humphrey scored three touchdowns in his first Gold Rush game last year as a true freshman.

After a Maine three-and-out, Tommy Mellott completed a 28-yard pass to Adam Jones. One play later, Jones ran up the middle for a 40-yard TD at the 8:33 mark.

MSU made it 21-0 with a 4-yard TD pass from Mellott to Ryan Lonergan with 4:39 left in the quarter. The scoring was set up by Mellott’s 18-yard run after a blocked punt by Taki Uluilakepa that Garrett Walchli recovered.

Hunter Parsons recorded MSU’s first sack of the season on the next drive to force another punt. A play earlier, Maine’s Montigo Moss, the son of pro football hall of fame wide receiver Randy Moss, dropped a wide-open pass that likely would have gone for a TD.

RESULT: Montana State 21, Maine 0

Humphrey scored his second touchdown of the game with a 6-yard rush at the 14:56 mark, giving the Cats a 28-0 lead.

MSU took a 35-0 lead at the 8:29 mark on a 19-yard TD run by Adam Jones. It was the Missoula native’s second score of the game.

The Black Bears got on the scoreboard with a 5-yard TD pass from Carter Peevy to Moss with 3:15 left in the first half.

Myles Sansted made a 24-yard field goal with 21 seconds left to give the Cats a 38-7 lead.

MSU outscored Maine 372-134 in total yards in the first half, including 232-13 on the ground.

Mellott, who completed his first 11 passes, completed 11 of 14 for 140 yards, a TD and no INTs with 66 rushing yards on five carries. Humphrey had 87 yards on three carries, Jones had 63 yards on four attempts plus 28 receiving yards and Ryan King led MSU with 39 receiving yards on three catches.

RESULT: Montana State 38, Maine 7

Jordan Reed replaced Mellott to start the quarter. On the second play from scrimmage, Kesean Dyson tackled Reed and forced a fumble that Maine’s Uma Henderson recovered.

This story is being updated.