Bobcats blast Eagles, 57-14

BOZEMAN, Mont. — On their initial defensive series Eastern Washington forced Montana State to punt — a good start it appeared?

But after that the No. 5 Bobcats scored on their next six possessions of the first half rolling past the Eagles 57-14 in a Big Sky Conference football game in Bozeman, Nov. 11.

As they built a 41-0 lead, Montana State (6-1 Big Sky, 8-2 overall) did so largely in big play fashion, scoring on plays of 68, 51, 63 and 43 yards. But Eastern also lost the ball twice on turnovers, each leading to scores.

“The air comes out of the balloon when you have a 40-yard play, then a 50-yard play, then a 60-yard play,” head coach Aaron Best said. “Those are tough to overcome.”

As a team, the Bobcats went 8-for-8 passing for 217 yards and 4 TDs in the first half as they built a 41-7 lead. Blake Gobel snared a Kekoa Visperas pass with 18 seconds to play in the first half for Eastern’s score. Nolan Ulm caught a 27-yard scoring pass from Blake Gobel snared on a 27-yard Visperas pass.

The win extended the Bobcats’ home win streak to 26 games and snapped Eastern’s four-game streak at in Bozeman that began in 2012.

“After those first two series, there was some really bad football in that first half which let up some big plays,” said Best. “(MSU had) too many explosive plays at the end of the day.”

Visperas finished the game 27 for 36 passing for 329 yards, 2 touchdowns but added a pair of interceptions and was sacked four times. Efton Chism III led Eastern receivers with 8 catches for 94 yards. Eastern was held to just 63 net rushing yards.

The Eagles (3-4, 4-6) return home for their final game of the 2023 season to face the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Nov. 18.

It will be Senior Day at Roos Field as outgoing seniors will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony.