CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

North Dakota State at Montana State

Saturday, December 2, 2023, FCS Championship – Second Round

North Dakota State beat Montana State 35–⁠34 in overtime. It was their ninth meeting; after it, North Dakota State led the series 5–⁠4.

AwayNorth Dakota State11–⁠4 in 2023
35
HomeMontana State8–⁠4 in 2023
34

Final, overtime at Bobcat Stadium, BozemanTV: ESPN+Attendance 17,247

At kickoff
40°F, overcast, wind 15 mph from the south, gusts to 23 mphWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Gallatin Field Airport (KBZN), 17 km from the stadium
Official
Bruce AustinGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4OTFinal
North Dakota State01477735
Montana State77140634

Standouts

Player stats

North Dakota State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cam Miller5/136610
Cole Payton1/11200
RushingCarYdsTDLong
TaMerik Williams11162275
RaJa Nelson655025
T.K. Marshall340129
Cole Payton72008
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Eli Green463034
Zach Mathis215112
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Cole Wisniewski0001

Montana State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Tommy Mellott13/1720421
Sean Chambers1/22600
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Tommy Mellott18151276
Scottre Humphrey1077125
Sean Chambers833029
Jared White31008
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Ty McCullouch492134
Clevan Thomas248139
Scottre Humphrey341026
Taco Dowler238019

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

North Dakota StateMontana State
374Total yards509
78Passing yards230
296Rushing yards279
5.6Yards per pass12.1
6.9Yards per rush7.0
18First downs21
2–⁠9Third downs3–⁠10
0–⁠0Fourth downs1–⁠2
0Turnovers1
7–⁠45Penalties6–⁠46
29:43Possession30:17

Efficiency

North Dakota StateMontana State
38%Success rate47%
0.28EPA per play0.40
1.61Explosiveness1.58
0.35Rushing EPA0.32
0.13Passing EPA0.55
21%Passing-down success21%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Montana State 58% to win. North Dakota State won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Montana State −3.5, over/under 55.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Every drive

Montana State end zoneNorth Dakota State end zoneQ1 Montana StateMissed FG, 10 playsQ1 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ1 Montana StateMissed FG, 4 playsQ1 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ1 Montana StateTouchdown, 3 playsQ1 North Dakota StatePunt, 6 playsQ2 Montana StatePunt, 4 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 Montana StateTouchdown, 6 playsQ2 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 Montana StateInterception, 2 playsQ3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 1 playQ3 Montana StateTouchdown, 2 playsQ3 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ3 Montana StateTouchdown, 8 playsQ3 North Dakota StatePunt, 6 playsQ3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ4 North Dakota StatePunt, 7 playsQ4 Montana StatePunt, 5 playsQ4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ4 Montana StatePunt, 6 playsQ4 North Dakota StateResult not recorded, 1 playQ5 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ5 Montana StateTouchdown, 1 play
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Montana State drives left to right, North Dakota State right to left.
  1. Q1 Montana StateMissed FG, 10 plays, 59 yards
  2. Q1 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
  3. Q1 Montana StateMissed FG, 4 plays, −1 yard
  4. Q1 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, 4 yards
  5. Q1 Montana StateTouchdown, 3 plays, 63 yards
  6. Q1 North Dakota StatePunt, 6 plays, 25 yards
  7. Q2 Montana StatePunt, 4 plays, 2 yards
  8. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 39 yards
  9. Q2 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, 7 yards
  10. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 93 yards
  11. Q2 Montana StateTouchdown, 6 plays, 71 yards
  12. Q2 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, −5 yards
  13. Q2 Montana StateInterception, 2 plays, 10 yards
  14. Q3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 1 play, 75 yards
  15. Q3 Montana StateTouchdown, 2 plays, 86 yards
  16. Q3 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, 0 yards
  17. Q3 Montana StateTouchdown, 8 plays, 69 yards
  18. Q3 North Dakota StatePunt, 6 plays, 3 yards
  19. Q3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 47 yards
  20. Q4 North Dakota StatePunt, 7 plays, 8 yards
  21. Q4 Montana StatePunt, 5 plays, 21 yards
  22. Q4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 89 yards
  23. Q4 Montana StatePunt, 6 plays, 33 yards
  24. Q4 North Dakota StateResult not recorded, 1 play, 2 yards
  25. Q5 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 25 yards
  26. Q5 Montana StateTouchdown, 1 play, 25 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Montana State 7, North Dakota State 0
Montana State Missed FG, 10 plays
15:00Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Tommy Mellott run for 20 yds to the MTST 45 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 45Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 5 yds to the 50 yard line
15:002nd & 5 at the 50Tommy Mellott run for no gain to the 50 yard line
15:003rd & 5 at the 50Tommy Mellott run for 3 yds to the NDSU 47
15:004th & 2 at opp 47Sean Chambers run for 3 yds to the NDSU 44 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 44Sean Chambers pass complete to Scottre Humphrey for 26 yds to the NDSU 18 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 18Sean Chambers run for a loss of 4 yards to the NDSU 22
15:002nd & 14 at opp 22Tommy Mellott run for 8 yds to the NDSU 14
15:003rd & 6 at opp 14Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 2 yards to the NDSU 16
9:284th & 8 at opp 16Casey Kautzman 33 yd FG MISSED
North Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
9:281st & 10 at own 20RaJa Nelson run for a loss of 1 yard to the NDSU 19
9:282nd & 11 at own 19Cam Miller run for 3 yds to the NDSU 22
9:283rd & 8 at own 22Cam Miller sacked by Nolan Askelson for a loss of 2 yards to the NDSU 20
7:224th & 10 at own 20Kaedin Steindorf punt for 40 yds , Taco Dowler returns for no gain to the NDSU 31
Montana State Missed FG, 4 plays
7:221st & 10 at opp 31Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 4 yards to the NDSU 35
7:222nd & 14 at opp 35Tommy Mellott run for 6 yds to the NDSU 29
7:223rd & 8 at opp 29Sean Chambers run for a loss of 3 yards to the NDSU 32
5:114th & 11 at opp 32Casey Kautzman 49 yd FG MISSED
North Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
5:111st & 10 at own 32Cole Payton run for 3 yds to the NDSU 35
5:112nd & 7 at own 35Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 1 yd to the NDSU 36
5:113rd & 6 at own 36Cam Miller run for no gain to the NDSU 36
3:084th & 6 at own 36Kaedin Steindorf punt for 39 yds
Montana State Touchdown, 3 plays
3:081st & 10 at own 37Tommy Mellott pass complete to Jacob Trimble for 18 yds to the NDSU 45 for a 1ST down
3:081st & 10 at opp 45Tommy Mellott pass complete to Scottre Humphrey for 11 yds to the NDSU 34 for a 1ST down
1:571st & 10 at opp 34Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 34 yds for a TD (Casey Kautzman KICK)Montana State 7, North Dakota State 0
North Dakota State Punt, 6 plays
1:57Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
1:571st & 10 at own 25Cam Miller pass incomplete
1:572nd & 10 at own 25Cam Miller sacked by Level Price Jr. for a loss of 3 yards to the NDSU 22
1:573rd & 13 at own 22Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 34 yds to the MTST 44 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 44Cam Miller run for no gain to the MTST 44
Q2 15:002nd & 10 at opp 44Barika Kpeenu run for 4 yds to the MTST 40
Q2 15:003rd & 6 at opp 40North Dakota State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Zach Mathis) to the 50 yard line
Q2 15:003rd & 16 at the 50Cam Miller pass incomplete
Q2 13:404th & 16 at the 50Kaedin Steindorf punt for 46 yds
2nd quarter7 drives, then Tied at 14
Montana State Punt, 4 plays
13:401st & 10 at own 4Tommy Mellott run for 3 yds to the MTST 7
13:402nd & 7 at own 7Montana State Penalty, Offensive Holding (-8 Yards) to the MTST 8 for a 1ST down
13:401st & 10 at own 8Tommy Mellott run for a loss of 2 yards to the MTST 6
13:402nd & 12 at own 6Sean Chambers pass incomplete
11:483rd & 12 at own 6Brendan Hall punt for 33 yds
North Dakota State Touchdown, 5 plays
11:481st & 10 at opp 39RaJa Nelson run for 25 yds to the MTST 14 for a 1ST down
11:481st & 10 at opp 14Cole Payton run for 4 yds to the MTST 10
11:482nd & 6 at opp 10Cam Miller run for no gain to the MTST 10
11:483rd & 6 at opp 10MILLER, Cam pass to the left incomplete intended for MATHIS, Zach thrown to the MSU10. PENALTY MSU Pass Interference enforced at the spot of the foul for 4 yards to the MSU6 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
11:481st & goal at opp 6Cam Miller run for 3 yds to the MTST 3
8:522nd & goal at opp 3Cam Miller pass complete to Zach Mathis for 3 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)Tied at 7
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
8:48Eli Ozick kickoff for 57 yds
8:481st & 10 at own 28Scottre Humphrey run for 3 yds to the MTST 31
8:482nd & 7 at own 31Scottre Humphrey run for 4 yds to the MTST 35
8:483rd & 3 at own 35MELLOTT, Tommy pass to the left incomplete intended for LONERGAN, Ryan thrown to the MSU47. PENALTY MSU Ineligible Receiver Downfield on Pass NDS Pass Interference , Offsetting penalties [SG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
8:483rd & 3 at own 35Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
7:054th & 3 at own 35Brendan Hall punt for 58 yds
North Dakota State Touchdown, 5 plays
7:051st & 10 at own 7TaMerik Williams run for 8 yds to the NDSU 15
7:052nd & 2 at own 15Cole Payton pass complete to Zach Mathis for 12 yds to the NDSU 27 for a 1ST down
7:051st & 10 at own 27North Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Zach Mathis) to the NDSU 22
7:051st & 15 at own 22RaJa Nelson run for 22 yds to the NDSU 44 for a 1ST down
7:051st & 10 at own 44Cam Miller run for 12 yds to the MTST 44 for a 1ST down
4:071st & 10 at opp 44TaMerik Williams run for 44 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 14, Montana State 7
Montana State Touchdown, 6 plays
4:07Eli Ozick kickoff for 61 yds
4:071st & 10 at own 29Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 32 yds to the NDSU 39 for a 1ST down
4:071st & 10 at opp 39Tommy Mellott pass complete to Taco Dowler for 19 yds to the NDSU 20 for a 1ST down
4:071st & 10 at opp 20Sean Chambers run for 12 yds to the NDSU 8 for a 1ST down
4:071st & goal at opp 8Sean Chambers run for 2 yds to the NDSU 6
4:072nd & goal at opp 6Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
1:053rd & goal at opp 6Tommy Mellott run for 6 yds for a TD (Casey Kautzman KICK)Tied at 14
North Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
1:05Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
1:051st & 10 at own 25North Dakota State Penalty, Offensive Holding (Zach Mathis) to the NDSU 15
1:051st & 20 at own 15Cam Miller pass incomplete
0:203rd & 10 at own 25Timeout Montana State, clock 00:20
0:202nd & 20 at own 15TK Marshall run for 10 yds to the NDSU 25
0:203rd & 10 at own 25Cam Miller pass incomplete
0:204th & 10 at own 25North Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Zach Mathis) to the NDSU 20
0:084th & 15 at own 20Kaedin Steindorf punt for 41 yds
Montana State Interception, 2 plays
0:031st & 10 at own 49Timeout Montana State, clock 00:03
0:031st & 10 at own 39Tommy Mellott run for 10 yds to the MTST 49 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 49Tommy Mellott pass intercepted Cole Wisniewski return for no gain to the NDSU 11
3rd quarter6 drives, then Montana State 28, North Dakota State 21
North Dakota State Touchdown, 1 play
15:00Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:501st & 10 at own 25TaMerik Williams run for 75 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 21, Montana State 14
Montana State Touchdown, 2 plays
14:44Eli Ozick kickoff for 64 yds
14:441st & 10 at own 14Scottre Humphrey run for 10 yds to the MTST 24 for a 1ST down
13:561st & 10 at own 24Tommy Mellott run for 76 yds for a TD (Casey Kautzman KICK)Tied at 21
North Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
13:56Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
13:561st & 10 at own 25TK Marshall run for 1 yd to the NDSU 26
13:562nd & 9 at own 26RaJa Nelson run for a loss of 1 yard to the NDSU 25
13:563rd & 10 at own 25Cam Miller pass incomplete
12:194th & 10 at own 25Kaedin Steindorf punt for 57 yds
Montana State Touchdown, 8 plays
11:292nd & 6 at own 35Timeout Montana State, clock 11:29
11:291st & 10 at own 31Tommy Mellott pass complete to Scottre Humphrey for 4 yds to the MTST 35
11:292nd & 6 at own 35Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 21 yds to the NDSU 44 for a 1ST down
11:291st & 10 at opp 44Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
11:292nd & 10 at opp 44Tommy Mellott run for 4 yds to the NDSU 40
11:293rd & 6 at opp 40Tommy Mellott pass complete to Taco Dowler for 19 yds to the NDSU 21 for a 1ST down
11:291st & 10 at opp 21Tommy Mellott run for 7 yds to the NDSU 14
11:292nd & 3 at opp 14Tommy Mellott run for 5 yds to the NDSU 9 for a 1ST down
8:081st & goal at opp 9Tommy Mellott pass complete to Clevan Thomas for 9 yds for a TD (Casey Kautzman KICK)Montana State 28, North Dakota State 21
North Dakota State Punt, 6 plays
8:08Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:081st & 10 at own 25Cole Payton run for 2 yds to the NDSU 27
8:082nd & 8 at own 27North Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Zach Mathis) to the NDSU 22
8:082nd & 13 at own 22Cam Miller run for no gain to the NDSU 22
8:083rd & 13 at own 22Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 14 yds to the NDSU 36 for a 1ST down
8:081st & 10 at own 36Cam Miller pass incomplete
8:082nd & 10 at own 36TaMerik Williams run for no gain to the NDSU 36
8:083rd & 10 at own 36Cam Miller sacked by Brody Grebe for a loss of 8 yards to the NDSU 28
4:164th & 18 at own 28Kaedin Steindorf punt for 55 yds
Montana State Turnover on downs, 7 plays
4:161st & 10 at own 17Tommy Mellott pass complete to Marqui Johnson for a loss of 2 yards to the MTST 15
4:162nd & 12 at own 15Scottre Humphrey run for 1 yd to the MTST 16
4:163rd & 11 at own 16Tommy Mellott pass complete to Clevan Thomas for 39 yds to the NDSU 45 for a 1ST down
4:161st & 10 at opp 45Takhari Carr run for 8 yds to the NDSU 37
4:162nd & 2 at opp 37Montana State Penalty, Illegal Touch-Pass enforced (-5 Yards) to the NDSU 47
4:163rd & 7 at opp 42QB Keeper MELLOTT, Tommy rush up the middle for a gain of 6 yards to the NDS36, out of bounds. PENALTY MSU Illegal Block in the Back enforced 10 yards from the NDS42 to the MSU48 [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
4:163rd & 17 at own 48Scottre Humphrey run for 15 yds to the NDSU 37
0:004th & 2 at opp 37Scottre Humphrey run for 1 yd to the NDSU 36
4th quarter5 drives, then Tied at 28
North Dakota State Punt, 7 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 36Cole Payton run for 1 yd to the NDSU 37
15:002nd & 9 at own 37Montana State Penalty, Offsides (5 Yards) to the NDSU 42
15:002nd & 4 at own 42TaMerik Williams run for 4 yds to the NDSU 46 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 46Cole Payton run for no gain to the NDSU 46
15:002nd & 10 at own 46Montana State Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (TEAM) to the MTST 39 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 39Cam Miller run for no gain to the MTST 39
15:002nd & 10 at opp 39Cam Miller pass incomplete
15:003rd & 10 at opp 39Cam Miller sacked by Nolan Askelson for a loss of 12 yards to the NDSU 49
15:004th & 22 at own 49North Dakota State Penalty, Delay Of Game (TEAM) to the NDSU 44
10:364th & 27 at own 44Kaedin Steindorf punt for 32 yds
Montana State Punt, 5 plays
10:361st & 10 at own 24Tommy Mellott run for 3 yds to the MTST 27
10:362nd & 7 at own 27Scottre Humphrey run for 9 yds to the MTST 36 for a 1ST down
10:361st & 10 at own 36Scottre Humphrey run for 3 yds to the MTST 39
10:362nd & 7 at own 39Scottre Humphrey run for 6 yds to the MTST 45
10:363rd & 1 at own 45Tommy Mellott run for no gain to the MTST 45
7:214th & 1 at own 45Brendan Hall punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Jayden Price at the NDSU 11
North Dakota State Touchdown, 9 plays
7:211st & 10 at own 11RaJa Nelson run for 4 yds to the NDSU 15
7:212nd & 6 at own 15Cam Miller run for 17 yds to the NDSU 32 for a 1ST down
7:211st & 10 at own 32RaJa Nelson run for 6 yds to the NDSU 38
7:212nd & 4 at own 38TaMerik Williams run for 6 yds to the NDSU 44 for a 1ST down
7:211st & 10 at own 44TaMerik Williams run for 13 yds to the MTST 43 for a 1ST down
7:211st & 10 at opp 43TaMerik Williams run for 1 yd to the MTST 42
7:212nd & 9 at opp 42Cam Miller pass complete to Eli Green for 14 yds to the MTST 28 for a 1ST down
7:211st & 10 at opp 28TaMerik Williams run for a loss of 1 yard to the MTST 29
2:332nd & 11 at opp 29TK Marshall run for 29 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)Tied at 28
Montana State Punt, 6 plays
2:33Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
2:331st & 10 at own 25Jared White run for 8 yds to the MTST 33
2:332nd & 2 at own 33Jared White run for 2 yds to the MTST 35 for a 1ST down
2:331st & 10 at own 35Sean Chambers run for 29 yds to the NDSU 36 for a 1ST down
1:272nd & 10 at opp 36Timeout North Dakota State, clock 01:27
1:271st & 10 at opp 36Jared White run for no gain to the NDSU 36
1:272nd & 10 at opp 36Sean Chambers sacked by Jake Kava for a loss of 4 yards to the NDSU 40
0:444th & 16 at opp 42Timeout North Dakota State, clock 00:44
0:443rd & 14 at opp 40Sean Chambers sacked by Dylan Hendricks for a loss of 2 yards to the NDSU 42
0:354th & 16 at opp 42Brendan Hall punt for 40 yds, downed at the NDSU 2
North Dakota State Result not recorded, 1 play
0:001st & 10 at own 2Cam Miller run for 2 yds to the NDSU 4
Overtime3 drives, then North Dakota State 35, Montana State 34
North Dakota State Touchdown, 5 plays
1st & 10 at opp 13Cole Payton run for 8 yds to the MTST 5
2nd & 2 at opp 5Cole Payton run for 2 yds to the MTST 3 for a 1ST down
Montana State Touchdown, 1 play
1st & 10 at opp 25Scottre Humphrey 25 Yd Run (Casey Kautzman PAT blocked)
North Dakota State Touchdown, 5 plays
Cam Miller 3 Yd Run (Griffin Crosa Kick)North Dakota State 35, Montana State 28

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every North Dakota State–Montana State game

North Dakota State leads 6–⁠4 in 10 meetings, counting the one since this game.

Recent meetings
2024North Dakota State 35, Montana State 32FCS Championship
2023North Dakota State 35, Montana State 34FCS Championship – Second Round
2021North Dakota State 38, Montana State 10
2019North Dakota State 42, Montana State 14
2018North Dakota State 52, Montana State 10
2010North Dakota State 42, Montana State 17NCAA Division I Football Championship – Second Round

Around this game

North Dakota State

Montana State