Freshman Ifanse sparks Montana State past Cal Poly 49-42

Nov 3, 2018, 11:36 pm

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Isaiah Ifanse ran for 227 yards and three touchdowns in Montana State's 49-42 win over Cal Poly on Saturday, breaking the school's single-game rushing record by a freshman in the process.

Ifanse's total is also the seventh most in school history. It broke Aaron Mason's freshman record of 192 yards set in 2006 at Northern Arizona.

Cal Poly (3-6, 2-4 Big Sky) fell behind 28-14 at halftime then put a big damper on its hopes of making a comeback when Ryan McNab fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Ifanse scored from 29 yards out on the second play following the miscue. The Mustangs coughed the ball up again on their next drive and Ifanse again took the ball in on MSU's second play again this time from 28 yards to go up 42-14.

The Bobcats (5-4, 3-3) finished with their fourth best rushing total in school history at 430 yards, but scored on a 17-yard pass play to get on the board first when Logan Jones took Travis Jonsen's shovel pass to the end zone. The Bobcats then got 74- and 51-yard TD runs on their next two possessions by Ifanse and Troy Andersen, respectively. Andersen ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries. It was his sixth 100-yard game of the season.

Joe Protheroe ran for 215 yards on 36 carries, which is his seventh straight 100-yard rushing game and third 200-yard rushing game of the season for the Mustangs. He also ran for two scores. Cal Poly amassed 369 yards rushing on the day. The Mustangs cut the lead to 42-28 midway through the fourth quarter on Khaleel Jenkins TD run, but Andersen answered with a 49-yard run to put MSU back up by 21. Jenkins added 138 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 30 rushes.

NEXT UP

Montana State: Bobcats look to keep their slight playoff hopes alive when they host Northern Colorado.

Cal Poly: The Mustangs host Idaho State.