NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Montana State has finally claimed its first national championship since 1984, overcoming years of near misses and challenges. Last year, they lost in a shootout to North Dakota State, and two years ago, a blocked extra point knocked them out in the quarterfinals.
This season started rocky, with two losses against Oregon and South Dakota State. But they rebounded brilliantly. In the Football Championship Subdivision title game, Myles Sansted kicked the winning extra point in overtime, sealing a 35-34 victory over Illinois State. The celebration erupted as Montana State fans cheered alongside the team.
Coach Brent Vigen reflected on their journey. “This group accomplished something we hadn’t done in a long time. We’re building for more,” he said, highlighting the team’s young core with only nine seniors.
Montana State has had a strong season, including two wins over rival Montana. Their victory in this championship game continued their impressive run, marking their 14th consecutive win. They led 21-7 at halftime and looked set to win comfortably. However, they needed a timely block from Jhase McMillan to keep Illinois State from taking the lead late in the game.
In overtime, Justin Lamson tossed a crucial touchdown to Taco Dowler, and Sansted delivered with the decisive kick. This win ended a long title drought for the program, adding to their earlier championships in 1984, 1976, and 1956.
Illinois State also made history in this game by being the first FCS team to win four straight road games to reach the finals. Despite their effort, Coach Brock Spack noted that they were one play away from victory. “If we had made just one more play, we could have won,” he said.
Montana State’s Lamson finished with 280 passing yards while also running for two touchdowns, showcasing his adaptability. Dowler caught eight passes for 111 yards. For Illinois State, quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse threw for 311 yards, and Victor Dawson rushed for 126 yards.
Although Illinois State made several impressive defensive plays, Montana State managed to win despite a few mistakes. They committed 14 penalties for 93 yards, something Coach Vigen acknowledged as an area needing improvement.
The game also featured interesting moments with blocked kicks, which Spack attributed to ball-handling issues. Disappointingly for Illinois State, they couldn’t capitalize on these opportunities.
Looking ahead, Illinois State will need to replace Rittenhouse, while Montana State is hopeful that Lamson will return next season after his previous experiences at Syracuse and Stanford.
As we celebrate this victory, it’s important to recognize the resilience of young athletes and teams. Montana State’s journey serves as a reminder that perseverance pays off, whether you’re in sports or in life. You can find more on college football in the AP Top 25 and college football updates.
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College football, Myles Sansted, Justin Lamson, Tommy Rittenhouse, Dylan Lord, College sports, MT State Wire, Illinois, IL State Wire, Local News for Apple, TN State Wire, Tennessee, Montana, Sports, Brent Vigen, Michael Cosentino, Victor Dawson
