But when MSU puts on a performance like it did Saturday against FBS New Mexico – getting the ball with less than two minutes left, converting two third downs and scoring the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds left – it’s easy to understand why the Bobcats are doing this drill.

“When you’re in a situation like that, you don’t panic,” wide receiver Ty McCullouch said Monday, adding, “It felt like we had all the time in the world. We executed virtually every play and it felt really good.”

Although the offensive performance was not perfect (two strip sacks were returned for touchdowns), the Bobcats showed their full potential in the decisive moment in the 35-31 victory over UNM, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter after already trailing by 17 points.

The first ball came on a 15-yard run by quarterback Tommy Mellott. It was a high snap that was caught by Mellott, who instead of passing it to running back Adam Jones, let Jones block the edge rusher. Mellott then sneaked along the sideline and scored the point.

In Saturday’s game, Mellott had little opportunity to use his speed, managing just 30 yards on nine carries. With a 12-game season ahead, MSU head coach Brent Vigen said the Bobcats will be “more selective” in running with Mellott in 2024.

“Even on his touchdown run, it should have been Adam,” Vigen said, adding, “I think Adam scores a little easier than Tommy had to score on that play.”

“(Mellott) will have to use his legs from time to time. But the volume will not be what it used to be.”

Jones scored the second touchdown with a 93-yard run to the left. McCullouch — who was blocking cornerback Noah Avinger on this play — prayed that Jones wouldn’t get caught.

“And I ran the whole 93 miles with him,” McCullouch said. “It was so much fun. I was so happy. I thought, ‘Oh yeah, we’re going to come back and win.'”

The senior receiver was both a playmaker and a motivator on Saturday, delivering a halftime speech to hype up the team. On Monday, he said his main concern was not to experience the same feelings he had after the season-ending playoff loss to North Dakota State in December.

On the field, McCullouch led the team with seven catches for 66 yards, along with a 17-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. He also made a key play on the final drive with a 12-yard catch, setting up RB Scottre Humphrey’s game-winning touchdown.

McCullouch had an alternate route to the outside that allowed him to either go to the corner or sit in the middle. He chose the middle, made eye contact with Mellott and caught the ball with UNM CB Ishmael Az-Zahir hanging over him.

“I didn’t feel the potential pass interference at the time,” McCullouch said. “But I caught it, and that’s all that matters.”

After Humphrey scored, the defense had to play the final two snaps to end the game.

“That (final drive) was beautiful,” CB Simeon Woodard said. “We were standing on the sideline, first down after first down after first down. One play after another, just praying and holding each other. It was great to see.”

Woodard stressed that this is just a sample of one game, but added that the fourth-quarter performance gives the Bobcats even more confidence in hard-fought games.

“Everyone says winners win,” McCullouch said, referring to comments made by Mellott and MSU President Waded Cruzado after the game. “And that’s exactly what we do here at Montana State. We win.”

Although MSU was the only Big Sky Conference team to play in Week 0, Jones, linebacker McCade O’Reilly and kicker/punter Brendan Hall were named players of the week, the conference announced Monday.

Jones was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week after leading his team in rushing with 167 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Vigen said Jones made phenomenal plays, including the 93-yard touchdown and a 6-yard catch on the final drive where he blocked a rusher, fell down, jumped up and moved the chains.

“He did his job in pass protection, rolled out and made a really challenging catch,” Vigen said.

Hall was named Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week. He had six touchbacks on kickoffs and returned both of his punts inside the 20-yard line, including a 52-yard punt in the second quarter.

“The fact that they held the game to zero return yards was actually his achievement,” Vigen said.

O’Reilly was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week after recording the team’s most tackles with 10 total tackles and 1 1/2 tackles for loss.

“McCade was everywhere,” Vigen said. “Statistically, he played a good game. And that’s what we expected from him.”

Kicker Casey Kautzman missed the UNM game after straining a quadriceps the previous Saturday, Vigen said. He attempted to rehab early last week but didn’t make it back in time and will also miss the Utah Tech game. Sansted made 5 of 5 attempts to score against UNM.

“The fact that all five of them advanced was a great start from the placekicker’s point of view this year,” said Vigen. “We’ll see where it takes us.”

RB Elijah Elliott was injured on a kickoff return on Saturday and will be out for several weeks. Vigen said they hope Elliott will be back by conference play – MSU’s first game is against Idaho State on Sept. 28 – but that hasn’t been determined yet.

Other players who were missing last week – such as RB Julius Davis, free safety Dru Polidore, center Justus Perkins and offensive guard JT Reed – will miss Saturday’s game against Utah Tech, Vigen added.

Similar to last week, MSU will face another opponent with a new head coach and plenty of roster changes. The Utah Tech Trailblazers — who lost to MSU 63-20 in the annual Gold Rush game last season — will host the Bobcats on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Former head coach Paul Peterson moved to another position in the athletic department during the offseason and was replaced by new head coach Lance Anderson. Utah Tech also lost its starting quarterback, top rusher, top four wide receivers, three of the top four tacklers and its starting kicker.

On offense, the Trailblazers brought in transfer QBs Deacon Hill (Iowa) and Luke MacPhail (Syracuse) to compete for the starting job. The duo split an “OR” in the first two games of the season. Vigen said Utah Tech will likely lean on the passing game if Hill is the starter, but will still find a balance based on talent at the skill positions.

The Trailblazers return players like RB Chris Street (No. 2 rusher in 2023), WR Daniel Thomason (No. 5 receiver) and redshirt freshman WR Bryce Parker. Utah Tech also signed tight end Eni Falayi (transfer from UMass) and WR Tru Tanner (transfer from Golden West Community College).

On defense, Vigen pointed to Anderson’s previous experience at Stanford from 2007 to 2022, where he worked in various roles on that side of the ball. New defensive coordinator Patrick Moynahan also spent six years with Anderson at Stanford (2017-22). Vigen said the Trailblazers will look different than they did in 2023, but will still have players who contributed to last season’s play.

These include LB Jared Fotu (second-leading tackler), defensive end John Sniffen, safety Brevin Hamblin and CB Jayden Sheridan. The Trailblazers have also signed players such as BYU transfer LB Fisher Jackson and Memphis transfer LB Spencer Rich.

Even though the opponent will be a bit of a guessing game for the second straight game, it’s important for the Bobcats to study the known facts and move on from there, Vigen said.

“We can’t practice against ghosts this week,” Vigen said. “We have to go with what we think we’re going to get and then, like last week, go into the game and make some adjustments to what they end up doing.”