Over the course of Monday’s FCS national championship game, Montana State coughed up a 14-point fourth-quarter lead, blocked an Illinois State field goal to help send the game to overtime, gave up the lead in overtime and still found a way to win.
The Bobcats led 28-14 in the fourth quarter before ISU roared back to tie the game. The Redbirds looked poised to take a 31-28 lead — until Montana State blocked a field goal and failed to get in range itself, sending the game to overtime.
Illinois State struck first in OT, but a blocked extra point put MSU in the catbird’s seat if it managed to score.
And on 4th-and-9 in a last-ditch effort, Montana State QB Justin Lamson lobbed a perfect pass to Taco Dowler to tie the game at 34. Myles Sansted then nailed the extra point to win the game and earn Montana State’s first national title since 1984.