Keone Shines at No. 3 Montana State

Saturday, October 5

Bozeman, Mont.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

0-6 , 0-2

Montana State

6-0 , 2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northern Colo.

Montana St.

10/5/2024 6:42:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Game Book (PDF)Season Stats

By: Michael High, Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications

	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	Total
Northern Colorado	0	0	14	3	17
Montana State	13	14	21	7	55

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Kia'i Keone registered his best day as a signal caller in his collegiate career against Montana State, in front of 22,007 at Bobcat Stadium Saturday.

The Pacific Palisades, California, graduate student completed 17 of 29 for 247 yards and a 134.6 quarterback rating – all career highs. He threw a touchdown and found 10 different receivers, while adding 21 yards on 11 rushes.

"The offense showed promise and heart today," head coach Ed Lamb said. "Kia'i Keone, Caden Meis, David Afari, Cash Cheeks, Jordan Hornbeak and Carver Cheeks never gave up. Credit a piecework offensive line too for finding a way to keep fighting."

Brayden Munroe hauled in five passes for 84 yards and a score. Carver Cheeks collected four receptions for 71 yards. Carver Cheeks went for 46 yards on three receptions, including a touchdown.

Caden Meis paced the ground game with 35 yards on 10 carries. Darius Stewart carried the rock seven times for 18 yards, while David Afari went for 14 on four rushes. Jordan Hornbeak added fifteen yards on three touches and forced a fumble.

Hunter Green averaged 45.9 yards per punt, with a long of 60.

"The difference today was poor field position in the first half, poor punt coverage and poor assignment football on defense," Lamb said."

Montana State scored on four of six possessions in the first half, building a 27-0 advantage. The Bobcats expanded its margin to 34 with a 50-yard touchdown catch and run.

UNC capitalized on a Bobcats turnover on a punt return. The Bears went 48 yards in four plays, capped off by a 14-yard pass from Meis to Cash Cheeks.

Montana State answered two plays later with a 72-yard touchdown pass and opened a 41-7 margin.

Keone drove the Bears 75 yards on the next drive in 2:51 and sliced the deficit to 41-14 when he and Munroe hooked up for a 28-yard score.

The Bobcats struck for the third time in the quarter with a 17-yard run.

In the fourth, Hunter Green added a 29-yard field goal for the Bears and Montana State finished the scoring quarterback rush.

Scoring Drives
1Q (09:56) | 9-yard pass from Tommy Mellot to Ryan Lonergan (Myles Sansted PAT FAILED) | 5 plays, 63 yards 3:16 | MSU 6, UNC 0
1Q (03:12) | 6-yard pass from Tommy Mellot to Adam Jones (PAT by Myles Sansted) | 9 plays, 51 yards, 5:30 | MSU 13, UNC 0
2Q (09:45) | 34-yard pass from Ty McCullouch to Taco Dowler (PAT by Myles Sansted) | 2 plays, 37 yards, :46 | MSU 20, UNC 0
2Q (06:16) | 13-yard rush by Tommy Mellott (PAT by Myles Sansted) | 5 plays, 35 yards, 2:45 | MSU 27, UNC 0
3Q (08:25) | 50-yard pass from Tommy Mellot to Ty McCullouch (PAT by Myles Sansted) | 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:37 | MSU 34, UNC 0
3Q (05:45) | 14-yard pass from Caden Meis to Carver Cheeks (PAT by Hunter Green) | 4 plays, 58 yards, 1:26 | MSU 34, UNC 7
3Q (04:58) | 72-yard pass from Tommy Mellot to Taco Dowler (PAT by Myles Sansted) | 2 plays, 75 yards, :47 | MSU 41, UNC 7
3Q (02:07) | 28-yard pass from Kai'i Keone to Brayden Munroe (PAT by Hunter Green) | 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:51 | MSU 41, UNC 14
3Q (00:21) | 17-yard rush by Scottre Humphrey (PAT by Myles Sansted) | 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:39 | MSU 48, UNC 14
4Q (11:14) | 29-yard Field Goal by Hunter Green | 5 plays, 29 yards, 1:24 | MSU 48, UNC 17

For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.

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