BOZEMAN -- Isaiah Ifanse scored a 60-yard rushing touchdown on the third offensive play of the game to help the Montana State Bobcats took a 10-3 lead over Austin Peay into halftime of the FCS quarterfinal game at Bobcat Stadium.
Montana State wasted little time igniting the home crowd Friday night, with Ifanse breaking through the right side of the offensive line and sprinting past the Governors' defenders.
Ifanse rushed seven times for 70 yards in the first half. Logan Jones added 34 yards on seven carries.
But the story of the first 30 minutes was Montana State's defense. The Bobcats held Austin Peay to only 63 yards and three first downs in the opening half, after limiting them to a single yard of offense in the first quarter.
Montana State had 169 yards of offense, 124 of those on the ground, at halftime.
Tristan Bailey added a 45-yard field goal for the Bobcats late in the first quarter, but the Governors added a 38-yard kick of their own to avoid the first-half shutout.
Tucker Rovig was 9-of-12 passing for 45 yards in the first half for Montana State, which got three receptions for 19 yards from Travis Jonsen.
MSU was led by Derek Marks' three tackles in the opening half, including two tackles-for-loss. Josh Hill also added a tackle-for-loss for Montana State.
