In Saturday’s game between Sacramento State and Montana State, 60 minutes of football came down to one fatal second for the Hornets.

With no time remaining, Bobcat kicker Nate Cook connected on a 36-yard, line-drive field goal to give Montana State (4-5 overall, 2-2 in Big Sky Conference) a 31-30 victory over the Hornets (3-6, 2-3 in BSC).

“I didn’t even know how far it was,” said Cook of his thoughts prior to the kick. “I didn’t want anyone to talk to me. Thank God it went through.”

The winning field goal was set up by a controversial play that Hornet Athletic Director Terry Wanless says, “the league has to look at it.”

The controversy came about when Bobcat quarterback Travis Lulay snapped the ball on fourth down and five yards to go, with, according to game officials, one second remaining on the game clock. Had the officials said that there was no time remaining when Lulay snapped the ball, the game would have ended in a Hornet victory.

Hornet quarterback Ryan Leadingham, who was on the sidelines for the controversial play, said “from where I was, I saw all zeros (on the clock as Lulay snapped the ball).”

Following the snap, Lulay connected with Scott Turnquist on an eight-yard pass with no time remaining. A facemask penalty called on Jeremy Johnson allowed Montana State one more play (college football games can’t end on a defensive penalty), and moved the ball up 15 yards to the Sac State 19-yard line. From there, Cook made his field goal.

“I believe we won the game,” Hornet head coach John Volek said. Hornet Athletic Director Terry Wanless said that the administration will appeal the game to the Big Sky.

“As painful as it is, these games don’t get overturned,” said Wanless, who also said he would contact Big Sky Commissioner Douglas Fullerton Sunday morning.

The Hornets took the lead late in the fourth quarter when running back Garrett White scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 4:42 remaining to give the Hornets a 30-28 lead. Brett LeVier’s extra-point attempt rang off the right upright, holding the Hornet lead at two points.

LeVier had made 23-straight extra points after missing his first two of the season.

Ryan Johnson started the game’s scoring with a one-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. Cook’s extra point was blocked and the Bobcat lead remained at 6-0.

Hornet running back Tyronne Gross scored on a six-yard run at the end of the first quarter to give the Hornets a 7-6 lead. Gross left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, and was substituted for by White.

The Hornets extended their lead early in the second quarter with a 22-yard Fred Amey touchdown catch from Leadingham. The score marked Amey’s seventh-consecutive game played with a touchdown.

Montana State’s top receiver, Junior Adams, caught a touchdown pass and converted the two-point conversion to tie the game, 14-14, going into the half.

Bobcat running back Ryan Johnson scored on a nine-yard run early in the third quarter to give the Bobcats a one-touchdown lead. White responded minutes later with a 23-yard touchdown reception to tie the game, 21-21.

Bobcat receiver Aaron Hill caught a 53-yard touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter to give Montana State a 28-21 lead. A LeVier 29-yard field goal cut the Hornet deficit to 28-24 with 14:54 remaining in the game.

The Hornets had their chances to seal the game in the fourth quarter, as Montana State committed two turnovers and had one touchdown called back due to an offensive pass interference penalty.

“You play so hard all game,” Leadingham said. “You think you have it won. Players were celebrating, fans were celebrating. It’s tough.”

Leadingham finished the game completing 22-of-30 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Leadingham’s counterpart, Lulay, completed 26-of-37 passes for 319 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

The Hornets will next head to the University of Montana, where they will square-off with the No. 1-ranked Div. I-AA team in the country. The match-up will also mark the return of starting fullback Derard Barton, who served the final game of his two-game suspension against Montana State.

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