Box Score

BOZEMAN, Mont. — First-year head coach Cesar Rivas-Sandoval knew that Montana State would be a formidable foe for his Fort Lewis College football team to open the 2010 season. After all, the Wildcats are a perennial NCAA Division I (FCS) playoff team.

He also knew that the tandem of sophomore quarterback Tim Jenkins and senior wide receiver Justin Johnson would be a difficult pair for opposing defenders to contend with.

Both proved true Saturday as Montana State rolled to a 59-10 win over the Skyhawks despite the Jenkins-to-Johnson connection teaming up 10 times for 161 yards. It was a case of déjà vu, as Johnson led all of NCAA Division II in receiving last season while Jenkins was named the RMAC Offensive Freshman of the Year.

“They're going to be really good,” Rivas-Sandoval told the Durango Herald.

The Wildcats (1-0) jumped out to a 35-3 halftime lead, thanks in part to the efforts of freshman quarterback Denarius McGhee, who became the first MSU player in 23 years to start under center. McGhee passed for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. One of those scores, a 32-yard connection with Tanner Bleskin, gave MSU a 21-0 lead.

Following a long Jenkins-to-Johnson strike, the Skyhawks got on the board with a 34-yard field goal by Richard Rodriguez.

The lone Skyhawk touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Justin Peters.

Jenkins completed 19 of 35 passes for 216 yards. Peters led FLC in rushing with 14 yards on seven carries. Of FLC's 232 yards of total offense, 161 came by the way of Jenkins-to-Johnson.

“All of those other guys are going to have to be crucial to our success,” Rivas-Sandoval told the Durango Herald. “They showed me they had a lot of toughness, and they're quick and they're fast.”

The Skyhawks (0-1) have a bye week next Saturday before opening Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at noon on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Western New Mexico.