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BOZEMAN - Cody Kirk scored his third touchdown of the game with 2:26 to play to give Montana State a 40-35 lead, and the Bobcats held off No. 23 Stephen F. Austin to stay undefeated, 43-35.

The Cats gave up the lead twice in the 4th quarter as the Lumberjacks gained 473 yards of total offense, but each time regained the lead on their ensuing possession.

Kirk ran for 105 yards on 30 carries, and Denarius McGhee threw for 279 yards and 2 TD's to pace the Cats. Tanner Bleskin had his best day at MSU, catching 10 balls for 180 yards and a touchdown. Tray Robinson also scored for the third consecutive game to start the season.

Lumberjack QB Brady Attaway threw for 418 yards on 33-52 passing. He had three TD's and two interceptions, as the Cats won the turnover battle for the first time all season (3-2). Attaway hit Cordell Roberson for a 75-yard TD with 6:23 remaining to give Stephen F. Austin its final lead, 35-34, before Kirk's third touchdown gave it back to MSU.

Montana State took a 21-13 lead with 31 seconds to play in the 1st half, but a defensive letdown allowed the Lumberjacks to go 77 yards in two plays to make it a one-point game at halftime, 21-20. The two teams combined for 931 total yards of offense (473 to 458).

The win moves the Cats to 3-0. The open Big Sky conference play next Saturday against Northern Colorado in Bozeman. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 pm.