ST. GEORGE, Utah — The full effect of Montana State’s defense didn’t hit safety Rylan Ortt until halftime. He didn’t realize the Bobcats hadn’t allowed a first down and had given up less than 40 yards of offense in the first half.

“And then we thought about it and we thought, ‘Don’t let them get a first down. Don’t let them score,'” Ortt said.

The stifling nature of MSU’s defense helped the Bobcats to a lopsided 31-7 victory over Utah Tech Saturday at Greater Zion Stadium. The win moves MSU to 2-0 on the season before they head home next week.

After a 35-31 win at New Mexico last week — the program’s first FBS victory since 2006 — Ortt said the defense was especially motivated during practice after hearing from defensive coordinator Bobby Daly, who played on that 2006 team. Daly recounted how the Bobcats, after winning 19-10 at Colorado, lost 35-24 at home to Chadron State the following week.

“This is the same situation he was in, but we’re taking control,” Ortt added. “So we went back to work on Monday, had a great week of preparation and came out and handled things the right way.”

The Trailblazers opened the game with eight straight 3-and-outs, and didn’t get a first down until early in the fourth quarter. Utah Tech didn’t score until 13 minutes and 3 seconds left in the game. The Bobcats allowed 39 yards at halftime and 176 total yards for the game.

MSU head coach Brent Vigen said earlier this week how the Bobcats were preparing for multiple quarterbacks with varying playing styles, including Iowa transfer Deacon Hill, Syracuse transfer Luke McPhail and Reggie Graff.

Vigen added that the Bobcats did a good job of keeping the Trailblazers off balance. Hill played the majority of the game, finishing 11 of 23 for 104 yards passing, along with 25 rushing yards and a TD.

“We had to make some plays to keep them from getting a first down, obviously,” Vigen said. “They went for it and (Hill has) played a lot of football in the Big Ten. So I thought we did a really good job defensively.”

Linebacker McCade O’Reilly led the team in tackles with five. Defensive back Brock Steel and LB Bryce Grebe each finished with four. Ortt and Danny Uluilakepa each added three.

Offensively, Vigen added, it was more of an “uneven performance.” The Bobcats committed three holding penalties early. Vigen pointed to mistakes such as allowing a sack in the red zone and quarterback Tommy Mellott failing to connect with wide receiver Aidan Garrigan on a deep ball that likely would have resulted in a TD.

Mellott — who left the game early in the fourth quarter with cramps in both legs — went 14 of 21 for 152 yards and a TD through the air. He added 71 yards and two TDs on six carries.

Running backs Scottre Humphrey (107 yards on 20 carries) and Adam Jones (53 yards and a TD on 11 carries) carried the rushing load alongside Mellott. Fullback Rohan Jones led all receivers with four catches for 66 yards and a TD.

“We missed a couple of chances there and that score could have looked a lot different,” Vigen said. “At the end of the day, it’s okay to have a little bit of adversity and not always have it go our way.”

After a pair of uneven drives to open the game, a 53-yard punt return by WR Taco Dowler put MSU at the Utah Tech 10-yard line. Jones — after a holding call and a close score on a 16-yard run — drove the ball in from 1 yard out to give MSU its first lead.

Mellott shook off a hard hit from Utah Tech nose tackle Laytan Tanuvasa and the overthrow to Garrigan on the ensuing drive, weaving through the defense for a 47-yard rushing TD. That seemed to open the playbook for the Bobcats; backup QB Jordan Reed came onto the field for one play, Jones took multiple direct snaps and Mellott faked a pitch and a pass before taking off on a run.

“It’s kind of funny how (the defense) reacts when they don’t really know what’s going to happen,” Jones said. “I think (offensive coordinator Tyler) Walker does a good job of keeping the defense on their toes.”

A Tanuvasa sack and a delay of game penalty ruined the game, and Myles Sansted’s 27-yard field goal attempt was blocked by DB Scooter Jackson. Sansted — who replaced the injured Casey Kautzman — went 1 of 3 on FG attempts Saturday, and also missed a 33-yarder wide left later in the game. He made all four point-after attempts.

In real time, Vigen said Sansted’s blocked attempt came out low and the miss appeared to be hasty. The Bobcats will continue to evaluate the best option for placekicking duties with Kautzman sidelined, Vigen added.

Meanwhile, Mellott kept the offense moving. As the QB raced left, he passed to Rohan Jones, who was watching the sideline closely, for a 45-yard TD. Sansted later hit a 28-yard FG, the first time an MSU kicker had done that since Kautzman’s 35-yarder against Eastern Washington on Nov. 11.

Early in the fourth quarter, Mellott found TE Hunter Provience, who was tackled just short of the goal line. On the next play, Mellott rushed for a 1-yard TD. He remained on the ground after the score and was later helped off the field by the coaching staff. Vigen confirmed after the game that Mellott was cramping and not injured.

On the other end, the Trailblazers finally got a first down — a 37-yard pass from Hill to TE Eni Falayi — and later scored their first TD on a 24-yard sprint by Hill.

The win over Utah Tech marked the second straight imperfect game for MSU. But all wins count the same, in keeping with the Bobcats’ mantra for the season.

“I think we’re just really focused on improving every week, going 1-0. And I thought we did that the first two weeks,” Ortt said, adding, “And luckily we get to play in Bozeman, Gold Rush, so it’s going to be a great atmosphere. I’m ready to get back home.”

MSU hosts Maine on Saturday for the annual Gold Rush game.