FCS College Football: Montana State Loses QB DeNarius McGhee to Shoulder Injury

On Saturday, the Montana State Bobcats nearly upset the Southern Methodist Mustangs in Dallas. Thanks to a four-yard touchdown pass with less than 15 seconds remaining, SMU sent MSU back to Bozeman with a loss. 

Now it turns out that wasn't the only loss the Bobcats will take from that game.

According to Jon Maletz of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, star quarterback DeNarius McGhee will be out for three to seven weeks with a separated shoulder sustained on the last play of the game.

The play in question was a bizarre sequence of events that will leave Bobcat fans second-guessing whether it was wise—especially in hindsight.

As time ran out, McGhee completed a pass to wide receiver Tanner Roderick, who then lateraled the ball back to offensive lineman Quinn Catalano. Catalano then lateraled it himself, putting the ball back in the hands of McGhee. He was tackled awkwardly to the ground by two SMU defenders and landed badly on his throwing shoulder.

No word was initially given on McGhee's status, but Bobcat Nation's worst fears came true with Monday's injury announcement.

Losing McGhee is a huge blow for an MSU team with national title hopes. He is the winningest QB in school history and a two-time Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2010 and 2012).

During McGhee's absence, MSU will turn to in-state QB Jake Bleskin, a redshirt sophomore from Great Falls who has seen little action during his time in Bozeman so far. However, he was set up to be the heir to the QB position after McGhee's graduation.

It will be interesting to see how the offense adjusts to Bleskin, a more traditional passer as opposed to McGhee's dual-threat style.

While it is too early to say how McGhee's injury will affect the Bobcats' championship aspirations, it certainly casts some uncertainty over a season full of promise.