STATS (htm) | STATS (pdf)Brody McKnight's 33-yard field goal as time expired boosted Montana to a 12-10 win over Idaho State. The victory earned Montana at least a share of the Big Sky Conference title, Montana’s 12th straight.
Montana’s final possession began at the UM 17 with 1:25 to go with the Griz down 10-9. Quarterback Andrew Selle, 3 of 5 passing on the last drive, had three big gaining completions, including a 39-yard strike to Marc Mariani to move Montana to the ISU 15. Chase Reynolds followed that up with a 14-yard carry to the 1-yard line. A Reynolds goal line dive couldn’t break through, and after Selle spiked the ball to stop the clock at 0:09, an offensive pass interference penalty moved the field goal try back 15 yards.
ISU called two timeouts to ice McKnight, but the sophomore kicker stayed perfect from inside 40 yards and sealed the game for the Griz.
Montana outgained Idaho State 492-309, including a hefty 335-198 passing advantage, but the Griz had 129 penalty yards and three turnovers to help keep the Bengals in the game.
Mariani, Montana’s player of the game, caught 8 balls for 123 yards and added 39 yards on 4 punt returns. Selle was 19-28 throwing for 321 yards and an interception. Reynolds ran 22 times for 123 yards, while Thomas Brooks-Fletcher had UM’s lone touchdown.
ISU’s Russel Hill threw for 198 yards, going 23-36 with a touchdown and an interception. Clint Knickrehm had 102 rushing yards on 19 carries, and Kelvin Krosch led the Bengals with 58 receiving yards and a touchdown on 5 catches.
Idaho State’s injury problems this season continued when freshman tight end Bryant Ward suffered a serious leg injury midway through the second quarter.
After forcing the Bengals to punt on the opening drive, Montana’s offense started off with a 10-play drive that gained 81 yards. 42 of those came when quarterback Andrew Selle found receiver Marc Mariani down the right sideline, moving the Griz to the ISU 7. The drive was stalled by an illegal block called on Shawn Lebsock during a Chase Reynolds cutback run that looked to take the Griz to the 3. Following the penalty, UM found itself at the 17 and Montana eventually settled for a Brody McKnight 27-yard field goal.
The Bengals answered with a field goal of their own, a 25-yard effort from Jarrett Huk, on a 14-play, 79-yard drive. Two UM penalties gave Idaho State 25 yards on the possession. ISU dominated time of possession in the first quarter, 10:04 to 4:56.
The Griz got on the board again in the second quarter when Thomas Brooks-Fletcher ran up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. A personal foul at the end of the 12-play, 71-yard drive moved the conversion back 15 yards, and McKnight’s kick attempted was blocked by Michael Wright to leave the score 9-3.
Things got crazy after halftime. A holding call nullified a 66-yard Mariani punt return for a touchdown, and neither team found success in the third quarter.
Montana was driving following a combined four straight punts to start the second half when ISU stopped the Griz at the ISU 36 and took the ball over on downs. The Bengals immediately turned it over when Hill, trying to avoid an Austin Mullins sack, attempted to throw the ball away, but the pass went straight to Montana’s Josh Stuberg at the ISU 36. Stuberg returned the pick to the 32 before being brought down by ISU’s Braeden Clayson.
The Griz were driving the short field, but that possession fell apart when A.J. Storms recovered Reynolds’ fumble 5 yards to the UM 20. A Carson Bender sack ended the ensuing Bengal drive, forcing a punt, but the turnover frenzy continued when Selle threw an interception to Keith McGowen, setting up ISU at its own 44-yard line.
The Bengals were finally able to capitalize on the Montana miscue, putting together a 9-play, 56-yard touchdown drive, capped by Russel Hill’s 21-yard slant pass to Kelvin Krosch. Jarrett Huk’s extra point gave the Bengals their first lead of the game with 10:29 to go.
Montana gave the ball away again when ISU’s Sean Rutten forced Selle to fumble following an 8-yard carry. It was recovered by Chris Holmesly to give the Bengals the ball at their 17. The teams then traded punts, and ISU had the lead and the ball with 3:50 left. The Griz defense allowed only 19 yards in 6 plays while burning only 2:25 off the game clock. Jon Vanderwielen’s 44-yard punt out-of-bounds to the UM 17 set up Montana’s final drive.
Montana (9-0, 6-0 Big Sky) next plays Northern Colorado in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Kickoff is Nov. 14 at noon.