Griz top EWU in overtime
9/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Griz are in the driver's seat.
It's still early in the season, but the Montana football team won a major Big Sky Conference battle as they squeaked by the Eastern Washington Eagles in double overtime, 29-26. The win gives the Griz an early inside track on the BSC title, as Eastern has been one of the top teams in the Sky and the I-AA early on.
The Eagles struck first with a 9-yard touchdown run by Jesse Chatman capping a 3-play, 66-yard drive started after a intercepted John Edwards pass. Troy Griggs missed the point-after. The Griz then put together a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, topped off by an Edwards to T.J. Oelkers to Etu Molden double pass, and a Chris Snyder PAT. EWU then turned another intercepted Edwards pass into a 31-yard Griggs field goal. Humphery ran 7 yards for his first of two touchdowns near the end of the first, and followed it up with a 2-point conversion reception from Edwards.
The first quarter belonged to the offense, but the defense owned the 2nd. After a combined three touchdowns and a field goal in the first, neither offense could put points on the board in the second. The Griz offense couldn't get anything going in the second frame, and EWU drove deep into Montana territory twice, only to turn it over on Johnnie Peeples' interception of a Fred Salanoa pass at the 2, and again near the end of the half, turning the ball over on downs at the 1.
The second half picked up where the first left off, with Trey Young ending Eastern's opening drive with an interception of a Salanoa pass at the UM 5 yard line. The Griz drive stalled, and EWU took over at their 20 after a UM punt, but couldn't put anything together. UM started at their own 40, but drive was snuffed by a fumbled snap. The Griz got the ball back on the next play by a fumble forced by Vince Huntsberger. Humphery finally got the Griz offense back in gear with a 23-yard touchdown run, capping a 4-play, 43-yard drive. Edwards hit Oelkers for the conversion.
The Griz took a 23-9 edge into the final quarter, but Eastern quickly narrowed the gap. Eastern opened with a 12-play, 78-yard drive capped by an 11-yard TD run by Jesse Chatman, and a Griggs kick. The Griz were unable to get moving on offense, and Eastern fielded the UM punt to take possession at their own 41. Eastern drove for a third Chatman touchdown, this time on a 9-yard run. Griggs made the PAT to tie the game with 8:21 left. After penalties prevented the Griz from moving the ball, EWU took over after a 50-yard Spencer punt. The Eagle drive stalled at the Griz 42, and Eastern's Nick Reynolds pinned the Griz at the 3 with his punt out of bounds. The Griz could only get 9 yards on the ensuing drive, and the Eagles took over at the UM 48, but could only get to the 44 before punting it into the end zone. Montana then ran the clock out to force overtime.
With the score knotted at 23 at the end of regulation, Montana got the first possession in overtime. In overtime periods, each team gets one possession, and starts at the 25. Overtime periods continue if the score is still tied at the end of the period. UM was forced to try for a field goal, but after a problem with the snap the holder Oelkers tried a desperate pass to Ike Mincy, but the pass fell incomplete and the Griz came up empty. The Eagles got the ball to the 18, but Troy Griggs missed badly to the right on a kick that would have won the game for Eastern Washington, giving Montana new life.
Eastern couldn't move the ball to start the second overtime, but Griggs made the 32-yard field goal to put EWU up 26-23. The Griz offense struggled early in their possession, but on third down, Etu Molden made a huge 20-yard reception of an Edwards pass in the back of the end zone to seal the Griz win, 29-26.
Yo Humphery now holds the UM career touchdown record with 33, surpassing "Wild" Bill Kelly's 31. Humphery also extended his career rushing record while setting a personal single game rushing record with 201 yards on 31 carries. Humphery also moved into fourth place on the all time Griz scoring list with 198 points. Humphery is the highest non-kicker on the list. Kris Heppner is third with 241, and the all time leader is Kirk Duce, with 280.
John Edwards took 9th place on the Griz career passing list, Dave Dickenson tops that list with 11,080 yards. Etu Molden also moved into 14th place in UM career receiving yards. Matt Wells leads with 2,733.
It's still early in the season, but the Montana football team won a major Big Sky Conference battle as they squeaked by the Eastern Washington Eagles in double overtime, 29-26. The win gives the Griz an early inside track on the BSC title, as Eastern has been one of the top teams in the Sky and the I-AA early on.
The Eagles struck first with a 9-yard touchdown run by Jesse Chatman capping a 3-play, 66-yard drive started after a intercepted John Edwards pass. Troy Griggs missed the point-after. The Griz then put together a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, topped off by an Edwards to T.J. Oelkers to Etu Molden double pass, and a Chris Snyder PAT. EWU then turned another intercepted Edwards pass into a 31-yard Griggs field goal. Humphery ran 7 yards for his first of two touchdowns near the end of the first, and followed it up with a 2-point conversion reception from Edwards.
The first quarter belonged to the offense, but the defense owned the 2nd. After a combined three touchdowns and a field goal in the first, neither offense could put points on the board in the second. The Griz offense couldn't get anything going in the second frame, and EWU drove deep into Montana territory twice, only to turn it over on Johnnie Peeples' interception of a Fred Salanoa pass at the 2, and again near the end of the half, turning the ball over on downs at the 1.
The second half picked up where the first left off, with Trey Young ending Eastern's opening drive with an interception of a Salanoa pass at the UM 5 yard line. The Griz drive stalled, and EWU took over at their 20 after a UM punt, but couldn't put anything together. UM started at their own 40, but drive was snuffed by a fumbled snap. The Griz got the ball back on the next play by a fumble forced by Vince Huntsberger. Humphery finally got the Griz offense back in gear with a 23-yard touchdown run, capping a 4-play, 43-yard drive. Edwards hit Oelkers for the conversion.
The Griz took a 23-9 edge into the final quarter, but Eastern quickly narrowed the gap. Eastern opened with a 12-play, 78-yard drive capped by an 11-yard TD run by Jesse Chatman, and a Griggs kick. The Griz were unable to get moving on offense, and Eastern fielded the UM punt to take possession at their own 41. Eastern drove for a third Chatman touchdown, this time on a 9-yard run. Griggs made the PAT to tie the game with 8:21 left. After penalties prevented the Griz from moving the ball, EWU took over after a 50-yard Spencer punt. The Eagle drive stalled at the Griz 42, and Eastern's Nick Reynolds pinned the Griz at the 3 with his punt out of bounds. The Griz could only get 9 yards on the ensuing drive, and the Eagles took over at the UM 48, but could only get to the 44 before punting it into the end zone. Montana then ran the clock out to force overtime.
With the score knotted at 23 at the end of regulation, Montana got the first possession in overtime. In overtime periods, each team gets one possession, and starts at the 25. Overtime periods continue if the score is still tied at the end of the period. UM was forced to try for a field goal, but after a problem with the snap the holder Oelkers tried a desperate pass to Ike Mincy, but the pass fell incomplete and the Griz came up empty. The Eagles got the ball to the 18, but Troy Griggs missed badly to the right on a kick that would have won the game for Eastern Washington, giving Montana new life.
Eastern couldn't move the ball to start the second overtime, but Griggs made the 32-yard field goal to put EWU up 26-23. The Griz offense struggled early in their possession, but on third down, Etu Molden made a huge 20-yard reception of an Edwards pass in the back of the end zone to seal the Griz win, 29-26.
Yo Humphery now holds the UM career touchdown record with 33, surpassing "Wild" Bill Kelly's 31. Humphery also extended his career rushing record while setting a personal single game rushing record with 201 yards on 31 carries. Humphery also moved into fourth place on the all time Griz scoring list with 198 points. Humphery is the highest non-kicker on the list. Kris Heppner is third with 241, and the all time leader is Kirk Duce, with 280.
John Edwards took 9th place on the Griz career passing list, Dave Dickenson tops that list with 11,080 yards. Etu Molden also moved into 14th place in UM career receiving yards. Matt Wells leads with 2,733.
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