Griz Sink Vikings, 42-14
10/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Portland State won the coin toss, and elected to receive. They came out trying to exploit the Montana secondary, but the Griz defense quickly forced a fumble that eventually lead to a Chris Snyder field goal to put Montana up 3-0.
The next PSU possession lead to another punt and UM again began with excellent field position. UM's Justin Green carried the Griz on a scoring drive capped off by a 45 yard Chris Snyder field goal to give the Griz a 6-0 lead.
Portland State continued to pass but were quickly shutdown by a Vernon Smith touchdown. The Griz moved the ball but were unable to score.
PSU's first touchdown (and only lead of the game) came from Adam Whitehead on a 26 yd pass from Joe Wiser.
But then the Griz came out of hibernation.
Craig Ochs lead the Griz to two quick scores. The first was a 9 yard Ochs run and the second was a 10 yard pass to Tate Hancock which was setup by the Griz defense stopping the Vikings on 4th and 1 with just over 2 minutes to go in the half.
UM's Jason Dellaselva came up with two huge special-teams plays in the first half. Once he downed a punt pinning PSU on the 1 yard line and another time he stopped a PSU punt return for no gain.
The Vikings continued throwing in the second half, this time with more success. Joe Wiser connected with DeOnte Taylor on a 10 yd scoring pass to make the score UM 20, PSU 14.
PSU found their way into the Griz red-zone and had two attempts for 3pts after a Griz penalty gave them new life, but still came away with nothing.
The Griz offense got their second wind in the fourth quarter. Willie Walden scored on a 2 yd pass from Craig Ochs and Lex Hilliard scored on a 26 yd run (with Chris Snyder completing the 2pt conversion) to increase the Montana lead to 35-14.
The Griz defense wasn't about to be outdone as they turned up the heat on PSU quarterback Joe Wiser. Kevin Edwards notched an interception and the defense as a whole stepped up their pressure hurrying the Viking thrower on more than one occasion. Andy Thompson caused (and recovered) a fumble, his second of the season.
Jeff Disney took over the helm with 11 minutes to go in the game and the Griz continued their scoring ways as Justin Green scored 2 yd run as the Griz rolled to a 42-14 lead.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
End of the First Quarter
Portland State may have won the coin toss, but the Montana defense won the battle of field position recovering two PSU turnovers in the process. UM's Chris Snyder kicked two field goals, with a long of 45 yards, to give Montana a 6-0 lead.
Halftime
Portland State began throwing the ball more and at one point lead 7-6. However, UM's Craig Ochs lead the offense by rushing for one touchdown and completing a 10 yard pass Tate Hancock. The touchdown pass was setup by the Griz defense who stopped PSU on 4th and 1 with just over two minutes to go in the half.
End of Third Quarter
In a quarter dominated by Portland State, DeOnte Taylor scored on a 10 yd pass from Joe Wiser to make it 20-14 in UM's favor. PSU had a chance to take the lead as the ventured again into the Griz red-zone, but the Griz defense held the Vikings scoreless after a missed PSU field goal attempt.
Game Over
The fourth quarter belonged to the Griz. The defense was stifling and the offense fired on all cylinders.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st
11:41 UM Chris Snyder 24 yd field goal 5 plays, 21 yards, TOP 2:14 PSU 0 UM 3
07:02 UM Chris Snyder 45 yd field goal 8 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:06 PSU 0 UM 6
2nd
09:04 PSU Adam Whitehead 26 yd pass from Joe Wiser (Matt Langford kick) 2 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:36 PSU 7 UM 6
06:12 UM Craig Ochs 9 yd run (Chris Snyder kick) 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:41 PSU 7 UM 13
01:06 UM Tate Hancock 10 yd pass from Craig Ochs (Chris Snyder kick) 3 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:09 7 20
3rd
08:19 PSU DeOnte Taylor 10 yd pass from Joe Wiser (Matt Langford kick) 5 plays, 29 yards, TOP 1:41 PSU 14 UM 20
4th
14:15 UM Willie Walden 2 yd pass from Craig Ochs 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:51 PSU 14 UM 26
12:58 UM Lex Hilliard 26 yd run (Chris Snyder rush) 2 plays, 37 yards, TOP 0:32 PSU 14 UM 35
07:17 UM Justin Green 2 yd run (Chris Snyder kick) 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 4:49 PSU 14 UM 42
The next PSU possession lead to another punt and UM again began with excellent field position. UM's Justin Green carried the Griz on a scoring drive capped off by a 45 yard Chris Snyder field goal to give the Griz a 6-0 lead.
Portland State continued to pass but were quickly shutdown by a Vernon Smith touchdown. The Griz moved the ball but were unable to score.
PSU's first touchdown (and only lead of the game) came from Adam Whitehead on a 26 yd pass from Joe Wiser.
But then the Griz came out of hibernation.
Craig Ochs lead the Griz to two quick scores. The first was a 9 yard Ochs run and the second was a 10 yard pass to Tate Hancock which was setup by the Griz defense stopping the Vikings on 4th and 1 with just over 2 minutes to go in the half.
UM's Jason Dellaselva came up with two huge special-teams plays in the first half. Once he downed a punt pinning PSU on the 1 yard line and another time he stopped a PSU punt return for no gain.
The Vikings continued throwing in the second half, this time with more success. Joe Wiser connected with DeOnte Taylor on a 10 yd scoring pass to make the score UM 20, PSU 14.
PSU found their way into the Griz red-zone and had two attempts for 3pts after a Griz penalty gave them new life, but still came away with nothing.
The Griz offense got their second wind in the fourth quarter. Willie Walden scored on a 2 yd pass from Craig Ochs and Lex Hilliard scored on a 26 yd run (with Chris Snyder completing the 2pt conversion) to increase the Montana lead to 35-14.
The Griz defense wasn't about to be outdone as they turned up the heat on PSU quarterback Joe Wiser. Kevin Edwards notched an interception and the defense as a whole stepped up their pressure hurrying the Viking thrower on more than one occasion. Andy Thompson caused (and recovered) a fumble, his second of the season.
Jeff Disney took over the helm with 11 minutes to go in the game and the Griz continued their scoring ways as Justin Green scored 2 yd run as the Griz rolled to a 42-14 lead.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
End of the First Quarter
Portland State may have won the coin toss, but the Montana defense won the battle of field position recovering two PSU turnovers in the process. UM's Chris Snyder kicked two field goals, with a long of 45 yards, to give Montana a 6-0 lead.
Halftime
Portland State began throwing the ball more and at one point lead 7-6. However, UM's Craig Ochs lead the offense by rushing for one touchdown and completing a 10 yard pass Tate Hancock. The touchdown pass was setup by the Griz defense who stopped PSU on 4th and 1 with just over two minutes to go in the half.
End of Third Quarter
In a quarter dominated by Portland State, DeOnte Taylor scored on a 10 yd pass from Joe Wiser to make it 20-14 in UM's favor. PSU had a chance to take the lead as the ventured again into the Griz red-zone, but the Griz defense held the Vikings scoreless after a missed PSU field goal attempt.
Game Over
The fourth quarter belonged to the Griz. The defense was stifling and the offense fired on all cylinders.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st
11:41 UM Chris Snyder 24 yd field goal 5 plays, 21 yards, TOP 2:14 PSU 0 UM 3
07:02 UM Chris Snyder 45 yd field goal 8 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:06 PSU 0 UM 6
2nd
09:04 PSU Adam Whitehead 26 yd pass from Joe Wiser (Matt Langford kick) 2 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:36 PSU 7 UM 6
06:12 UM Craig Ochs 9 yd run (Chris Snyder kick) 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:41 PSU 7 UM 13
01:06 UM Tate Hancock 10 yd pass from Craig Ochs (Chris Snyder kick) 3 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:09 7 20
3rd
08:19 PSU DeOnte Taylor 10 yd pass from Joe Wiser (Matt Langford kick) 5 plays, 29 yards, TOP 1:41 PSU 14 UM 20
4th
14:15 UM Willie Walden 2 yd pass from Craig Ochs 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:51 PSU 14 UM 26
12:58 UM Lex Hilliard 26 yd run (Chris Snyder rush) 2 plays, 37 yards, TOP 0:32 PSU 14 UM 35
07:17 UM Justin Green 2 yd run (Chris Snyder kick) 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 4:49 PSU 14 UM 42
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