Bison shock Griz in home opener
9/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
The North Dakota State Bison scored 23 unanswered points and held the 3rd-ranked Montana Grizzlies scoreless in the second half to spoil the home-opener for a record crowd of 23,102 at newly-renovated Washington Grizzly Stadium Saturday.
Montana pounced on the Bison early, building a 24-2 first half lead, with the only NDSU points coming on a safety in the second quarter.
Junior quarterback Jeff Disney ran for the first score of the game on a 4-yard scramble.
Trick plays by the Grizzlies late in the first quarter helped give them a 14 point advantage. Senior wideout Doug Clark scampered 37 yards on a fake punt to keep a drive alive, and on the very next play junior receiver Levander Segars took an end-around, pulled up and passed to junior wideout Tate Hancock to ignite the crowd.
Other first half scoring included Chris Snyder who nailed a 40-yard field goal with 11:45 remaining in the second quarter, making it a 17 point lead for the Griz. Later in the second quarter the Griz went up 22 points after Disney hit senior wide receiver Dane Oliver for an 11-yard scoring strike capping a 12-play, 85-yard drive.
While the Grizzlies dominated the first half, the Bison dominated the second, erasing a 22-point first half deficit.
NDSU's first touchdown came when redshirt freshman tailback Kyle Steffes finished off a 13-play, 82-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard plunge to cut the lead to 15 points. Kicker Cory Vartanian's 43-yard field goal was the only other third quarter scoring.
Junior Allen Burrell took a wide receiver reverse 11 yards for the Bison's second touchdown of the game, cutting the lead to 24-19 with 7:09 to play in the fourth quarter.
The Bison took their only lead of the game with 2:04 remaining, on the play of the game. On fourth down, a fake field goal fooled the Grizzlies, resulting in a 20-yard touchdown pass from halfback Malone to tight end Mike Wieser.
The Grizzlies had a chance to win the game after Disney led a 'two-minute' offense down to the NDSU 30-yard line with three seconds remaining. Preseason 2nd-team All-American Chris Snyder missed a 40-yard field goal wide right as time expired.
The Bison were able to stay in the game with a second half behind a powerful running game. NDSU's strong one-two punch of Kyle Steffes and Rod Malone teamed up to tally 166 yards on the Grizzly defense.
NDSU was led on the defensive side of the ball by defensive lineman Dwayne Summerville who registered 8 tackles and a sack. Fellow d-lineman Jamel Thomas and free safety Jared Essler each had interceptions.
Bison quarterback Tony Stauss was efficient, completing 22 of his 31 passes for 165 yards and no picks.
Junior wideout Tate Hancock paced the Grizzly offense with a game high 10 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.
UM's Disney completed 20 of his 34 passes for 156 yards, but was intercepted twice in the second half with both turnovers leading to Bison scores.
Montana's defense was led by sophomore free safety Tyler Thomas' 9 tackles, and Buck Buchanan candidate Tim Bush's 2 sacks.
The Bison's 25-24 upset victory over Montana was only the 15th Griz loss in 119 games at Washington Grizzly Stadium.
Montana pounced on the Bison early, building a 24-2 first half lead, with the only NDSU points coming on a safety in the second quarter.
Junior quarterback Jeff Disney ran for the first score of the game on a 4-yard scramble.
Trick plays by the Grizzlies late in the first quarter helped give them a 14 point advantage. Senior wideout Doug Clark scampered 37 yards on a fake punt to keep a drive alive, and on the very next play junior receiver Levander Segars took an end-around, pulled up and passed to junior wideout Tate Hancock to ignite the crowd.
Other first half scoring included Chris Snyder who nailed a 40-yard field goal with 11:45 remaining in the second quarter, making it a 17 point lead for the Griz. Later in the second quarter the Griz went up 22 points after Disney hit senior wide receiver Dane Oliver for an 11-yard scoring strike capping a 12-play, 85-yard drive.
While the Grizzlies dominated the first half, the Bison dominated the second, erasing a 22-point first half deficit.
NDSU's first touchdown came when redshirt freshman tailback Kyle Steffes finished off a 13-play, 82-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard plunge to cut the lead to 15 points. Kicker Cory Vartanian's 43-yard field goal was the only other third quarter scoring.
Junior Allen Burrell took a wide receiver reverse 11 yards for the Bison's second touchdown of the game, cutting the lead to 24-19 with 7:09 to play in the fourth quarter.
The Bison took their only lead of the game with 2:04 remaining, on the play of the game. On fourth down, a fake field goal fooled the Grizzlies, resulting in a 20-yard touchdown pass from halfback Malone to tight end Mike Wieser.
The Grizzlies had a chance to win the game after Disney led a 'two-minute' offense down to the NDSU 30-yard line with three seconds remaining. Preseason 2nd-team All-American Chris Snyder missed a 40-yard field goal wide right as time expired.
The Bison were able to stay in the game with a second half behind a powerful running game. NDSU's strong one-two punch of Kyle Steffes and Rod Malone teamed up to tally 166 yards on the Grizzly defense.
NDSU was led on the defensive side of the ball by defensive lineman Dwayne Summerville who registered 8 tackles and a sack. Fellow d-lineman Jamel Thomas and free safety Jared Essler each had interceptions.
Bison quarterback Tony Stauss was efficient, completing 22 of his 31 passes for 165 yards and no picks.
Junior wideout Tate Hancock paced the Grizzly offense with a game high 10 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.
UM's Disney completed 20 of his 34 passes for 156 yards, but was intercepted twice in the second half with both turnovers leading to Bison scores.
Montana's defense was led by sophomore free safety Tyler Thomas' 9 tackles, and Buck Buchanan candidate Tim Bush's 2 sacks.
The Bison's 25-24 upset victory over Montana was only the 15th Griz loss in 119 games at Washington Grizzly Stadium.
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