Eastern Washington breaks Montana's 16-game home winning streak
10/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Montana's 16-game home winning streak at the packed Washington-Grizzly stadium came to an end at the hands, feet and arm of the Big Sky conference favorite Eastern Washington Eagles, with the final score of 34-20. The Eagle's offense out gained Montana's, 541 to 361.
Montana didn't have an answer to Eagle's quarterback Erik Meyer as he completed 28 of his 40 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns. Most of Meyer's passes ended up in the hands of Eric Kimble and Craig McIntyre. Kimble caught 10 balls for 168 yards and one touchdown, while McIntyre caught six balls for 134 and three touchdowns. Meyer's arm opened up their running game, which running back Ryan Cole took advantage as he ran for 99 yards on 31 attempts.
In his second game as starting quarterback for the Grizzlies, quarterback Cole Bergquist connected 25 out of 40 attempts for 246 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore receiver Ryan Bagley had a break out game as he stepped in for the injured Jon Talmage. Bagley caught nine balls for 102 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Mike Ferriter caught eight balls for 87 yards. Running back Lex Hilliard was held in check as he ran for 58 yards on 15 attempts and one touchdown.
Meyer and the Eagles offense struck quickly on their first possession after Eastern Washington's defense forced Montana to a three and out on their first possession. Meyer connected with receiver Craig McIntyre for a 30-yard touchdown pass five minute into the game. Kicker Sheldon Weddle missed the point-after-touchdown to make the score 6-0.
A number of penalties committed by the Eagles' defense kept the chains moving for the Grizzlies late in the first quarter. Montana capitalized on Eastern Washington's mistakes three seconds into the second quarter when Hilliard scored on a three yard cutback touchdown to put them up by one point, 7-6.
Montana's defense made a big stop with 12:15 left in the second quarter when Eastern Washington went for it on 4-and-9 on Montana's 25 yard line. The Griz were able to breakup a pass by Meyer at the sideline to force a turnover on downs, but the offense was unable to convert the stop into points.
At the eight minute mark of the second quarter, Meyer connected with Kimble on an inside receiver screen that sprung for 44 yards and another Eagle's touchdown. Eastern Washington regained the lead at 13-7.
The Eagles struck again three minutes later (4:45 of the second quarter) as Meyer slipped a pass between two Griz defenders to McIntyre in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Eastern Washington went into their locker room at half time with a confident 20-7 lead.
Eastern Washington's offense picked up where they left off in the first half. They were easily driving to score what looked to be their fourth touchdown of the game until linebacker Tyler Joyce gave the Grizzlies the spark of hope they needed coming out of half time. Joyce stepped in front of a blazing Meyer's pass at the four yard line, stopping Eastern Washington's surge.
Montana's offense tried to respond with a touchdown of their own, but an illegal formation nullified Bergquist's touchdown run. The Griz were then forced to convert a 30-yard field goal with 7:37 left in the third quarter, to bring them within ten points, 20-10.
Montana took a chance and went for it on fourth and seven with four minutes still in the third quarter as they were deep inside Eastern Washington's territory. Bergquist tried to connect with Bagley in the end zone, but was ruled out of bounds.
On third and long, Meyer and McIntyre connected for a 31-yard touchdown reception, McIntyre's third of the day. The touchdown quieted the home crowd as Eastern Washington went up by 17 with 1:14 left in the third quarter, 27-10.
Montana answered early in the fourth quarter when Berquist hit Bagley on a quick slant. Bagley fought through one tackle, then raced toward the goal line to score on a 22-yard reception, 17-27.
On the ensuing kickoff, Montana special teamer David Haile ignited the once quiet crowd when he forced a fumble that Montana recovered. The turnover gave the home crowd some hope, but was quickly tarnished when, on Montana's next offensive play, Berquist's lateral pass wasn't caught that made it a live ball. Eastern Washington recovered and burnt precious minutes off the clock on their drive.
Montana never gave up, which was made apparent as Bergquist connected multiple times with Bagley to get Carpenter within kicking distance. Carpenter converted a much needed 27-yard field goal to bring the Grizzlies within a touchdown of the Eagles at 20-27 with 6:09 left in the game.
Eastern Washington squashed any hope Montana had at winning this difficult contest when they went up by two touchdowns with 2:13 left in the game. Vijil caught a pass in the middle of the end zone, sending a number of Griz fans home early as the Eagles set the final score at 34-20.
Montana hosts Cal Poly at Washington Grizzly stadium next Saturday at 1:05 pm.
Montana didn't have an answer to Eagle's quarterback Erik Meyer as he completed 28 of his 40 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns. Most of Meyer's passes ended up in the hands of Eric Kimble and Craig McIntyre. Kimble caught 10 balls for 168 yards and one touchdown, while McIntyre caught six balls for 134 and three touchdowns. Meyer's arm opened up their running game, which running back Ryan Cole took advantage as he ran for 99 yards on 31 attempts.
In his second game as starting quarterback for the Grizzlies, quarterback Cole Bergquist connected 25 out of 40 attempts for 246 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore receiver Ryan Bagley had a break out game as he stepped in for the injured Jon Talmage. Bagley caught nine balls for 102 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Mike Ferriter caught eight balls for 87 yards. Running back Lex Hilliard was held in check as he ran for 58 yards on 15 attempts and one touchdown.
Meyer and the Eagles offense struck quickly on their first possession after Eastern Washington's defense forced Montana to a three and out on their first possession. Meyer connected with receiver Craig McIntyre for a 30-yard touchdown pass five minute into the game. Kicker Sheldon Weddle missed the point-after-touchdown to make the score 6-0.
A number of penalties committed by the Eagles' defense kept the chains moving for the Grizzlies late in the first quarter. Montana capitalized on Eastern Washington's mistakes three seconds into the second quarter when Hilliard scored on a three yard cutback touchdown to put them up by one point, 7-6.
Montana's defense made a big stop with 12:15 left in the second quarter when Eastern Washington went for it on 4-and-9 on Montana's 25 yard line. The Griz were able to breakup a pass by Meyer at the sideline to force a turnover on downs, but the offense was unable to convert the stop into points.
At the eight minute mark of the second quarter, Meyer connected with Kimble on an inside receiver screen that sprung for 44 yards and another Eagle's touchdown. Eastern Washington regained the lead at 13-7.
The Eagles struck again three minutes later (4:45 of the second quarter) as Meyer slipped a pass between two Griz defenders to McIntyre in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Eastern Washington went into their locker room at half time with a confident 20-7 lead.
Eastern Washington's offense picked up where they left off in the first half. They were easily driving to score what looked to be their fourth touchdown of the game until linebacker Tyler Joyce gave the Grizzlies the spark of hope they needed coming out of half time. Joyce stepped in front of a blazing Meyer's pass at the four yard line, stopping Eastern Washington's surge.
Montana's offense tried to respond with a touchdown of their own, but an illegal formation nullified Bergquist's touchdown run. The Griz were then forced to convert a 30-yard field goal with 7:37 left in the third quarter, to bring them within ten points, 20-10.
Montana took a chance and went for it on fourth and seven with four minutes still in the third quarter as they were deep inside Eastern Washington's territory. Bergquist tried to connect with Bagley in the end zone, but was ruled out of bounds.
On third and long, Meyer and McIntyre connected for a 31-yard touchdown reception, McIntyre's third of the day. The touchdown quieted the home crowd as Eastern Washington went up by 17 with 1:14 left in the third quarter, 27-10.
Montana answered early in the fourth quarter when Berquist hit Bagley on a quick slant. Bagley fought through one tackle, then raced toward the goal line to score on a 22-yard reception, 17-27.
On the ensuing kickoff, Montana special teamer David Haile ignited the once quiet crowd when he forced a fumble that Montana recovered. The turnover gave the home crowd some hope, but was quickly tarnished when, on Montana's next offensive play, Berquist's lateral pass wasn't caught that made it a live ball. Eastern Washington recovered and burnt precious minutes off the clock on their drive.
Montana never gave up, which was made apparent as Bergquist connected multiple times with Bagley to get Carpenter within kicking distance. Carpenter converted a much needed 27-yard field goal to bring the Grizzlies within a touchdown of the Eagles at 20-27 with 6:09 left in the game.
Eastern Washington squashed any hope Montana had at winning this difficult contest when they went up by two touchdowns with 2:13 left in the game. Vijil caught a pass in the middle of the end zone, sending a number of Griz fans home early as the Eagles set the final score at 34-20.
Montana hosts Cal Poly at Washington Grizzly stadium next Saturday at 1:05 pm.
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