Mustangs trample Griz
11/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Montana??s 13th-straight appearance in the Division I-AA football playoffs came to a bitter end at home Saturday, as Cal Poly triumphed in their first-ever playoff game, 35-21.
Cal Poly freshman quarterback Matt Brennan broke out of his slump in just his fourth start, calmly commanding a simplified Mustang offense, and freshman running back James Noble ran for four touchdowns and tortured the Grizzly defense for 188 yards and four touchdowns in the game.
The game started as it ended, as Cal Poly used a well-balanced attack to dominate the first half statistically, getting 213 total yards on offense including an uncharacteristic 86 yards through the air.
Brennan connected twice with star receiver Ramses Barden for 63 yards in the half including a 38-yard touchdown pass to the 6-foot-6 Barden that put Cal Poly up 21-14 heading into halftime.
The Mustangs?? running backs also found holes in the Montana defense in the first half as freshman running back James Noble ran for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to go along with Brennan??s 46 yards rushing.
Brennan and Noble carried their momentum out of halftime, needing just nine plays to march 74 yards against the Grizzly defense as Noble capped the drive with his third touchdown of the game.
An aggressive Mustang defense quickly regained the ball after forcing a Montana punt, but the Grizzlies regained some momentum by stopping Cal Poly??s offense on fourth down.
Lex Hilliard then took a shovel pass on third down with 14 yards to go on the ensuing UM drive, and ran for a 66-yard touchdown to put Montana within a touchdown at 28-21.
The Montana defense kept the momentum and came up with three big stops, as safety Torrey Thomas picked off a long pass from Brennan and the Griz forced two punts after Cal Poly drives that started from near midfield.
The Grizzlies were forced to punt after the first two stops, however, and they ended the third quarter still down 28-21.
UM??s second possession of the fourth quarter brought them to the Cal Poly 30-yard line after a couple of big runs by Hilliard, but the offense sputtered again when Dan Carpenter missed the long field goal.
The Mustangs rushing game then wore down the UM defense, running the ball continuously with Noble and fullback Adam George, and extended the winning margin to 35-21 with a 35-yard touchdown run from Noble, his fourth of the game.
Brennan cooled down in the second half, finishing just 8-of-17 for 130 yards, but the combination of Noble and George more than made up for his lack of production.
Lex Hilliard, who appeared to be UM??s lone offensive threat in the game, finished with 160 of the team??s 261 total yards and accounted for all three Grizzly touchdowns.
Freshman quarterback Cole Bergquist completed 13 of 24 passes for 167 yards for the Griz, but was under constant pressure in the game and was sacked six times.
Receivers Jon Talmage and Ryan Bagley led UM with five catches apiece for 55 and 38 yards, respectively.
Cal Poly freshman quarterback Matt Brennan broke out of his slump in just his fourth start, calmly commanding a simplified Mustang offense, and freshman running back James Noble ran for four touchdowns and tortured the Grizzly defense for 188 yards and four touchdowns in the game.
The game started as it ended, as Cal Poly used a well-balanced attack to dominate the first half statistically, getting 213 total yards on offense including an uncharacteristic 86 yards through the air.
Brennan connected twice with star receiver Ramses Barden for 63 yards in the half including a 38-yard touchdown pass to the 6-foot-6 Barden that put Cal Poly up 21-14 heading into halftime.
The Mustangs?? running backs also found holes in the Montana defense in the first half as freshman running back James Noble ran for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to go along with Brennan??s 46 yards rushing.
Brennan and Noble carried their momentum out of halftime, needing just nine plays to march 74 yards against the Grizzly defense as Noble capped the drive with his third touchdown of the game.
An aggressive Mustang defense quickly regained the ball after forcing a Montana punt, but the Grizzlies regained some momentum by stopping Cal Poly??s offense on fourth down.
Lex Hilliard then took a shovel pass on third down with 14 yards to go on the ensuing UM drive, and ran for a 66-yard touchdown to put Montana within a touchdown at 28-21.
The Montana defense kept the momentum and came up with three big stops, as safety Torrey Thomas picked off a long pass from Brennan and the Griz forced two punts after Cal Poly drives that started from near midfield.
The Grizzlies were forced to punt after the first two stops, however, and they ended the third quarter still down 28-21.
UM??s second possession of the fourth quarter brought them to the Cal Poly 30-yard line after a couple of big runs by Hilliard, but the offense sputtered again when Dan Carpenter missed the long field goal.
The Mustangs rushing game then wore down the UM defense, running the ball continuously with Noble and fullback Adam George, and extended the winning margin to 35-21 with a 35-yard touchdown run from Noble, his fourth of the game.
Brennan cooled down in the second half, finishing just 8-of-17 for 130 yards, but the combination of Noble and George more than made up for his lack of production.
Lex Hilliard, who appeared to be UM??s lone offensive threat in the game, finished with 160 of the team??s 261 total yards and accounted for all three Grizzly touchdowns.
Freshman quarterback Cole Bergquist completed 13 of 24 passes for 167 yards for the Griz, but was under constant pressure in the game and was sacked six times.
Receivers Jon Talmage and Ryan Bagley led UM with five catches apiece for 55 and 38 yards, respectively.
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