Montana defeats Southern Illinois in quarterfinal playoff game
12/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
MISSOULA ?C The second-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies played stifling defense and the offense clicked as well en route to defeating the 10th-ranked Southern Illinois University Salukis 20-3 in a NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Quarterfinal game.
It was the 12th win in a row for the Grizzlies, who are now 12-1 overall. This is sixth time in school history that Montana has won 12 or more games (13-2 in 1995; 14-1 in 1996; 13-2 in 2000; 15-1 in 2001; 12-3 in 2004; and 12-1 this year).
The Griz have advanced to the playoffs a record 14 consecutive seasons and this will be UM??s eighth trip to the semi-finals, where they have a record of 5-2 overall and 5-0 at home.
Montana will host the University of Massachusetts (12-1) next Friday at 5:30 p.m. (MST) in a semifinal game. Home-standing Massachusetts defeated New Hampshire (9-4) 24-17 today in a quarterfinal game Saturday afternoon.
Montana scored all of the points that it needed in the first half.
UM, playing in front of 18,883 partisan fans in their own Washington-Grizzly Stadium, took the opening drive 41 yards on 10 plays and Dan Carpenter??s 43-yard field goal gave UM a 3-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter.
The Grizzlies culminated a work-man-like 14-play, 69-yard drive that ate up 6:40 on the clock, when senior quarterback Josh Swogger connected with junior wide receiver Craig Chambers, who made a diving catch in the right side of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, giving Montana a 10-0 lead at the 14:15 mark of the second stanza.
After three straight three at outs by the Salukis, Montana scored again, this time with 1:52 remaining in the half, as Carpenter tacked on his second field goal, this one from 38 yards out. That gave the Griz a 13-0 lead at halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter.
The Salukis (9-4) advanced the ball past the 50-yard line only twice in the game.
The second time that the Salukis broached mid-field was in the fourth quarter. SIU had a first-and-10 from the Montana 11-yard line after senior halfback Arkee Whitlock gained 31 yards on four carries. After Whitlock picked up the first down, he was held to just one-yard on first down, and that was followed by two incomplete passes by SIU junior quarterback Nick Hill, forcing SIU attempt a field goal. SIU??s only points in the contest came on a 27-yard field goal by senior kicker Craig Coffin, who has made 15-of-16 attempts this season, his three-pointer coming with 10:09 left in the game.
Montana added an insurance touchdown with 6:05 left in the game, as Swogger hooked up again with Chambers, who hauled in an 8-yard scoring pass. Redshirt freshman halfback Thomas Brooks-Fletcher was instrumental in UM??s final scoring drive, gaining 31 yards on four carries.
The Griz defense set the tone early, forcing the Salukis to three-and-out on four of their first five possessions in the opening half. The Salukis had one first down and 27 total yards in the first half, while the Griz had 11 first downs and gained 199 total yards.
Swogger was 17-of-24-0 for 230 yards and two touchdowns and suffered five sacks. His favorite target was junior Ryan Bagley who had game-highs of 6 catches for 88 yards. Junior Eric Allen added 4 grabs for 70 yards, and Chambers had 4 receptions for 32 yards and two scores.
Brooks-Fletcher had game-highs of 25 carries for 106 yards, and he 100 or more yards rushing in three of UM??s past four games.
The Griz ??D?? was led by junior linebacker Tyler Joyce and sophomore strong safety Colt Anderson with 9 tackles each. Senior end Mike Murphy had 6 tackles and 1.5 stops for losses, including a sack. Senior end Dustin Dlouhy and junior cornerback Jimmy Wilson each had a sack for UM.
Whitlock, who was recently named one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, had 21 carries for 80 yards. Hill was 5-11-0 for 37 yards and was sacked four times. SIU??s top receiver was junior Alan Turner who had 4 catches for 26 yards.
SIU senior linebacker Patrick Jordan had a game-high 17 tackles and 2.5 stops for losses. Junior cornerback Craig Turner had 11 tackles, while freshman linebacker Brandin Jordan had 11 tackles and 3.0 stops for losses.
For the game, the Salukis were held to seven first downs and 129 yards of total offense (92 rushing and 37 pasing). The Grizzlies had 378 total yards (137 rushing and 241 passing) and had 22 first downs. The Griz won the battle of possession time by almost 11 minutes (35:28 to 24:32).
It was the 12th win in a row for the Grizzlies, who are now 12-1 overall. This is sixth time in school history that Montana has won 12 or more games (13-2 in 1995; 14-1 in 1996; 13-2 in 2000; 15-1 in 2001; 12-3 in 2004; and 12-1 this year).
The Griz have advanced to the playoffs a record 14 consecutive seasons and this will be UM??s eighth trip to the semi-finals, where they have a record of 5-2 overall and 5-0 at home.
Montana will host the University of Massachusetts (12-1) next Friday at 5:30 p.m. (MST) in a semifinal game. Home-standing Massachusetts defeated New Hampshire (9-4) 24-17 today in a quarterfinal game Saturday afternoon.
Montana scored all of the points that it needed in the first half.
UM, playing in front of 18,883 partisan fans in their own Washington-Grizzly Stadium, took the opening drive 41 yards on 10 plays and Dan Carpenter??s 43-yard field goal gave UM a 3-0 lead with 8:02 left in the first quarter.
The Grizzlies culminated a work-man-like 14-play, 69-yard drive that ate up 6:40 on the clock, when senior quarterback Josh Swogger connected with junior wide receiver Craig Chambers, who made a diving catch in the right side of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, giving Montana a 10-0 lead at the 14:15 mark of the second stanza.
After three straight three at outs by the Salukis, Montana scored again, this time with 1:52 remaining in the half, as Carpenter tacked on his second field goal, this one from 38 yards out. That gave the Griz a 13-0 lead at halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter.
The Salukis (9-4) advanced the ball past the 50-yard line only twice in the game.
The second time that the Salukis broached mid-field was in the fourth quarter. SIU had a first-and-10 from the Montana 11-yard line after senior halfback Arkee Whitlock gained 31 yards on four carries. After Whitlock picked up the first down, he was held to just one-yard on first down, and that was followed by two incomplete passes by SIU junior quarterback Nick Hill, forcing SIU attempt a field goal. SIU??s only points in the contest came on a 27-yard field goal by senior kicker Craig Coffin, who has made 15-of-16 attempts this season, his three-pointer coming with 10:09 left in the game.
Montana added an insurance touchdown with 6:05 left in the game, as Swogger hooked up again with Chambers, who hauled in an 8-yard scoring pass. Redshirt freshman halfback Thomas Brooks-Fletcher was instrumental in UM??s final scoring drive, gaining 31 yards on four carries.
The Griz defense set the tone early, forcing the Salukis to three-and-out on four of their first five possessions in the opening half. The Salukis had one first down and 27 total yards in the first half, while the Griz had 11 first downs and gained 199 total yards.
Swogger was 17-of-24-0 for 230 yards and two touchdowns and suffered five sacks. His favorite target was junior Ryan Bagley who had game-highs of 6 catches for 88 yards. Junior Eric Allen added 4 grabs for 70 yards, and Chambers had 4 receptions for 32 yards and two scores.
Brooks-Fletcher had game-highs of 25 carries for 106 yards, and he 100 or more yards rushing in three of UM??s past four games.
The Griz ??D?? was led by junior linebacker Tyler Joyce and sophomore strong safety Colt Anderson with 9 tackles each. Senior end Mike Murphy had 6 tackles and 1.5 stops for losses, including a sack. Senior end Dustin Dlouhy and junior cornerback Jimmy Wilson each had a sack for UM.
Whitlock, who was recently named one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award, had 21 carries for 80 yards. Hill was 5-11-0 for 37 yards and was sacked four times. SIU??s top receiver was junior Alan Turner who had 4 catches for 26 yards.
SIU senior linebacker Patrick Jordan had a game-high 17 tackles and 2.5 stops for losses. Junior cornerback Craig Turner had 11 tackles, while freshman linebacker Brandin Jordan had 11 tackles and 3.0 stops for losses.
For the game, the Salukis were held to seven first downs and 129 yards of total offense (92 rushing and 37 pasing). The Grizzlies had 378 total yards (137 rushing and 241 passing) and had 22 first downs. The Griz won the battle of possession time by almost 11 minutes (35:28 to 24:32).
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