Griz defeat Vikings 30-24

Saturday, October 15

Missoula, Mont.

1:00 PM

Montana

5-2 , 4-1

Portland State

3-3 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Portland State

Montana

10/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Oct. 15, 2011

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The University of Montana Grizzlies played an outstanding second half led by the "D" and running back Jordan Canada, and registered a 30-24 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Portland State Vikings Saturday afternoon in a key Big Sky Conference game in UM's Washington-Grizzly Stadium (attendance, 25,744 - the eighth largest in WGS history).

The 14th-ranked Grizzlies (5-2/4-1 Big Sky) had to overcome a 21-10 halftime deficit to defeat the Vikings (3-3/2-2).

In the final half Montana's defense gave up just 109 total yards, six first downs, and allowed PSU's vaunted rushing attack just 38 yards. The Grizzlies out-scored the Vikings, who entered the game ranked third in the nation in rushing (292.8 yards a game), 20-3 in the second half.

"It was a tremendous output by the defense," said UM head coach Robin Pflugrad. "They actually played a decent first half. But on offense, we gave Portland State the ball in some opportunistic areas - and the defense had a great second half.

Canada, a redshirt freshman from Duarte, Calif., rushed 13 times for 160 yards in the second half. He had one carry for minus-one yards in the first 30 minutes.

In the second half, the Grizzly offense racked up 254 yards of total offense, along with 11 first downs.

"I was again, hoping and praying he'd (Canada) have a breakout game," Pflugrad said. "At halftime, I mentioned, and I don't think he heard me, but I whispered, `I told the press you were going to have a breakout game. I'm not looking very good right now.' The thing about him is I believe he's finally healthy. "The thing that Jordan Canadagives us is if he sees a little seam, he can get to that seam and get through it," Pflugrad said. "Sometimes he lowers his left shoulder, sometimes he lowers his right but he's really nifty that way. If he can get through that front line, it's like, `Well, something else is going to happen on this run and it's going to be positive.' We talked about having the breakout game and I guess it's the breakout 20 minutes. I'm very proud of him today."

Canada started the Montana comeback when he scored on a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter. That cut the PSU lead to 21-16. The key play in that drive was a 22-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Johnson to senior wide receiver Jabin Sambrano, which advanced the ball to the PSU two-yard line.

The Vikings widened their lead to 24-16 when junior kicker Zach Brown connected on his third field of the game, this one a 31-yarder with 3:45 left in the third stanza.

But, the Grizzlies came right back and tied the contest up for the first time, 24-24, on a 1-yard run by junior halfback Dan Moore, plus a two-point conversion on a Johnson to Kavario Middletonpass. Those game-tying points came with 1:37 to go in the third quarter.

Canada was the main man in the Grizzlies' game-tying drive, as he broke loose for a 75-yard run, moving the ball from the UM 7-yard line to the PSU two. Three plays later Moore scored his TD. The Griz started from their own 48 on the drive, thanks to an interception by senior cornerback Houston Roots.

Montana took the lead (its first) for good with 10:06 left in the game on a 24-yard field by senior kicker Brody McKnight. McKnight added three more points on his third field goal of the game - this one from 42 yards out, giving the Griz a 30-24 lead with 1:49 remaining.

PSU jumped to an early 6-0 first-quarter lead on back-to-back field goals by Brown, who nailed one from 53 yards out, and then hit a 28-yarder.

The Vikings went ahead 13-0 with 13:10 to go in the second quarter on an 8-yard run by senior quarterback Connor Kavanaugh. The Griz answered the PSU score with a 6-yard touchdown rush by sophomore quarterback Jordan Johnson, cutting the Vikings lead to 13-7 with 7:39 left until intermission.

PSU came right back, though, this time on a 3-yard TD run by senior halfback Cory McCaffrey with 1:32 to go until the half, giving the Vikings a 21-7 lead. McKnight scored the final points of the first half on a 27-yard field goal with 12 seconds left until the break. It was 21-10, PSU, at halftime.

Canada led the way, averaging 11.4 yards on his 14 carries, and a couple of key first downs im UM's final possession. Junior halfback Peter Nguyenadded 10 carries for 68 yards. Unfortunately, Moore, who was limited to eight yards on 10 carries, was injured late in the game.

Johnson was 10-of-18-0 for 128 yards. Sambrano, who also left the game with an injury, had two catches for a team-high 73 yards. Juniors Sam Gratton and Gerald Kemphad two receptions each, and Kemp also had to leave the game due to an injury.

Junior end Josh Harris had a career-high 9 tackles, along with 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack to pace Montana's defense. Linebackers John Kanongata'a and Caleb McSurdy added 9 and 8 tackles, respectively. Senior cornerback Rootshad two interceptions in the game - the first of his career.

McKnight's three field goals give him 48 in his career, tying him with Kirk Duce (48, 1988-91) for the third most in school history.

McCaffrey, who also unfortunately suffered an injury late in the game, rushed 25 times for 103 yards, while Kavanaugh had 23 totes for 97 yards. Passing-wise Kavanaugh was 10-of-20-2 for 100 yards. PSU senior linebacker Ryan Rau had a game-high 18 tackles.

The Grizzlies are at Northern Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 22, for a 4:05 p.m. (Mountain) game, while the Vikings host Willamette.