Griz beat Wolves 32-7 in non-league contest

Saturday, November 5

Missoula, Mont.

1:00 PM

Montana

8-2

Western Oregon

6-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Oregon

Montana

Brody McKnight kicked a record six field goals in the win over WOU.

11/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Nov. 5, 2011

Final stats (html) l Photo gallery l Highlight video l Final stats (pdf)

Kicker Brody McKnight connected on a school-record six field goals and halfback Peter Nguyenrushed for a career-high 149 yards to lead The University of Montana Grizzlies to a 32-7 victory over the Western Oregon College Wolves in a non-league game Saturday afternoon in UM's Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The Griz (8-2 overall) dominated the Wolves (6-4), and scored all seven times they were in the red zone, but six of those scores game via McKnight's foot in the form of field goals.

The Division II Wolves, who lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 6-1 record, made things interesting when they scored their only touchdown of the game in the third quarter. When senior quarterback Cory Bean hit sophomore flanker Lucas Gonsalves for a 27-yard TD, it cut the Griz lead to 15-7 with 9:24 left in the third stanza.

The Grizzlies answered the Wolves' touchdown with one of their own, though, as redshirt freshman halfback Brett Kirschnerscored on a 1-yard run, giving Montana a 22-7 lead at the 6:37 mark of the third quarter.

Nguyen was instrumental in Kirschner's touchdown run in UM's nine-play, 54-yard drive, as the 5-8, 182-pound junior rushed five times for 33 yards, including a key four-and-one carry that advanced the ball to the Wolves' 1-yard line. Nguyen was banged up on that run to the 1-yard line and did not return to the game.

Montana tacked on another score when junior quarterback Nate Montana tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Antwon Moutra, making the score 29-7 Griz with 13:12 left in the game.

The Grizzlies' final points came on McKnight's sixth record-breaking field goal, this one coming from 24 yards out with 8:30 remaining in the contest, making it the final, 32-7.

The Griz had 53 plays and racked up 282 yards in the first half, but managed only 12 points, as McKnight booted field goals covering 24, 21, 51, and 30 yards. McKnight broke the record of five field goals made in one game which was set by Dan Carpenter against South Dakota State in 2006.

Montana played four quarterbacks, and starter Jordan Johnsonwas 11-of-16-0 for 103 yards, but left the game after just one quarter of action due to an injury.

McKnight's four first-half field goals were set up by the running of Nguyen, who gained 84 yards on 13 carries and the passing of Johnson (103 yards) and junior QB Gerald Kemp, who threw for 64 yards and rushed for 24 more in the first 30 minutes of the game. Sam Grattonalso contributed a lot in the first half with 6 catches for 72 yards.

The Griz defense was once again stellar, holding the Wolves to 221 total yards and 13 first downs. Sophomore linebacker John Kanogata'a led UM with 8 stops, while true freshman safety Matt Hermanson had 7 tackles and an interception. Senior tackle Bryan Waldhauser added 7 stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. Sophomore cornerback Sean Murrayhad two interceptions.

Bean, and fellow quarterbacks Cody VonAppen and Ryan Bergman were a combined 10-of-31-4 for 156 yards and one TD. WOU had 31 rushes for 65 net yards. Sophomore linebacker Devin Wells led the Wolves with a game-high 18 tackles.

The Griz (8-2 overall/6-1 Big Sky Conference) will have a week off before taking on second-ranked and league-leading Montana State Bobcats (9-1 overall/7-0 Big Sky) on Saturday, Nov. 19th in Bozeman. It will be the 111th Griz-Cat meeting in this storied rivalry.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total Western Oregon 0 0 7 0 7 Univ. of Montana 6 6 10 10 32

Qtr Time Scoring play

1st 09:39 UM - Brody McKnight24 yd field goal, 12-80 3:09

05:00 UM - Brody McKnight21 yd field goal, 11-67 3:33

2nd 04:59 UM - Brody McKnight51 yd field goal, 7-18 2:35

00:00 UM - Brody McKnight30 yd field goal, 13-54 3:13

3rd 11:10 UM - Brody McKnight36 yd field goal, 7-33 1:51

09:24 WOU - Gonsalves 27 yd pass from Bean (Morgan kick), 5-75 1:40

06:37 UM - Brett Kirschner 1 yd run (Brody McKnightkick), 9-54 2:41

4th 13:12 UM - Antwon Moutra 5 pass from Nate Montana(McKnight kick), 7-37 1:52

08:30 UM - Brody McKnight24 yd field goal, 7-38 2:59

WOU - UM

FIRST DOWNS 13 - 24

RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 31-65 - 53-245

PASSING YDS (NET) 156 - 252

Passes Att-Comp-Int 31-10-4 -- 43-24-1

TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS 62-221 - 96-497

Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 - 0-0

Punt Returns-Yards 2-11 - 4-9

Kickoff Returns-Yards 8-152 - 2-22

Interception Returns-Yards 1-25 -- 4-48

Punts (Number-Avg) 9-33.8 -- 6-42.2

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 -- 0-0

Penalties-Yards 7-40 -- 8-93

Possession Time 24:42 - 35:18

Third-Down Conversions 2 of 15 - 8 of 21

Fourth-Down Conversions 1 of 1 - 1 of 1

Red-Zone Scores-Chances 0-0 -- 7-7

Sacks By: Number-Yards 1-6 -- 3-18

RUSHING: Western Oregon-Roush 11-40; VonAppen 11-27; Allen 7-10; Bean 2-minus 12. Univ. of Montana-Peter Nguyen 22-149; Caleb Walden 5-33; Brett Kirschner 10-24; Gerald Kemp 8-21; Lance Carl 4-13; Jordan Johnson 3-5; Nate Montana1-0.

PASSING: Western Oregon-Bean 5-19-2-116; VonAppen 4-11-2-34; Bergman 1-1-0-6. Univ. of Montana-Gerald Kemp 7-17-1-93; Jordan Johnson 11-16-0-103; Nate Montana6-9-0-56; Smithwick-Hann 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING: W. Oregon-Gates 4-31; Williams,T. 2-69; Gonsalves 2-42; Davis,T. 1-7; Roush 1-7. Univ. of Montana-Sam Gratton 7-85; Kav. Middleton 4-56; Antwon Moutra 3-13; Greg Hardy 2-29; Mitch Saylor 2-27; Peter Nguyen 2-15; Jabin Sambrano 2-11; Cam Warren 1-9; Gerald Kemp1-7.

INTERCEPTIONS: Western Oregon-Peila 1-25. Univ. of Montana-Sean Murray 2-24; Matt Hermanson 1-24; Mike McCord1-0.

FUMBLES: Western Oregon-Roush 1-0. Univ. of Montana-None.

SACKS (UA-A): Western Oregon-Foss 1-0. Montana-Josh Stuberg 0-1; Brock Coyle 1-0; Bryan Waldhauser 1-0; Alex Shaw0-1.

TACKLE LEADERS (UA-A): Western Oregon-Wells,D. 5-13; Merrill 6-7; Foss 3-9; Manu 5-6; Akins,K. 1-8; Drake 1-6; Benthin 1-5; Smith 0-5; Buchanan 2-2; Peila 2-2; Werhane 2-2; Walton 1-3.

Univ. of Montana-John Kanonagta'a 2-6; Matt Hermanson 4-3; Bry. Waldhauser 1-6; Ryan Fetherston 4-2; Caleb McSurdy 3-3; Josh Harris 1-4; Tyrone Duncan 2-2; Alex Shaw 0-4.