Montana
4-2 , 2-0
North Dakota
2-4 , 0-2
Sullivan kicks Grizzlies to victory over North Dakota
10/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
UND scored 15 unanswered fourth-quarter points to tie the game at 15-all with 5:49 left to play. UND (2-4/0-2) had a chance to take the lead with 1:03 remaining, but freshman kicker Reid Taubenheim's 40-yard field goal was blocked by Montana (4-2/2-0) freshman center Robert Luke and UM had new life.
After UND's missed field goal, Montana started from its own 41-yard line, and on the Grizzlies' first play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Shay Smithwick-Hann connected with wide receiver Jamaal Jones for a 46-yard pass completion and the Griz had the ball on UND's 10-yard line. Two plays later Sullivan kicked the game-winner.
The Griz has taken a 15-0 lead when senior halfback/receiver Travon Van plowed over for a 2-yard scoring run on a 4th-and-2 play with 2:57 left in the third quarter.
However, UND got on the board with 6:37 left to play on a 3-yard run by redshirt freshman Kyle Norberg, cutting the Griz lead to 15-7. UND tied the game when junior cornerback Chris Brown picked off a Smithwick-Hann pass and returned it for a 14-yard touchdown, and then sophomore quarterback Joe Mollberg hit sophomore tight end Luke Matthewson for the game-tying 2-point conversion.
Montana scored its first touchdown of the game with 2:19 left until halftime, when Smithwick-Hann hit Van on a 10-yard scoring pass, however, Sullivan missed the PAT attempt, and the Griz led 8-0.
The Grizzlies' defense held UND to 60 total yards and 4 first downs in the first half. Senior end Zack Wagenmann led the way for Montana with 2 first-half sacks, and UM led 8-0 at the break. The Griz gained 137 yards and had 11 first downs in the opening half.
Smithwick-Hann had replaced starter Jordan Johnson twice during the opening half when Johnson was up on two different plays. Smithwick-Hann finished 12-of-21-1 for 128 yards and a touchdown. Johnson, who watched the second half in street clothes and on crutches, was 7-of-14-0 for 109 yards in limited action.
Jones had game-highs of 7 catches for 114 yards, while Van had 7 grabs for 58 yards. Senior halfback Jordan Canada led the Griz with 53 yards rushing on 19 carries.
Wagenmann had a team-high 8 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, a safety, and a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Junior linebacker Herbert Gamboa and senior safety Matt Hermanson had 7 tackles each.
Wagenmann now has 29 career sacks, which ties for fourth all-time with Andy Petek (29, 1997-2000), while he moved up to fifth in tackles for loss with 41, passing linebacker Jason Crebo (39, 1994-97).
Hermanson now has 287 career tackles, which ties him for 13th on the all-time list with safety Todd Ericson (287, 1990-93).
Team Stats
UM 2, UND 0
UM - Zack Wagenmann 13 yd safety
UM 8, UND 0
UM - Travon Van 10 yd pass from Smithwick-Hann (Daniel Sullivan kickfailed) 10 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:36
UM 15, UND 0
UM - Travon Van 2 yd run (Daniel Sullivan kick), 13 plays, 51 yards, TOP 6:56
UM 15, UND 7
UND - Kyle Norberg 3 yd run (Reid Taubenheim kick), 10 plays, 47 yards, TOP 4:21
UM 15, UND 15
UND - Chris Brown 14 yd interception (Luke Mathewson pass)
UM 18, UND 15
UM - Daniel Sullivan 35 yd field goal 3 plays, 41 yards, TOP 1:03
