Montana
7-4 , 5-2
Southern Utah
2-9 , 2-5
Montana defeats Southern Utah 35-17 in must-win game
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
The win improved Montana's record to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in league, and kept the Grizzlies' FCS post-season playoff hopes alive. The victory also gave Montana its 28th winning season in the past 29 years. SUU is now 2-9/2-5.
The Griz win also set up a big match-up between Montana and the first-place Montana State Bobcats (6-1/8-3) next Saturday in Missoula in the 114th contest in the storied rivalry.
It was a historic game for senior defensive end Zack Wagenmann who had a sack in the win, as he ties Tim Bush (32.5 sacks, 2000-03) and goes by Kroy Biermann (32.0, 2004-07) for second. He needs just a half-a-sack to break the tie with Bush and a establish the school record.
A 14-yard TD run by Canada put Montana back on top for good at 21-17with 4:38 left in the third quarter. About five minutes later he broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run, which came with 14:27 to go in the fourth quarter, and that gave the Griz a 28-17 advantage.
An 8-play, 88 yard drive which used up 4:22 on the clock, was capped off by a 1-yard scoring run by junior fullback Jamal Wilson - his first career touchdown, and his TD iced the win for the Griz and gave them a three-score (35-17) lead.
After a blocked field goal by Lehi Afatasi, SUU scored on a 24-yard field goal by Keita Calhoun good, and took its first and only lead of the game at 17-14 with 8:37 to go in the third quarter.
Montana scored th first points of the game with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter on a 12- yard pass from senior quarterback Jordan Johnson to senior wide receiver Sean Haynes, as the Griz took a 7-0 lead.
SUU tied the game at 7-7 with 4:37 left in the second quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ammon Olsen to wide receiver Mitch Jessop.
On UM's next possession, an offside penalty on SUU allowed Montana to maintain possession, and the Grizzlies capitalized, as two plays later, Johnson hit wide receiver/halfback Travon Van on a 62- yard TD pass, as Montana regained the lead (14-7).
The Thunderbirds scored with 27 seconds to go until halftime on a 3-yard run by Olsen, which tied the score 14-14 at intermission.
Canada rushed 29 times for his 211 yards and two scoring runs, to average 7.3 yards a carry. Canada's 211 rushing yards are the seventh most ever in a game. The record is 265 yards by Yohance Humphery against Weber State in 2001. Sophomore halfback John Nguyen was instrumental in the win as well, as he rushed just 8 times for 90 yards including a career-long 54-yard jaunt. and picked up two key first downs on UM's final two possessions. The Griz rushed for a season-high 316 yards on 49 totes.
Johnson, who left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury, was 12-of-26-0 passing for 181 yards and two scores. Van had a team-highs of 6 catches for 56 yards and a TD, while Haynes had 2 grabs for 56 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, senior free safety Matt Hermanson had a game-high 12 tackles, while junior linebackers Kendrick Van Ackeren and Jeremiah Kose added 11 and 9 stops, respectively.
Olsen was 25-of-41-2 for 355 yards and a TD. Jessop had a game-high 7 receptions.
Team Stats
UM 7, SUU 0
UM - Sean Haynes 12 yd pass from Jordan Johnson (Daniel Sullivan kick) 9 plays, 82 yards, TOP 2:53
UM 7, SUU 7
SUU - Jessop 5 yd pass from Olsen (Calhoun kick) 11 plays, 90 yards, TOP 4:39
UM 14, SUU 7
UM - Travon Van 62 yd pass from Jordan Johnson (Daniel Sullivan kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:07
UM 14, SUU 14
SUU - Olsen 3 yd run (Calhoun kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:03
UM 14, SUU 17
SUU - Calhoun 24 yd field goal 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:19
UM 21, SUU 17
UM - Jordan Canada 14 yd run (Daniel Sullivan kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:59
UM 28, SUU 17
UM - Jordan Canada 56 yd run (Daniel Sullivan kick), 3 plays, 73 yards, TOP 0:42
UM 35, SUU 17
UM - Jamal Wilson 1 yd run (Daniel Sullivan kick), 8 plays, 88 yards, TOP 4:22
