Halftime update: Montana 17, Valparaiso 13
9/2/2017 2:42:00 PM | Football
MISSOULA, Mont. – Hosting Valparaiso in its season opener, Montana holds a 17-13 halftime lead over the Crusaders.
Making his Griz debut, quarterback Reese Phillips is 12-of-16 for 171 yards and a 164.8 quarterback rating. His main target has been Jerry Louis-McGee, who has five catches for 105 yards. On the ground, junior running back Jeremy Calhoun has found the end zone twice, rushing for 55 yards on 15 carries.
After the Griz defense held the Crusaders to -2 yards and a quick three-and-out to open the game, the offense took over with a five-play, 77-yard touchdown drive in just 1 minute, 23 seconds. Calhoun ran the ball across the goal line from two yards out, a score that was set up by a 63-yard catch-and-run from Louie-McGee three plays prior.
Valparaiso would respond with scores on its next two possessions, but each time, the Griz were able to keep the Crusaders out of the end zone. They would settle for field goals both times, despite a 50-yard completion that reached the UM 15-yard line and a 61-yard completion that got inside the 10.
Following a 26-yard field goal by UM's Brandon Purdy, it would be another big play that would put the Crusaders on top. Chris Duncan hit Donny Navarro for a 33-yard score on a broken play in which Duncan was flushed from the pocket and nearly sacked. The score was set up following a Phillips fumble, giving the Crusaders the ball at their own 41-yard line.
Valparaiso's lead would be short-lived though, as UM meticulously marched down the field for a 13-play, 70-yard scoring drive to regain the lead, 17-13, with a 1-yard run by Calhoun. Valparaiso was threatening late in the half before Josh Sandry intercepted a pass at the 14-yard line with 18 seconds remaining in the half. It was Sandry's first career interception.
James Banks leads the defense with seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Ryan McKinley has six stops.
