Second-half surge lifts Griz past battling Bulldogs

Saturday, September 16

Missoula, Mont.

6 PM

Montana

3-0 , 0-0

Ferris State

2-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Ferris St.

Montana

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke/ University of Montana

Second-half surge lifts Griz past battling Bulldogs

9/17/2023 12:46:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

On a dark night in Washington-Grizzly Stadium that featured crackling energy, black jerseys, and a record-setting blackout crowd, the Montana Grizzlies survived a scare from the two-time defending national champion Ferris State Bulldogs to earn a gritty 17-10 win.

In a game where the oval ball didn't bounce the Grizzlies' way in crucial situations, Montana's defense came up big in the win with a physical performance. Linebacker Braxton Hill led the way with a player of the game-worthy 15 tackle day, cornerback Trevin Gradney picked off his third interception in as many games, and the Griz forced a late turnover on downs to secure the win.

The win moves the Grizzlies to 3-0 on the season and snaps Ferris State's almost unbelievable streak of 28-straight road wins as the Bulldogs fall to 2-1. Montana is now one of just two undefeated teams left in the Big Sky at the end of nonconference play.

"What a wild, fun game. It was exciting and just an awesome night in the stadium," said head coach Bobby Hauck.

"Congrats to Ferris State for coming in and fighting their tails off trying to get their 29th win on the road in a row. They just didn't quite get there, but they fought hard, and I have an appreciation for that."

Gallery: (9-16-2023) FB: vs. Ferris State (9.16.23)

Montana overcame a stop-start offensive performance that only registered 189 yards of total offense but adjusted enough at halftime enough to score two touchdowns in the third quarter that proved to be the game-winners.

Rhythm was hard to come by for either team, with a combined 22 penalties between the teams. FSU entered the contest as the most penalized team in D-II and lived up to that distinction with 15 penalties for 106 total yards. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, added 7 penalties to give up 79 yards.

Sophomore QB Sam Vidlak was under pressure from FSU's physical and athletic D-line for much of the night, completing just nine passes for 105 yards on the day. The Griz instead looked to keep rolling with the ground game – a rushing attack that has now rushed for nearly 700 yards in three contests.

Freshman running back Eli Gillman had yet another stellar outing with a tough 78 yards on 19 carries and a third-quarter touchdown that would tie the contest.

Junior Bergen was electric in the receiving game and in the return game, adding up 51 yards on punt returns and 52 receiving – a total that would have been much higher if some big catches hadn't been returned for penalty.

It added up to a tooth-and-nail battle that wasn't decided until a late turnover on downs by the Grizzly defense.

"Those guys were really good. They're a really good team. It was a hard-fought game," said Hauck.

"The defense played great, but it took plays from the offense, defense, and special teams to make it happen and get that W, which is how we play and how we win. There were just some things that we didn't do cleanly enough. We had a chance to get away from them, probably a few times. More than a couple. Part of that is credit to them, and part of that is us not finishing the job. But ultimately, the object is to win the game. You play to win the game, and we won the game."

After winning the coin toss and choosing to defer, the two teams took a couple drives each to feel each other out before Montana finally took an early lead.

Kicker Grant Glasgow showed off his powerful leg, drilling a 43-yard field goal to put the Griz up 3-0 with just over 4 minutes left in the opening quarter. Montana got a helping hand getting in Glasgow's field goal range after a facemask penalty on FSU during a Junior Bergen catch put UM in striking distance.

Ferris State bounced back, though, starting the second quarter with a methodical five-play, 39-yard drive that QB Carson Gulker capped with an 11-yard strike to receiver Xavier Wade to give the visitors the 7-3 lead.

Later in the period, Glasgow got another shot at the uprights to chew into the Bulldog lead, this time from 45 yards out, but the freshman pushed the kick wide right as Montana's frustrations worsened.

FSU closed out the half putting more points on the board when Eddie Jewett slotted a 26-yard attempt with eight seconds left on the clock to give the visitors a 10-3 lead heading into the locker room with momentum on their side.

Montana produced just 107 yards of total offense in the first half with 65 coming on the ground but didn't make it inside the Bulldog red zone. FSU meanwhile looked balanced with an evenly split 150 yards in the period and going 2-2 inside the Grizzly 20.

Two drives into the second half, Bergen sparked the Griz with a 33-yard punt return to midfield to set them up with good field position. Vidlak then found Bergen at the 14 for a big 26-yard completion as UM entered the FSU red zone for the first time.

A pair of Ferris State penalties then set up Gillman to punch it in from one yard out. The freshman and nearly every Grizzly on the team employed a rugby rolling maul to push him over the line from short yardage to tie the game at 10 after the Glasgow PAT.

The Griz then started to pour it on. Bergen again got a shot at a big play, but had it called back by a penalty. Nick Ostmo eventually capped the four-play, 30-yard drive, for the Griz with a three-yard TD off a pitch from Clifton McDowell around the end, lowering his shoulder for the score to put UM up for good 17-10.

TOUCHDOWN, MONTANA!@nostmo39 gives the Griz the lead!#GoGriz pic.twitter.com/HGaKijN7YL
— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) September 17, 2023

Montana then got a big defensive stand to keep the lead.

The Griz had FSU in a third-and-long situation, but Ronald Jackson would get pinged on a pass interference call in the endzone to keep the drive alive for the visitors. A false start for the Bulldogs and a shoestring tackle from Nash Fouch again put FSU in third and long, but this time the defense held.

The stand forced FSU to attempt a field goal, but the 45-yard attempt doinked off the left goal post, and the Grizzly lead held at 17-10.

After another UM punt, the Grizzly D held once again and forced an FSU turnover on downs with 37 seconds left to secure the win.

The Grizzlies set a new Washington-Grizzly Stadium record with 26,978 people in attendance.

Montana now turns its attention to the conference schedule and a road trip south to face Northern Arizona in the always-tricky Walkup Skydome at elevation in Flagstaff on Sept. 23.