Montana succumbs to second-half surge in playoff loss to North Dakota State

FARGO, N.D. — The Montana Grizzlies have been alive and nicely and threatening to bump North Dakota State out of the FCS playoffs. However a collection of lengthy landing runs served as a second-half revival for the Bison and the Griz might by no means get well.

Third-seeded NDSU beat Montana 49-26 in a second-round sport Saturday on the Fargodome to advance to the quarterfinals for the twelfth consecutive yr. Montana noticed its season come to an finish with an 8-5 report. The Bison, the defending nationwide champ and winners of 9 of the previous 11 FCS titles, improved to 10-2.

“I really like this workforce. That is my favourite workforce that I’ve ever coached,” UM coach Bobby Hauck stated throughout a postgame press convention. “These guys are particular. The work that they put in, their willingness to put all of it on the road for Montana, they’re particular.

“I flat informed them after the sport that the one remorse I’ve on this season is I do not get to teach you guys one other sport.”

The Grizzlies discovered themselves in nice place early within the third quarter when cornerback Corbin Walker intercepted a cross from NDSU quarterback Cam Miller and returned it 58 yards down the left sideline for a landing. That play pulled Montana inside 21-20, and gave Montana visions of an upset.

However that is when the Bison acquired severe. On NDSU’s subsequent offensive play, working again Kobe Johnson discovered a gap in the course of the road and burst forward for a 75-yard landing run. After that, TaMerik Williams broke free for a 68-yard TD scamper that put the Bison up 35-20.

Early within the fourth quarter Johnson exploded once more, this time for a 73-yard landing rush that made the rating 42-20 and ended the Grizzlies’ hopes.

NDSU rushed for 453 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 10.8 yards per carry.

Montana misplaced beginning quarterback Lucas Johnson close to the top of the primary half when he was sacked by Kody Huisman and appeared to irritate a lingering knee harm. If that weren’t sufficient, Johnson misplaced the ball, which rolled into the top zone and was recovered by NDSU’s Cole Wisniewski for a landing and a 21-10 Bison benefit.

Nonetheless, after Walker’s defensive landing, the Grizzlies have been very a lot within the combine. It merely got here right down to NDSU’s means to run the ball for enormous positive factors — and touchdowns — that ended Montana’s hopes.

Montana QB Daniel Britt entered the sport rather than the injured Johnson and threw for 108 yards with a landing and an interception. Kris Brown additionally accomplished a cross for the Griz.

With Nick Ostmo out attributable to harm, Isiah Childs led Montana’s floor sport with 99 yards on 17 carries.

As Montana’s season got here to a detailed, North Dakota State superior to host sixth-seeded Samford (11-1) within the quarterfinals subsequent week on the Fargodome.

“After we acquired it to 21-20 I felt good. Actually good,” Hauck stated. “Then we gave up the 2 huge runs and let it get again to a 15-point sport. We fought out of that gap early however then we put ourselves proper again into it.

“Powerful not having the quarterback within the second and all that stuff is difficult. Our guys performed onerous all through, they simply made extra performs than we did. They’re a superb soccer workforce, particularly at residence. We all know what we have to do to play these guys and beat them and hopefully we get the prospect subsequent yr.”