‘We’ve got to quit making mistakes’: UM’s loss to Idaho generates questions going forward

MISSOULA — Two weeks in the past in Pocatello, Idaho, the Montana Grizzlies defeated Idaho State by a more in-depth than regular margin as a result of errors performed an enormous half in that.

On Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, miscues had been as soon as once more the story, however the outcome totally different, as No. 3 Montana misplaced its first sport of the season, this time to the Idaho Vandals.

The Vandals capitalized on various Montana errors to win the Little Brown Stein and defeat Montana for the primary time since 1999.

“I simply cannot say sufficient about our gamers, our guys who’re right here that after we received right here simply how they’ve purchased into every part that we have talked about,” Idaho coach Jason Eck stated. “Nobody thought we might win, I noticed all people’s predictions, nobody predicted us to win this sport however the guys in our constructing believed and we discovered a option to do it and I simply cannot say sufficient, so pleased with these guys, nice win.”

The Vandals had the ball for 42 minutes and eight seconds of sport time, whereas Montana’s time of possession was 17:52. Due to that, Montana’s performs had been restricted, and the Griz did not run the ball a lot with Xavier Harris, Marcus Knight and Nick Ostmo working simply 10 instances mixed.

The Griz additionally did not make the most of the ball after they had it, going simply 4 for 11 on third down.

“We solely had 56 performs and we weren’t superb on third down and so there aren’t very many makes an attempt at something with 56 performs,” Griz coach Bobby Hauck stated. “That is like a foul NFL sport.”

That Vandals used a protracted drive to begin the sport up 3-0, however Montana rapidly responded when Junior Bergen made arguably the play of the 12 months with a one-handed catch at the back of the top zone to make it 6-3 Griz.

Montana discovered moments of success, together with an interception by Patrick O’Connell that the Grizzlies in the end was a landing within the second quarter.

However self-inflicted errors, coupled with Idaho’s up-to-the job soccer crew, damage Montana in every single place.

A roughing the passer name on Henry Nuce prolonged Idaho’s ultimate drive of the primary half, and the Vandals turned that into factors to make it a 13-12 deficit on the break.

“We have got to stop making errors,” Hauck stated. “Essentially we had been positive right now, I’d suppose. Received to stop making errors. Cannot give the opposite crew the ball, cannot go 4-11 on third down, received to run the ball higher, cannot drop it.”

The Vandals stunned Montana with an onside kick to begin the third quarter, which they was a area aim.

Then late within the third, after being pressured to punt, the Griz had been whistled for a late hit out of bounds on Trevin Gradney that put Idaho on Montana’s 43, and in a single play, Gevani McCoy hit Hayden Hatten for a deep landing to increase the result in 22-13.

Montana moved fast on the following drive to get into the crimson zone in two performs, however could not get into the top zone, together with a drop by Keelan White on third down, so the Griz settled for a area aim.

Idaho’s subsequent drive went over seven minutes to begin the fourth quarter, together with a fourth and one run by Anthony Woods that appeared shut both approach, however was referred to as a primary down and wasn’t challenged by Montana or despatched to additional overview.

“Each play in school soccer is reviewed, so you’ll be able to name timeout and problem it, however each play is reviewed and if it is questionable they’re purported to cease it, so in the event that they did not disgrace on them, however each play in school soccer is reviewed,” Hauck defined. “So in the event that they did not have a great digital camera angle on it they usually could not overturn it, they in all probability let it go.”

Hauck stated the explanation he did not problem it’s as a result of the share of it getting overturned was in opposition to them.

“It is like 97% in opposition to if you do this,” Hauck stated. “Like I stated each play is reviewed so if there is a query of their thoughts they cease it in order that’s type of irrelevant.”

Whereas Idaho finally punted, the turnover bug bit the Grizzlies, as Lucas Johnson threw an interception deep in Vandal territory to Paul Moala, after which threw one other with 4 minutes to play to Tommy McCormick that Idaho was a rating and basically sealed the sport on.

“We won’t flip the ball over in a sport like that, particularly, we flip it over and they are going to sit of their huddle for 40 seconds each play,” Hauck stated. “You’ll be able to’t flip it over particularly if you’re down. While you’re up, go forward, bleed it out, however after they took the lead, then issues change, and turning the ball over isn’t a optimistic.”

Hauck was candid after the sport, saying the loss begins with him, and there is a laundry record of issues to appropriate going ahead.

“I do not need to take something away from Idaho, like I stated good job by them, they got here in and gained the sport however I am a lot pissed beginning with the man within the mirror and we didn’t do very properly,” Hauck stated. “We did not coach properly, we did not play properly, and we misplaced the sport.”

Montana (5-1, 2-1 Large Sky) will look to rebound rapidly from this loss because the Grizzlies get set for a ranked FCS matchup subsequent week on the highway at No. 5 Sacramento State (6-0, 3-0).