Grizzlies hold off ISU
MISSOULA - In a game filled with missed opportunities for both teams, it was fitting that the deciding plays came on a poorly thrown ball to the end zone and a blocked field goal.
No. 7 Montana escaped Washington Grizzly Stadium on Saturday with a 24-22 homecoming win over Idaho State when Bengals quarterback Mark Heatherington failed to connect with Akilah Lacey on third down with 35 seconds to go and Jonny Varona blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt on fourth down.
It was a pretty sloppy game for both teams as penalties piled on top of miscues to make for a less than pristine performance. All things considered, the Grizzlies were fortunate to win.
"I don't think it's dodging a bullet," Montana quarterback Craig Ochs said. "Idaho State is a good team. A win is a win.
"The team never gave up, right down to the last play."
Idaho State got the ball for its final drive on its own 20 with 3:10 to play after Griz kicker Dan Carpenter hit the upright - his second miss of the day - and drove into Montana territory with 1:07 left.
Aided by a pass interference penalty - one of 13 infractions enforced on the Griz and 24 in the game - ISU had first-and-10 at the 36 with 45 seconds left.
On third-and-five, Heatherington spotted Lace - who had 10 catches for 177 yards - open down the right side, but a poor throw went incomplete setting up the field goal try.
"It was a great call," Heatherington said. "I had to move a little to the left, but I should have made that throw. That's on me."
Said Lacey: "I don't know what to think about it. I'm kind of hurting right now. We didn't capitalize like we were supposed to."
On the potential game-winning field goal attempt, Montana got a lot of penetration and Varona got enough of a hand on it to kill the kick a few yards past the line of scrimmage.
"We knew it was going to be their last opportunity to win the game," Griz linebacker Shane MacIntyre said. "The defensive line made a great push."
Kicker Jaret Johnson, like his Griz counterpart, missed two field goals and made one. He also missed an extra point which is what actually ended up being the difference, as the Bengals missed a two-point conversion later to try and make up for the miss.
Idaho State (1-5 overall, 0-3 Big Sky) also gave away potential points in the red zone when Heatherington was picked off twice on tipped balls, first on the opening drive of the game by Matt Lebsock at the Griz 4, then by Kyle Ryan in the end zone.
"Those were huge," Heatherington said. "All we needed was one more score. It turns out to be pretty big."
Saturday was a lot like the Grizzlies' effort two weeks ago against Northern Colorado - lots of yards but not as many points as there should have been. ISU had 487 yards offense.
"We really focus on the red zone," MacIntyre said. "We don't like giving up all those yards, but we take a lot of pride in our red zone defense."
Said UM coach Bobby Hauck: "Our red zone defense has carried us."
Montana was no slouch moving the ball either with 434 yards, including 138 receiving by Jon Talmage, who was taking advantage of a cornerback who was moved to the secondary just last week from the offensive backfield.
"We knew Idaho State was going to play a lot of man," Ochs said. "We've been able to exploit teams that play man versus us.
Now the Griz are on the road for a couple with a bye week in between. Montana is far from a great team, but it is 5-1 overall with a 2-0 record in Big Sky play and ranked in the top 10.
"I think from my perspective we're right where we wanted to be," Hauck said. "If you had asked us on Aug. 1 if we would be happy to be where we are, we would have said yes."
The Griz will head west to Cheney, Wash., to face Eastern Washington next week. The Eagles thumped Northern Arizona 45-14 Saturday.
Elsewhere in the Big Sky, Portland State shut out Sacramento State 31-0 and Montana State came from behind to defeat Weber State 20-17.
GRIZ 24, BENGALS 22
Idaho State 3 6 7 6 - 22
Montana 14 0 10 0 - 24
First Quarter
UM-Green 12 run (Carpenter kick), 4:56
ISU-FG Johnson 22, 2:02
UM-Talmage 24 pass from Ochs (Carpenter kick), 00:35
Second Quarter
ISU-Okoebor 11 pass from Hetherington (kick failed), 4:56
Third Quarter
UM-Heidelberger 27 pass from Ochs (Carpenter kick), 14:07
ISU-Barnett 1 run (Johnson kick), 6:00
UM-FG Carpenter 36, 1:57
Fourth Quarter
ISU-Barnett 5 run (pass failed), 13:23
A-23,582.
ISU UM
First downs 27 22
Rushes-yards 34-72 39-139
Passing 415 295
Comp-Att-Int 28-52-2 20-28-0
Return Yards 25 26
Punts-Avg. 4-39 5-46
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 11-113 13-143
Time of Possession 30:14 29:46
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-ISU, Barnett 25-87, Seals 3-7, Horn 1-(minus 1), Hagler 1-(minus 3), Hetherington 4-(minus 18). UM, Green 15-91, Hilliard 10-33, Segars 1-9, Hancock 1-3, Heidelberger 1-2, Ochs 11-1.
PASSING-ISU, Hetherington 28-52-2-415. UM, Ochs 20-28-0-295.
RECEIVING-ISU, Lacey 10-177, Key 7-130, Barnett 4-41, Okoebor 3-27, Blue 2-22, Winn 1-11, Mennear 1-7. UM, Talmage 7-138, Heidelberger 6-86, Hancock 4-28, Hilliard 2-35, Segars 1-8.