Swogger throws for first 300-yard game as a Grizzly
The Daily Inter Lake
OGDEN, Utah - So much for a defensive struggle.
The first four drives of the University of Montana and Weber State football game Saturday resulted in points, Josh Swogger threw for his first 300-yard game as a Montana Grizzly and the second-ranked Grizzlies rallied from a 17-10 second-quarter deficit for a 33-30 victory.
The sixth-straight victory for the Griz improved them to 5-0 in the Big Sky Conference and 6-1 overall. It also assured the program its 21st-straight winning season.
Weber State fell to 1-3 in conference and 2-5 overall.
The Grizzlies had 427 yards of total offense compared to the 354 yards of offense for the Wildcats. But those weren't the only yards in the wild game. The Grizzlies also had 202 return yards (off kickoffs, punt and interceptions) compared to 191 return yards for the Wildcats.
"It was a good win for us," UM coach Bobby Hauck said. "(WSU) Coach (Ron) McBride had his crew stirred up and ready to go and they played very well against us."
… Played very well may be an understatement.
Weber's first two drives totaled 23 plays for 160 yards and two touchdowns, the lead switched hands three times in the first quarter and the Wildcats blocked a UM field goal and took a 17-13 lead into halftime.
But free safety Torrey Thomas of Dillon ended the Wildcats' first possession of the second half with an interception and long return to the WSU 1-yard line. Two plays later, Brady Green scored his first of two touchdowns. It gave the Griz a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way as their defense held the Wildcats to three straight punts before Thomas made it five straight non-scoring drives for WSU with a wild interception and return to the WSU 14. On the next play, Green scored his second TD to give the Griz a 33-17 lead.
Hauck's plan on offense was to show off his hired gun and attack the highly-touted WSU defense and it worked.
Swogger completed 21 of 39 passes for 356 yards and one touchdown. Junior wide receiver Eric Allen led the receiving core with seven catches for a game-high 132 yards while junior wide receiver Ryan Bagel chipped in with five receptions for 98 yards.
"Swogger did a real nice job, the receivers did a nice job," Hauck said. "Their corners had shut a lot of opponents down, but they couldn't shut our guys down."
On 42 pass plays, Swogger was sacked just three times.
"The offensive line did a nice job protecting him," Hauck said. "I'm pretty enthused with the way that went today."
Green, who started at running back in a kind-of homecoming for him because he grew up in nearby Brighten, led the Griz in the ground game with only 29 yards on 12 carries.
"He (Green) played the best in the game last week so he deserved the start for us production on the field," Hauck said. "Those two touchdowns were good stuff for him in this one."
On the ensuing kickoff of Green's second TD, WSU sophomore wide receiver Bryan Eteuati returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 33-23.
Then with 3 minutes left in the game, WSU drove 82 yards on 12 plays and scored a touchdown to move within a field goal with a little more than 1 minute remaining.
But UM freshman tight end Dan Beaudin of Noxon saved the game by recovering the onside kick.
"We gave up a little bit at the end and we had the dang thing (victory) in our hands couple of times but Weber did a good job climbing into it," Hauck said. "Again, the ball is not bouncing our way and we are still finding ways to win."
The Griz return home next week to play Idaho State.
Montana 10 3 14 6 - 33
Weber St. 14 3 0 13 - 30
First Quarter
Mont-FG D.Carpenter 50, 12:52.
Web-Mailei 32 pass from Pizarro (Foley kick), 9:41.
Mont-Klaboe 3 pass from Swogger (D.Carpenter kick), 6:03.
Web-T.Smith 1 run (Foley kick), :24.
Second Quarter
Web-FG Foley 33, 1:12.
Mont-FG D.Carpenter 20, :07.
Third Quarter
Mont-Green 1 run (D.Carpenter kick), 12:17.
Mont-Bradshaw 1 run (D.Carpenter kick), 2:49.
Fourth Quarter
Mont-Green 14 run (kick blocked), 8:51.
Web-Bry.Eteuati 100 kickoff return (pass failed), 8:34.
Web-Larsen 4 pass from Pizarro (Foley kick), 1:07.
A-5,424.
Mont Web
First downs 20 22
Rushes-yards 29-71 36-116
Passing 356 238
Comp-Att-Int 21-39-0 24-35-2
Return Yards 107 28
Punts-Avg. 4-50.3 5-44.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0
Penalties-Yards 10-111 9-76
Time of Possession 27:24 32:36
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Montana, Green 12-29, Stapp 1-21, Bradshaw 9-10, D.Carpenter 1-6, Swogger 5-5, Team 1-0. Weber St., T.Smith 25-73, Pizarro 10-24, Mailei 1-19.
PASSING-Montana, Swogger 21-39-0-356. Weber St., Pizarro 24-34-2-238, Hale 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING-Montana, Allen 7-132, Bagley 5-98, Ferriter 3-41, Chambers 2-41, Pfahler 1-27, Schulte 1-13, Klaboe 1-3, Green 1-1. Weber St., Larsen 8-59, Filipe 5-42, Mailei 3-47, Raught 2-12, T.Smith 1-23, Bry.Eteuati 1-18, Walker 1-13, Schwartzbauer 1-11, Graves 1-8, Harrell 1-5.