Griz defense stymies South Dakota in 24-7 win

MISSOULA — South Dakota’s defense was pretty fierce Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Then there was Montana’s.

Behind five sacks, with Patrick O’Connell getting in on two, the Grizzly defense held down South Dakota for all but one possession in a 24-7 non-conference win in front of 24,204 fans.

Quarterback Lucas Johnson sparked the offense with two first-quarter scoring runs covering 4 and 24 yards, staking Montana to a 13-0 lead.

But the Big Sky Conference Grizzlies (2-0) also saw Junior Bergen lose a fumble inside the 5-yard line in the second quarter and Johnson throw an interception at midfield in the fourth.

Eventually a safety by Anaconda’s Braxton Hill put a capper on the game, in the final minute.

Johnson threw for 180 yards and ran for a team-high 75, but the second quarter was a grind, and the offense settled for a Nico Ramos field goal at the end of a promising third-quarter drive.

“We got up early but I think we kind of let off the gas a little bit,” said Johnson, a transfer from San Diego State. “We have to be able to put teams down when we’re up like that. We’re going to go back and watch the film and we’re going to get better for next week.”

“That affected the game a lot, not finishing those drives in the end zone,” Montana coach Bobby Hauck noted. “But I didn’t ever feel real uncomfortable at any point. The defense was playing really well and the offense was moving the ball.

“Would’ve been nice to get away, though.”

Late in the fourth quarter the Griz went for it on fourth-and-1, and Johnson was sacked at the South Dakota 49. The Coyotes (0-2) of the MIssouri Valley Conference scored in two plays, the second a 25-yard burst from sturdy running back Travis Theis.

That cut the gap to 22-7 with 6:27 left: They were the first points this season for South Dakota, which missed a chip-shot field goal in the first half. They were also the first points the Griz defense allowed.

Montana had a three-and-out on its ensuing possession to add a little tension, but the D as usual held up.

“We work on it a lot,” said O’Connell, the senior out of Glacier High. “We work on sudden change stops, and situations like that. I think it’s a testament to the coaching staff and them getting us prepared.”

USD quarterback Carson Camp threw incomplete on fourth down to give the ball back with 2:18 left in the game. In the final minute Hill got to Camp for the safety — a loud and satisfying end to the game.

“We talk about this a lot actually,” O’Connell said. “Me and (Hill) and Marcus (Welnel) and all the other linebackers: Coming in and playing defense facing toward the north end zone, I mean, that’s basically the dream, especially for a Montana kid.

“So to see him go make that safety and then go crazy and get the north end zone going, I’m sure it’s one of his dreams growing up.”

Theis ran for 88 yards on 20 carries for the Coyotes, while Camp was held to 119 yards on 12 of 23 passing.

Safety Myles Harden, one of nine starters back on that defense, came up with both Griz turnovers. Linebacker Stephen Hillis had 15 tackles, and safety Josh Manchigiah — a starter last year for South Dakota State — had 10.

“That’s a really good win over a quality football team that’s well-coached, well-prepared,” Hauck said of the Coyotes, who made the 2021 postseason.

Johnston was 22 for 28 passing, with a third-quarter touchdown strike to Bergen that went 12 yards and made it 22-0. Behind his running, three Griz running backs — Xavier Harris, Marcus Knight and Nick Ostmo — averaged 4 yards a carry.

Johnson’s first TD came after he found tight end Cole Grossman for a 57-yard catch and run; the second drive, covering 60 yards, was all runs starting with a 14-yard burst from Harris.

They appeared ready to go up three scores early in the second when Bergen had the ball popped loose. Then they stalled, though Patrick Rohrbach, the freshman from Glacier High, averaged 42.2 yards on six punts. He put four inside the 20.

O’Connell finished with a team-high 11 tackles, two for losses. He teamed with fellow Glacier product Henry Nuce on one sack. Safety Robbie Hauck had eight tackles and Hill had seven stops. Welnel had a sack.

The Griz are on the road next Saturday to play Indiana State.

So. Dakota 0 0 0 7 - 7

Montana 13 0 9 2 - 24

UM — Lucas Johnson 4 run (kick blocked), 12:11-1Q

UM — Johnson 24 run (Nico Ramos kick), 3:08-1Q

UM — Ramos 28 FG, 8:08-3Q

UM — Junior Bergern 12 pass from Johnson (run failed), 4:37-3Q

SD — Travis Theis 25 run (Eddie Ogamba kick), 6:27-4Q

UM — Safety, Braxton Hill sack in end zone, :51-4Q

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING: So. Dakota (36-90) — Theis 20-88, Shomari Lawrence 6-28, Carson Camp 10-minus 26. Montana (40-171) — Johnston 13-75, Xavier Harris 10-49, Marcus Knight 8-42, Nick Ostmo 6-27, Bergen 1-minus 5, Team 2-minus 17.

PASSING: So. Dakota — Camp 12-23-0 for 119 yards. Montana — Johnson 22-28-1 for 180 yards.

RECEIVING: : So. Dakota — Wesley Eliodor 5-58, Jamahd Monroe 2-29, Theis 2-17, Jordan Sommerville 1-6, Mike Mansaray 1-6, Javion Phielps 1-3. MOntana — Cole Grossman 2-65, Bergen 6-35, Keelan White 2-28, Malik Flowers 2-11, Mitch Roberts 2-11, Aaron Fontes 1-8, Drew Deck 1-6, Harris 1-5.