Montana Grizzlies return to FCS semifinals with win over Furman
Grizzlies' Junior Bergen (5) celebrates after a 35-28 overtime win over Furman in an FCS Playoff game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies wide receiver Keelan White (6) catches the game-winning 13-yard touchdown reception in overtime of an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies kick returner Junior Bergen (5) takes the opening kickoff 99-yards for a touchdown in an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies cornerback Trevin Gradney (27) knocks down a fourth-down pass attempt to Furman wide receiver Kyndel Dean (11) in overtime of an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies quarterback Clifton McDowell (17) scores a touchdown on an 8-yard run in the first quarter of an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies defensive end Kale Edwards (0) sacks Furman quarterback Tyler Huff (6) in the first quarter of an FCS Playoff game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies wide receiver Junior Bergen (5) picks up yardage on a 9-yard reception in the first quarter of an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies defenders TraJon Cotton (3), Trevin Gradney and Braxton Hill (35) celebrate after Cotton's interception in the fourth quarter of an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies safety TraJon Cotton (3) points to a sign in the stands after a 35-28 overtime win over Furman in an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies linebacker Riley Wilson (42) sacks Furman quarterback Tyler Huff (6) in the second quarter of an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies quarterback Clifton McDowell (17) completes a 9-yard pass to wide receiver Junior Bergen in the first quarter of an FCS Playoff game against Furman at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Fireworks explode over Washington-Grizzly Stadium before the start of the Montana Grizzlies FCS playoff matchup with the Furman Paladins on Friday, Dec. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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MISSOULA — To get to their first semifinal home game in 14 seasons, Montana needed Junior Bergen to do something no Griz had done in 21.
There were other big plays made in the Grizzlies’ 35-28 overtime win over Furman Friday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, including Clifton McDowell’s 13-yard dart to Keelan White for the winning touchdown.
But without Bergen’s 99-yard kickoff return and 59-yard punt return for scores — he now has four punt return TDs, a school record — then McDowell and White don’t get a chance to hook up, and the Griz defense doesn’t get to make a final stand.
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