Grizzlies topple Bison 31-29 in double OT

Grizzlies wide receiver Keelan White (6) catches a 31-yard reception in the second quarter against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies cornerback Corbin Walker (8) takes a selfie with fans on the field after he intercepted a pass in overtime against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)(
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Grizzlies running back Eli Gillman (10) scores a touchdown on a 13-yard run in overtime against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies running back Eli Gillman (10) celebrates after a touchdown run in overtime against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies wide receiver Keelan White (6) catches a tipped pass in the end zone for a two-point conversion in overtime against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies linebackers Tyler Flink (54) and Levi Janacaro (37) bring down North Dakota State running back Barika Kpeenu (8) in the second quarter of an FCS semifinal game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies running back Eli Gillman (10) scores a touchdown on a 3-yard run in the second quarter against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies returner Junior Bergen (5) scores a touchdown on a 47-yard punt return in the fourth quarter against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies' TJ Rausch (10) celebrates after a stop on a kick return in the fourth quarter against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies wide receiver Keelan White (6) celebrates after a 31-yard reception in the second quarter against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies wide receiver Junior Bergen (5) fights for extra yards after a reception in the second quarter against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies quarterback Clifton McDowell (17) picks up yardage on a run in the second quarter against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Grizzlies cornerback Corbin Walker (8) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass in overtime against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)(
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A young Griz fan meets Monte in the stands as Montana faced off against North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 16. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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by FRITZ NEIGHBOR
Daily Inter Lake | December 17, 2023 1:00 AM

MISSOULA — For the first time to Frisco go the Montana Grizzlies, who needed two overtimes to get past North Dakota State 31-29 in a wild FCS semifinal game Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Corbin Walker’s interception of a two-point point-after pass sealed the win for the Grizzlies (13-1), who will face defending champion (and unbeaten) South Dakota State on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. It will be their first FCS title-game appearance since the 2008-09 seasons; both of those were in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“Obviously we’re thrilled to get that win, and thrilled to be playing in the national championship in a couple of weeks,” Grizzlies coach Bobby Hauck said. “That’s how you should finish up a game like that: Both teams fighting their tails off. You can’t quantify this, but it’s one of the greatest games in the history of our stadium. It was just a privilege to be a part of that game.”

The win was equal parts sturdy red-zone defense, an offense that pushed Eli Gillman into the paint twice and, of course, special teams.

Junior Bergen’s 47-yard punt return for a score was a pivotal play, with 11:22 left in the game. Or it was, until Nico Ramos missed the ensuing extra point, leaving Montana ahead 16-9. That set the stage — shades of two weeks ago at Montana State — for an NDSU clock drive that covered 81 yards and ended with Cam Miller’s 9-yard touchdown to Eli Green with 51 seconds left in regulation.

It was Bergen who provided the two-point margin after Gillman scored from 13 yards out in the second OT. He took a pitch, ran right, weathered his facemask getting tugged by an NDSU defender and fired a pass that somehow got to Keelan White.

“I saw the guy come off the edge and he grabbed my facemask,” said Bergen, who caught a touchdown pass in the first overtime. “And I happened to look up and saw Keelan and thought, ‘Well, it’s a free play anyway, I might as well give it a shot.’ I threw it as hard as I could.

“I’m not sure what happened, I just saw the crowd go crazy.”

“We made eye contact and he just chucked it at me,” White added. “It went over one guy and got tipped and just ended up in my hands. It was all reaction.”

The Bison (11-4) answered with three straight runs, the last a 2-yard scoring jaunt by TK Marshall. Then the hard-running squad went “swinging gate” on the point-after and the Grizzlies got pressure on an option pass by receiver RaJa Nelson. It went nowhere, or rather to Walker, sending many of the 26,544 fans onto the field in celebration.

It didn’t look good in the first overtime, when backup quarterback Cole Payton tore off a 25-yard scoring run on the first snap.

But Montana countered, Clifton McDowell finding Bergen wide open on the right sideline. The junior was met at the goal line but got inside the pylon for the 22-yard TD. Ramos’ extra-point kick tied it at 23-all. From there teams had to go for two if they scored TDs.

While McDowell was steady, throwing for 160 yards on 16 of 30 passing, Bergen was spectacular. He had another 155 all-purpose yards, including that punt return: He fielded a short kick, stutter-stepped, broke left and found his wall of blockers. Sawyer Racanelli blew up a Bison at the 10; Bergen turned back to the field at the 5 and tumbled in for the score.

“Junior’s terrific,” Hauck said. “He’s a great football player. He can throw it, he can catch it, he can run it.”

Until overtime NDSU led just once, 3-0, getting a Griffin Closa field goal on its first drive.

Montana jumped in front 7-3 with a 16-play, 87-yard drive, capped by Gillan’s 3-yard run midway through the second quarter. McDowell’s scrambling, 31-yard pass to White and his 9-yard run down to the Bison 2 were key plays.

Grant Glasgow drilled a 46-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead that Crosa cut to 10-6 at the half.

It was 10-9 when Bergen got loose on that punt.

“If you’d told me going into this we’d allow 16 points in regulation and not win, I would’ve said you were crazy,” Bison coach Matt Entz said. “This is the third time I’ve been able to coach here and it was as electric as it’s ever been. Couldn’t be more excited for Missoula and the fan base; the way they show up and participate is pretty unique. Caused issues a few times tonight.”

A few false starts turned third-and-short and into third-and-long for NDSU; another also negated a blocked punt in the first half by Montana. In the end the Bison, winners of nine FCS titles, came up just short.

“This was the most unbelievable environment tonight,” Bison senior defensive end Jake Kava said. “I mean, you never want your career to end but it’s a little easier knowing this was my last memory of college football.”

For Hauck, it will be his first championship trip in 14 years and fourth overall.

“This team reminded me of the 2008 team, which I also thought was undervalued going into the season,” Montana coach Bobby Hauck said. “And also lost our first conference game down at Weber State on the road, and ended up playing in the national championship.

“I think it’s interesting that a lot of former players from those teams and the past couple teams were here today. A lot of them. I think everybody is fired up for this team.”