Bobcats steamroll North Dakota; Grizzlies get rolled by Lumberjacks

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Cody Kirk rushed for five touchdowns to lead Montana State to a 63-20 victory over North Dakota in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams Saturday.

Montana State (3-2, 1-0 Big Sky) jumped out to an early lead as Kirk scored all five touchdowns in the first half.

Jake Miller ran for a score from 14 yards out to get North Dakota (1-3, 0-1) within a touchdown, 14-7, early in the second quarter. The No. 11 Bobcats took control from then on to cruise to a 42-7 halftime advantage.

MSU racked up 586 total yards of offense. DeNarius McGhee, who missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, had 194 yards through the air, completing 13 of 18 attempts. Shawn Johnson was the most prolific rusher for the Bobcats, totaling 134 yards on 13 carries.

The Cats return home to face Big Sky Conference rival Northern Arizona Saturday in Bozeman.

N. Arizona 34, Griz 16

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Northern Arizona's defense returned two fumbles for scores, including Ryan Reardon's 98-yarder, and the Lumberjacks smothered the Montana offense in a 34-16 victory Saturday night.

Trailing 14-3 in the second quarter, the No. 7 Grizzlies had fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line when Jordan Johnson fumbled near the goal line and Reardon's long return gave Northern Arizona (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) a 21-3 lead. The Grizzlies opened the third quarter with another fumble and Marcus Alford's 22-yard return made it 28-3.Northern Arizona's Zach Bauman rushed for 118 yards and scored back-to-back touchdowns in the first quarter, including one for 41 yards, to give the Lumberjacks an early 14-0 lead.

Montana (3-1, 0-1) finally scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Johnson tossed a 15-yard score to Mitch Saylor. Johnson was 17 of 38 for 292 yards and threw two touchdowns.

The Griz will try and rebound when they host Portland State .