Cat-Griz Report: Weber shocks Griz; Cats repel Hornets

BOZEMAN (AP) — Dakota Prukop ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score, and Montana State beat Sacramento State 35-13 Saturday night.

Prukop was 12 of 22 for 277 yards passing, including a 79-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Herbert on the second play after the opening kickoff. He ran for a 3-yard score just before halftime, and bullied in from the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter and finished with 69 yards rushing.

Justin Paige and Gunnar Brekke also had touchdown runs for No. 19 Montana State (3-2, 2-1 Big Sky Conference). The Bobcats finished with 511 yards of total offense, their fourth-straight game with more than 500 yards.

Kolney Cassel threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Nnamdi Agude, and Brad Cornish kicked a 30-yard field goal to pull Sacramento State (1-5, 0-3) to 14-10 midway through the second half. The Hornets drew to 21-13 early in the second half, but the Bobcats scored on their next two possessions to put the game away.

Montana State went into a bit of a funk after their quick start, scoring just one touchdown until just over two minutes to play in the third quarter.

"We had a long stretch where we went three-and-out, three or four times in a row," Montana State coach Rob Ash said. "The Hornets had keys on our formations, but (offensive line coach) Jason Eck and (offensive coordinator) Tim Cramsey adjusted our formations and we got going again."

Jordan Robinson ran for 108 yards on 17 carries in the first half for the Hornets, but didn't return after an injury. Starting quarterback Kolney Cassel, filling in for injured Daniel Kniffin, threw for 193 yards before leaving with an injury.

"They got hurt, but we gotta score after getting ourselves in position to make plays," Sacramento State coach Jody Sears said.

Cornish kicked a 22-yard field goal in the third quarter, the only score for the Hornets in the second half.

On fourth-and-goal from Bobcats 6-yard line, the Hornets' freshman quarterback Nate Ketteringham was stopped a yard short early in the fourth quarter.

"It was good to get that goal-line stand late even if it didn't factor into the outcome of the game," Ash said. "It was a big confidence builder."

The Bobcats now face a huge road test, at up-start Portland State this Saturday. The Vikings blasted FBS North Texas 77-6 this past weekend. MSU is back home to host East Tennessee State Oct. 24.

Weber State 24, Grizzlies 21

MISSOULA (AP) — When Josh Kealamakia's kick sailed through the uprights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium Saturday to give Weber State a 24-21 overtime victory over Montana, Wildcats coach Jay Hill had only one thing on his mind.

"This is the first time we have won here in 28 years," Hill said with a big smile. "It feels great."

Kealamakia nailed a 27-yard field goal after No. 11 Montana had fumbled on its first play of overtime. Filipe Sitake pounced on Montana quarterback Makena Simis' fumble to snuff out the Grizzlies only overtime offensive play and give Weber State (3-3, 2-1 Big Sky) its turn at the Montana 25-yard line.

"The overtime was very disappointing," said Montana coach Bob Stitt. "We probably should have just handed the ball off, but we didn't want to get into a field-goal kicking contest."

Montana (3-3, 2-1) forced overtime when Simis, the Grizzlies' third-string quarterback, connected with Ben Roberts on a 44-yard scoring play with 4:51 left in the game.

"They were worried about us taking them deep," Roberts said. "That opened up the middle of the field."

Kealamakia missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt with one second left in regulation to send the game to overtime.

The Wildcats opened the scoring on a 3-yard run by Eric Wilkes on their first possession of the game. Montana answered back with two first-quarter touchdowns — a 4-yard pass from Chad Chalich to Roberts and a 4-yard John Nguyen touchdown run — to take a 14-7 lead.

Weber State tied the game with 11:56 to play in the second quarter on a 15-yard scoring pass from Jadrian Clark to Cam Livingston. Cordero Dixon gave the Wildcats the lead when he picked off a Chalich pass and took it 30 yards for a touchdown to put Weber State up 21-14 at the half.

"I can't say enough about that pick," Hill said. "Cordero had a great week of practice."

The Wildcats controlled the line of scrimmage most of the day, rushing for 253 yards. Wilkes led the way with 112 yards on 24 carries.

"Give our offensive line credit for creating creases," Hill said. "And Eric Wilkes is one tough kid."

Chalich, who was making his third start since an injury to Brady Gustafson against Liberty on Sept. 19, completed 14 of 19 passes for 136 yards before departing the game with a foot injury late in the first half. Roberts led the Grizzlies with eight catches for 115 yards.

Montana's Kendrick Van Ackern led all defensive players with 17 tackles in the game.

The Griz now limp into their second bye week of the season. They’ll return to face North Dakota Oct. 24 in Missoula.