Cat-Griz Report: Cats, Griz survive close calls

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The Montana Grizzlies are still perfect against the Northern Iowa Panthers.

Jerry Louie-McGee returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and Montana held on to defeat Northern Iowa 20-14 on Saturday in a matchup of FCS powers.

Brady Gustafson hit Josh Horner for a 34-yard score and Tim Semenza kicked two field goals for the Grizzlies (2-0), all in the first half, giving the No. 14 Grizzlies their first road win over a Top 10 opponent since 2011.

Tyvis Smith, who had 130 yards, scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge in the first quarter and Daurice Fountain hauled in a 28-yard pass from Aaron Bailey with 8:01 remaining to give the Panthers (1-1) a chance.

Third-ranked Northern Iowa, which beat Iowa State last week, had 351 yards to 206 for Montana, but also had two turnovers and was 6 of 19 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth. The Grizzlies only had 70 yards in the second half but didn't have a turnover. Northern Iowa forced Iowa State into four turnovers in its 25-20 win. John Nyguen rushed for 77 yards for the Griz, who struggled mightily,

"When you play the No. 3 team in the country on the road when they just beat a Big 12 football team, you find any way to get the W," Montana head coach Bob Stitt said. "You do not care how it's done. You find a way to allow your kids to win the ballgame."

Montana is now 6-0 all-time against UNI, and won for the second time in the famed UNIDome. The Griz have beaten the Panthers four times in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, including in the 2011 FCS playoffs. But, they hadn't played at UNI since 1989, which was also a Grizzly win.

The Grizzlies have a bye this week, before opening Big Sky Conference play with a road game at Cal Poly on Sept. 24. Montana doesn’t play at home again until Oct. 1, when the Griz play Southern Utah.

Bobcats 27, Bryant 24

BOZEMAN (AP) — John Walker intercepted a Dalton Easton pass in the end zone to seal Montana State's 27-24 win over Bryant Saturday.

Bryant closed to within three when Easton and Jean Constant hooked up on 40-yard scoring play with 8:02 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs recovered the ensuing onside kick at midfield. Easton marched Bryant to the Montana State 20 before being intercepted.

The victory gave new coach Jeff Choate his first victory at Montana State (1-1).

Tyler Bruggman passed to John D'Agostino from the 10 and later hit Mitch Herbert from the 27 to give the Bobcats a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. Gunnar Brekke and Nick LeSane also scored rushing touchdowns for the Cats in their home debut.

Easton, who had 208 yards at the half, threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted three times. Walker picked off two passes and Bryson McCabe grabbed the other.

Taylor Barthelette caught eight passes for 161 yards for Bryant (1-1).

“Bryant was exactly what I thought they were. I talked all week to our young guys about, ‘Hey, the bottom line is this team plays a lot of close games,’” Choate said. “They hang around and make a play, hang around and make a play, and they never seem to go away.”

The Bobcats will remain at home, hosting NCAA Division II Western Oregon this Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.

Note: Havre Daily News sports editor George Ferguson contributed to this story.