Cat-Griz Report: Cats, Griz win key Big Sky games

BOZEMAN (AP) - Chris Murray ran for two touchdowns and Montana State defeated Portland State 30-22 Saturday.

The Bobcats (2-3, 2-1 Big Sky Conference) scored on their first possession of the second half and the Vikings' following possession to break the game open.

Murray's second touchdown, a 5-yard run, capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive on the ground. Then PSU punter Hayden Cowden dropped the snap in the MSU end zone and Chad Kanow recovered for another MSU touchdown and a 23-7 lead.

Murray, who was only 2 of 9 passing in the windy conditions, ran for 126 yards on 18 carries and threw a key block to spring Justin Paige on a 23-yard TD run on a reverse midway through the fourth quarter to seal the win.

The Bobcats rushed for more than 400 yards, with six different backs getting carries.

"I knew it was going to be windy today on the walk over here," MSU coach Jeff Choate said. "With the wind blowing you've gotta be able to run."

Josh Kraght hit Charlie Taumoepeau for a 26-yard touchdown late in the third quarter and a 24-yarder with 1:21 to play for the Vikings (0-5, 0-3). Kraght was 28 of 52 for 317 yards despite the cross wind.

Cowden was averaging just 29.0 yards per punt before his miscue in the end zone. He also had a punt blocked in the fourth quarter. MSU's Jared Padmos went with a roll punt and averaged 43.8.

Montana State will now travel to Cheney, Washington, to take on the nationally ranked Eastern Washington Eagles this Saturday.

Griz 39, Idaho State 31

POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) - Make it two straight on the road for the Montana Grizzlies. After the Griz didn't win a single Big Sky Conference road game a season ago, they're now 2-0 this season.

Gresch Jensen threw for 360 yards and four touchdowns and the Montana defense had six sacks to help the Grizzlies beat Idaho State 39-31 Saturday.

Jeremy Calhoun had 15 carries for 90 yards and his twin brother Justin Calhoun three reception for 86 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown, for Montana (4-2, 2-1 Big Sky Conference). Jesse Sims, a redshirt sophomore who came in with two career sacks, had 2.5 Saturday.

Ty Flanagan scored on a 4-yard run to give Idaho State (3-3, 1-2) a 28-19 lead, but on Montana's next play from scrimmage Gresch connected with Samori Toure for a 71-yard completion to set up a Samuel Akem 4-yard scoring catch - the second of four straight touchdown drives by the Grizzlies.

Idaho State's Tanner Gueller was 25-of-40 passing for 359 yards and three touchdowns and his brother, Mitch Gueller, had nine receptions for 188 yards, including touchdowns of 75 and 13 yards. Mitch Gueller came in with eight catches in three games played this season.

The Bengals took a 21-13 lead into halftime, after the Griz had gone up 13-7 in the second quarter.

Montana scored on all of its five trips in the record zone and is 27 of 27 this season.

"Road warriors, that's our motto," Jensen said. "We're in it every week, no matter where it's at. It's 53 1/3 by 120 (feet) and we're just gonna go out there and have fun and enjoy the game of football, playing with your brothers. It's just an awesome feeling. 

"This feels pretty big. Big Sky. Gotta keep going. It's not easy winning these games, just gotta keep chipping away at it."

Next up for the surging Grizzlies is a homecoming game with defending Big Sky champion North Dakota this Saturday. Montana will also unveil its newly completed, 14 million dollar Washington-Grizzly Champions Center over the weekend.

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