Cat-Griz Report: Griz claw Mustangs, Eagles too much for Bobcats

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF., (AP) — Ten years is a long, long time to go without a win in anyone’s stadium, especially if you’re a program like the Montana Grizzlies. And yet, 10 years is exactly how long it had been since the Grizzlies beat Cal Poly inside Alex Spanos Stadium.

Saturday night, that all changed. Montana’s defense did enough to stifle the Cal Poly option attack, and the Griz’ offense raced up and down the field in a 48-28 Big Sky Conference win in San Luis Obispo, California.

The No. 17 Grizzlies improved to 4-1, 2-0 in league, and won at Alex G. Spanos Stadium for the first time since 2008, snapping a three-game losing streak on the Mustangs' home field.

"It was a great effort and a great, great win by our guys. It's been a while since the Montana Grizzlies beat (coach) Tim Walsh' Cal Poly Mustangs," coach Bobby Hauck said.

The Grizzlies grabbed a 3-0 lead on a Tim Semenza field goal before the game was four minutes old and got the ball back when Dante Olson stopped Joe Protheroe for no gain on a 4th-and-1 attempt on Cal Poly's first possession. It was the first of Olson's 24 tackles. Montana stalled out on offense and was forced to punt, which led to the first key turnover of the quarter, a fumble on the punt return that gave the Grizzlies a first-and-goal. Two plays later, Dalton Sneed found Gabe Sulser for a six-yard touchdown, and Montana led 10-0.

Cal Poly answered, rushing 12 times and passing once on a drive that moved the Mustangs inside the Montana 20. But an option pitch was fumbled and picked up by Josh Buss, who motored 80 yards for a 17-0 lead. And Montana had just the start it needed.

"Turning the ball over is a big deal, especially against these guys," said Hauck. "They have the ability to move the chains, and when they don't make mistakes, they are difficult to stop. We wanted to get them behind if we could, so that was a big play. Any time you can come up with the ball against an option team, it's big."

Cal Poly would get on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, but Montana answered with a pair of Sneed touchdown passes, first to Samuel Akem for 54 yards, then to Matt Rensvold for eight, and the Grizzlies led 31-7 at the half.

Adam Eastwood scored on a 14-yard run in the third quarter to make it 38-14 and ran untouched up the middle for a 68-yard score early in the fourth to extend Montana's lead to 48-21. It was part of a 132-yard rushing performance for Eastwood and a 183-yard day on the ground for the Grizzlies, who also totaled 285 yards through the air.

"It was a really physical game. Our kids have an appreciation for them and I think in talking to their kids on the field after the game, they have a real appreciation for the physical-ness of the Montana Grizzlies," Hauck said.

Sneed accounted for all of Montana's passing yards, going 23 for 32 and three touchdowns. One week after rushing 16 times for 206 yards against Sacramento State, he was mostly kept out of harm's way. He carried it just four times for 26 yards.

Cal Poly would generate 32 first downs, 14 more than Montana, and run 95 plays for 512 total yards of offense, but none of it came while holding the lead, thanks to the Grizzlies' fast start. And on this day, that was everything.

"This is always a challenge," Hauck said. "They can beat you every time out, so I'm proud of our guys and coaches on both sides of the ball and of our kids for coming down here and getting this win in a place we haven't won in 10 years."

The Griz return to Washington-Grizzly Stadium this Saturday for a homecoming showdown with Portland State.

Eastern Washington 34, Bobcats 17

BOZEMAN (AP) — The biggest game of the Montana State Bobcat’s season thus far didn’t go the way the Cats were hoping.

Gage Gubrud threw for 311 yards and ran for a touchdown to lead No. 5 Eastern Washington to a 34-17 win over Montana State Saturday in Bozmena.

The Eagles (4-1, 2-0 Big Sky) scored on their first two possessions and their defense held the error-plagued Bobcats (3-2, 1-1) to 287 yards.

MSU lost 14 yards inside the 15 on a bad pitch, lost cornerback Tyrel Thomas to a targeting call and had a receiver pass for a touchdown called back on a penalty among its miscues on the day.

Sam McPherson ran for 74 yards and two scores for the Eagles, who came into the game ranked fifth in the nation. Troy Andersen had 145 yards passing and 94 rushing, including two TDs.

Troy Andersen scored twice for MSU, while rushing for 94 yards and throwing for 156. Willie Patterson caught five balls for 51 yards, but the MSU offense was outgained 490-360.

The Cats have reached their bye week, and won’t be back in action until Oct. 13 when they host the Idaho Vandals for homecoming.

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