Bobcats roll through UC Davis, Griz hold on against Idaho State

BOZEMAN - As the rain was stopping in Bozeman Saturday evening, Sean Chambers was just getting started, leading No. 4 Montana State to a 41-24 win over California Davis under the lights at Bobcat Stadium, in a nationally televised game on ESPNU.

The rain that fell all day finally let up as the game started around 8:25 p.m. On the Bobcats second offensive play, Chambers followed the blocking of Derryk Snell and Ravi Alston around the right side, streaking 78 yards untouched to put MSU on the scoreboard first. Davis took a short-lived lead 10-7 before Chambers led MSU to another touchdown. A 37-yard pass to Ravi Alston and another 37-yarder to Elijah Elliott set up a 3-yard scoring run by Chambers to put the fourth-ranked Bobcats up 14-10. MSU wouldn't trail again.

Chambers, a junior transfer from Wyoming, made his first start as a Bobcat due to an injury a week earlier to Tommy Mellott in a win at Eastern Washington. In front of a sellout crowd of 21,637, Chambers finished with 203 yards rushing and 227 yards passing, both career bests. Late in the second quarter, Chambers hit Willie Patterson down the left sideline for an 18-yard score. Blake Glessner's field goal as the first half ended gave the Bobcats (4-1 overall, 2-0 Big Sky) a 24-13 edge. Chambers accounted for five touchdowns, three on the ground and two through the air.

It was more of the same in the second half for the Bobcats. Shortly after Marqui Johnson returned a kickoff 67 yards, Clevan Thomas hauled in a Chambers pass for a 29-yard score and the quarterback later followed Thomas and Snell on a run similar to his first score, this time racing 65 yards down the right sideline to put the game out of reach, 38-24. A late Glessner field goal of 30 yards accounted for the final score and kept MSU in a tie for first place in the Big Sky Conference.

MSU's 41 points was the most allowed this season by UCD. Ulonzo Gilliam led the Aggies (1-4, 0-2) with 127 yards rushing. He also threw for a score and ran for another, giving the senior a school record 41 touchdowns. UCD plays host to Northern Arizona this week.

The Bobcats, who have won a FCS-best 15 consecutive home games, play host this week to Idaho State for their annual homecoming contest. The Bobcats finished with 552 yards to 476 for the Aggies. The game's only turnover came on a second-quarter interception by MSU's James Campbell, the first of his career. Linebackers Callahan O'Reilly and Danny Uluilakepa combined for 21 tackles for MSU.

The Cats host winless Idaho State for homecoming on Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Bobcat Stadium.

Griz 28, Idaho State 20

POCATELLO - Montana's perfect season continued Saturday after defeating the Idaho State Bengals 28-20 on the road inside Holt Arena. The No. 3 Grizzlies put together a 21-point second quarter to run away with the game and improve to 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play - 5-0 overall - as they enter the bye week.

The Griz defeated Idaho State for the 14th straight time and improved to 47-13 all-time against the Bengals. They led 28-6 in the fourth quarter but gave up a couple of late touchdowns that brought Idaho State back within one possession at the end.

The Grizzly offense leaned on the rushing attack, once again using a stable of backs to great success. Marcus Knight ran for 109 yards and a score, becoming the first 100-yard runner for the Griz since Xavier Harris did it against Dixie State last season. Nick Ostmo added 84 yards on 14 runs, while Harris had 22 rushing and 17 receiving yards.

Quarterback Lucas Johnson added 31 yards and a score of his own on the ground, bringing the Grizzly total to a season-high 246 ground yards. They would add 208 yards through the air for a total yardage of 454. The downside for Montana was three turnovers, which allowed Idaho State to hang around in the game. Montana did most of their damage in the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns in the period. The Grizzlies are now outscoring opponents 66-10 in the second quarter this season.

The defense appeared to be putting together another stellar performance, allowing just two field goals through the first nearly 55 minutes of the game. The Bengals made it interesting in the end, scoring on two different nine-play drives in the final five minutes to make things interesting at the end. Patrick O'Connell and Levi Janacaro each finished the day with 10 tackles while Robby Hauck and Marcus Welnel added eight apiece. Montana limited Bengal quarterback Sagan Gronauer to just a 52% completion rate while sacking him three times and providing four QB hurries. Tyler Flink had an interception as well, the only turnover forced by the Grizzly defense. Montana crucially held Idaho State to just 31% on third downs, while outgaining the Bengals by 125 yards on the ground.

The Grizzlies threw just their second interception of the season on the opening offensive drive which gave Idaho State good field position. A couple of penalties brought the Bengals into the red zone, but Montana stood strong and forced a field goal. After a slow start to the game, Montana's offense finally came to life at the end of the opening quarter thanks to the running game. Ostmo helped set them up with back to back big runs of 10 and 17 yards to put the Griz in the red zone. The Griz faced third and long from inside the 10. Johnson dropped back to pass, couldn't find an option but broke down the Bengal defense with his feet to put Montana on the board and give them the 7-3 lead. On the following Bengal drive, the hosts converted on a fourth down QB sneak in Montana territory. They attempted another fourth down conversion on the same drive with a quick slant, and the Grizzlies were flagged for pass interference as Idaho State continued to grind just enough yards to keep the drive alive.

Montana's defense got to the quarterback for the first time all game a few plays later, forcing them into a long field goal. Ian Hershey hit from 50 yards, cutting the Grizzly lead to one point and finally putting to an end a 15 play Bengal drive.

They would get a chance to start another drive on the following play. A short kick was fumbled by Montana, giving the ball back to the Bengals without allowing the Griz to run a single offensive play. This time, Montana didn't allow any extended drives, forcing a three and out to give the offense the ball back for the first time in nearly 10 minutes of game time. The offense struggled to get going, but Montana finally got a big defensive play of their own. After a Grizzly punt, Idaho State attempted to catch the defense sleeping with a deep pass on the first play. Tyler Flink read the play perfectly, dropping into coverage and intercepting the pass. He returned the ball 25 yards to set Montana up in Bengal territory.

It then turned into Knight time inside the dome. The Grizzly offense went to the running back on four consecutive plays, and he pounded it into paydirt to extend Montana's lead to 14-6. It was the 26th career rushing touchdown for Knight which has him one away from breaking into the top five in UM history. The Grizzlies had one last chance in the half and put together a perfect two minute drill. Taking over on their own 14, Johnson and the Grizzlies marched quickly down the field. It started with some runs, as Xavier Harris gained 20 yards on two plays. Johnson then connected with Flowers three consecutive times for 21 yards.

A couple more passes, these going to Harris and Roberts, set Montana up at the 24. With time for maybe one more play, Johnson broke the pocket and found a wide open Keelan White for the third Grizzly touchdown of the quarter. It came with just five seconds left, sending Montana to the halftime break with a 21-6 lead.

Montana put together a nice drive to start the second half to get into Bengal territory, but were turned over on downs. On the following drive, the Griz took over inside their own five and quickly found their way into Bengal territory yet again. This time it was Ostmo picking up some nice gains, including an 18-yard run where he bounced off several Bengal players. On first down from the 28 yard line, Montana dialed up a double pass. Johnson threw backwards to Roberts, and the receiver floated a perfect ball into the end zone. Grossman out jumped the defender and hauled it in for a score to put Montana up 28-6. The Grizzlies went 95 yards in just eight plays for the score.

Idaho State was able to make it into Montana territory on the next drive, but facing a large deficit were forced to go for it on fourth and long. The Griz defense stood strong and forced the turnover on downs, giving it back to the offense with just a few minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Bengals took advantage of the turnover, driving 80 yards for their first touchdown of the game to cut Montana's lead to 28-13 with five minutes to play. Idaho State got the ball back after Montana failed to convert on fourth down and again drove the field, punching in one final touchdown to get the score to 28-20.

The Grizzlies would recover a kick at the end and kneel out the clock, holding on for the victory. It brings Montana to nearly the halfway point in the season undefeated, and sets them up for a bye week to rest and get back on track. They will then take on the Idaho Vandals.

Despite the closer than expected score, Montana is still out to a historic start to this season. This is the first time that Montana has started 5-0 since 2009, when the Grizzlies were the top ranked team for most of the season on way to a 14-1 record and two-point loss in the national championship game.

Montana has its bye week before coming home to face Idaho on Oct. 15.