MISSOULA, Mt. — Following last week’s defeat, Montana head coach Bobby Hauck was looking for a bounce back performance from his Montana Grizzlies. If you want a quick read, let’s just say that’s exactly what he got.
Montana welcomed Morehead State to Washington-Grizzly stadium for the first ever matchup between the two programs. For the first time this season, Montana’s 2023 playoff hero Junior Bergen was taking reps from the first team offense. A sign of good things to come as Montana forced a three and out on Morehead’s opening drive, and Bergen ran out on the field to take over the punt return duties for the first time this year, and wouldn’t you know it, Bergen instantly gained a 14 yard return for his first touch of the season.
Keali’i Ah Yat was given starting duties once again, and the Griz instantly went to work. An Eli Gillman 14 yard rush landed inches away from the end zone, and Ah Yat snuck it in for the games opening score.
On the Eagles next drive, Conner Genal tried to throw a screen pass that was tipped into the air, and Montana Defensive end Hayden Harris came down with it for the rare big man interception setting Montana up in the red zone.
Few plays later a play action pass to Keelan White put the Griz up 15-0 half way through the first quarter.
Montana’s next drive saw one of the only mistakes of the day for the Griz. Ah Yat through a ball to Bergen in coverage and Morehead’s Richard Sweeney III came down with the pick. The Eagles drove the ball up to the Montana 28 yard line, but a fourth down attempt turned into Hayden Harris’s first of two sacks on the day, forcing a fumble setting up Montana all the way at midfield.
Following Ah Yat’s interception, Logan Fife was given the keys to the offense. Fife utilized his arms and legs to get Montana in scoring position when Eli Gillman escaped two would be tacklers and carried three more Eagles into the end zone for Montana’s third score of the half.
Another Eagles three and out gave Fife and the Griz the ball back. Nick Ostmo broke free for a 21 yard gain on a play where he could’ve scored, but he stumbled and couldn’t catch himself. Fife ended up taking a third down sack and Ty Morrison continued his impressive start nailing a 46 yard field goal with ease. 25-0 Montana.
Morehead’s next drive ended thanks to a Ryan Tirrell third down sack. Montana got the ball back, and Fife struggled to complete a pass, however at this point the running game felt like they could do whatever they wanted. Stevie Rocker Jr. ran for an 18 yard gain, and a few plays later, Nick Ostmo, Montana’s 8th 2,000 yard rusher found pay dirt from ten yards out. 32-0 Montana.
The Griz ended up punching it in one more time in the half thanks to a 22 yard run from Eli Gillman.
A 39-0 halftime score turned into a 59-2 final score. Montana’s rushing attack was the story of the night. Bobby Hauck claimed in the post game press conference that Montana’s 410 rushing yards were the 2nd most in program history.
The Grizzlies leading rusher wasn’t Gillman, Ostmo, or Rocker Jr. Instead a true freshman took the majority of the second half snaps by the name of Malae Fonoti. When it was all set and done, Foloti ran for a staggering 176 yards and a touchdown, all in the second half.
It’s tough to say if Foloti will make appearances in closer fought games for this season, with Montana’s running back room being crowded as it is, but Foloti looked like anything but a true freshman in Saturday’s win. Running with a lethal strength and speed combination that Morehead State simply had no answers for.
Now with a bounce back victory in their pockets, the Griz look to a dangerous Western Carolina team , coming off a ranked win, in a matchup next Saturday at Washington Grizzly stadium.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66e6765ae3de41c685153f2923e40ff6&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnbcmontana.com%2Fsports%2Flocal-sports%2Fmontana-puts-up-over-400-rushing-yards-in-victory-over-morehead-st&c=16505771009446768046&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-14 10:53:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.