3-4
Montana
6-1
No. 9/10 Montana Rallies for 21-14 Overtime Victory Over Cal Poly
10/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (KSBY-TV): PART I | PART II
MISSOULA, Mont. – Jordan Johnson threw a pair of touchdown passes, one with 12 seconds left to tie the game and the other on the second play of overtime – to lead Montana to a 21-14 Big Sky Conference victory over Cal Poly on Saturday before 25,913 in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Montana drove 88 yards in the final two minutes of regulation to tie the game after a Cal Poly field goal attempt of 26 yards by Bobby Zalud was blocked. Johnson completed 10 of 14 passes on the game-tying drive and hit Clay Pierson with a two-yard pass for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal.
Cal Poly elected to go on defense in overtime and, on the second play, Montana scored on a 23-yard pass from Johnson to Ellis Henderson.
Cal Poly netted zero yards on its first two plays of overtime before Dano Graves was intercepted at the goalline on third down by Brock Coyle, ending the game.
Cal Poly fell to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Big Sky games with the loss while Montana improved to 6-1 and 3-1. Montana now leads the series with 15 wins to two for Cal Poly.
Cal Poly dominated the first three quarters, holding Montana to eight first downs and 146 total yards. Johnson had completed just seven of 16 passes for 85 yards in the first three quarters and the Montana running game netted just 61 yards.
But the Grizzlies moved the ball well when it counted in the final period, marching 88 yards for the tying score to set up the overtime.
"I told our team before the game the team that plays best for the longest period of time will win the game," fifth-year Mustang head coach Tim Walsh said. "We outplayed them for a long period of time and it's unfortunate.
"It's tough to look at your team and say you lost there because physically, I don't think so. But we made some mistakes that cost us and it's unfortunate. To win that game for 57 or 58 minutes, it's a tough pill to swallow."
The Cal Poly defense kept Montana out of the end zone much of the game. Before their final scoring drive, the Grizzlies moved the ball deep into Cal Poly territory three times in the second half only to turn the ball over -- twice on downs and once on a Johnson fumble at the Mustang one-yard line that went for a touchback.
The lone Grizzly score in the first three periods came shortly after a Cal Poly punt was blocked, setting up a short 29-yard drive in the first quarter capped by Jordan Canada's five-yard run.
Johnson finished 22 of 39 for 242 yards and two Montana touchdowns. Cam Warren caught six passes and Canada was the top Grizzly rusher with 56 yards on 23 carries.
Mustang junior slotback Kristaan Ivory (pictured above) rushed for 121 yards on 22 carries, his fourth 100-yard game of the season, while Graves added 91 yards on 14 trips.
Graves completed 13 of 18 passes for 95 yards and Ivory was his favorite target with six catches for 36 yards.
Cal Poly compiled a 403-315 advantage in total offense, 23-17 in first downs and had the ball for 13 more minutes than Montana.
The Grizzlies entered the game averaging 474 yards in total offense and scoring almost 41 points a contest.
Mustang defensive leaders were Cameron Ontko with 14 tackles, Nick Dzubnar with 12 and Sullivan Grosz with 10. Dzubnar also had a forced fumble while Grosz earned one sack, lifting his season total to 4.5. Jordan Williams notched his second interception of the season.
Cal Poly overcame an early 7-0 deficit with a pair of touchdowns for a 14-7 halftime lead.
Both scores were recorded by senior fullback Akaninyene Umoh covering six and four yards. The first touchdown came with 1:59 left in the first quarter and capped a 69-yard, nine-play drive. The second score ended a 71-yard, nine-play drive with 5:57 left in the second period.
Cal Poly held Montana to just five first downs and 67 yards of total offense in the first half.
The Mustangs are now 1-6 in overtime games.
Cal Poly football, presented by French Hospital Medical Center, hosts Northern Arizona for its Parent and Family Weekend game next Saturday at 6:05 p.m. inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
Team Stats
CP 0, UM 7
UM - Jordan Canada 5 yd run (Ben Worst kick), 9 plays, 29 yards, TOP 3:11
CP 7, UM 7
CP - Akaninyene Umoh 6 yd run (Bobby Zalud kick), 9 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:33
CP 14, UM 7
CP - Akaninyene Umoh 4 yd run (Bobby Zalud kick), 9 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:28
CP 14, UM 14
UM - Clay Pierson 2 yd pass from Jordan Johnson (Ben Worst kick) 15 plays, 88 yards, TOP 2:05
CP 14, UM 21
UM - Ellis Henderson 23 yd pass from Jordan Johnson (Ben Worst kick) 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP
