Montana topped the Bobcats 36-10 Saturday
Photo by: Neil Hetherington
Grizzlies Grab Momentum, Game with Stunning Pass Play
11/19/2011 1:21:00 PM | Football
Johnson, Sambrano combine on game-changing TD pass
It was a stunning play that facilitated the demise of Montana State Saturday afternoon in a frustrating 36-10 loss to Montana at Bobcat Stadium.
One play after MSU quarterback DeNarius McGhee appeared to have righted the Bobcats' ship offensively, leading MSU on a scoring drive early in the third quarter that drew the Bobcats within 12-7, the Grizzlies answered with a 79-yard pass play that barely eluded MSU safety Joel Fuller and changed the course of the 111th meeting of the old rivals.
Oh-what-might've-been seemed to be the tone of a still upbeat MSU coach Rob Ash following the game.
“Who knows,” Ash said, “If we get the interception right there, we get the ball at the 50-yard line, the fans come to life, its 12-7 and momentum has changed.”
The play was one the Grizzlies had been pondering as the game progressed, explained UM sophomore quarterback Jordan Johnson.
“We had noticed (Fuller) crashing in on running plays and thought we might catch him with play-action,” he said. “He surprised me a little, because he didn't come down as far as I thought he would, but we were able to make the play.”
Indeed they did as Jabin Sambrano made a twisting catch just over Fuller's outstretched arms and outran him to the end zone to put UM up 19-7 and put MSU right back in the 12-point hole it found itself in at halftime.
The play was just one of many close plays that could've gone either way, but continually broke toward the Grizzlies.
Jason Cunningham had a short field goal bounce off the right upright early on, UM punter Brody McKnight was able to finesse a couple roll punts inside the MSU 10-yard line in the first half, and the Grizzlies picked up the game's first touchdown on a well-defended, yet perfectly-thrown pass play on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line.
The Bobcats also seemed to have a hand on Johnson in the backfield numerous times only to see him elude them time and again.
The mounting combination of all those plays seemed to erode MSU's confidence and simultaneously build UM's.
Despite the loss, Ash, as usual, remained positive.
“I totally believe this will set us up well for the playoffs,” he said. “The guys may have fallen into believing that they're always going to find a way to win, but there wasn't a way to win this game. You can't will it to happen.”
The Bobcats had won nine straight games to clinch at least a tie for the conference crown coming into the game and were looking to close the season as outright league champions.
“It was an unusual feeling,” Ash, who saw his squad win nine straight, said of the post-game locker room mood. “We're not good at it and it's not a feeling we want to get good at.”
The Bobcats will find out who their first opponent in the FCS playoffs on Sunday morning.
One play after MSU quarterback DeNarius McGhee appeared to have righted the Bobcats' ship offensively, leading MSU on a scoring drive early in the third quarter that drew the Bobcats within 12-7, the Grizzlies answered with a 79-yard pass play that barely eluded MSU safety Joel Fuller and changed the course of the 111th meeting of the old rivals.
Oh-what-might've-been seemed to be the tone of a still upbeat MSU coach Rob Ash following the game.
“Who knows,” Ash said, “If we get the interception right there, we get the ball at the 50-yard line, the fans come to life, its 12-7 and momentum has changed.”
The play was one the Grizzlies had been pondering as the game progressed, explained UM sophomore quarterback Jordan Johnson.
“We had noticed (Fuller) crashing in on running plays and thought we might catch him with play-action,” he said. “He surprised me a little, because he didn't come down as far as I thought he would, but we were able to make the play.”
Indeed they did as Jabin Sambrano made a twisting catch just over Fuller's outstretched arms and outran him to the end zone to put UM up 19-7 and put MSU right back in the 12-point hole it found itself in at halftime.
The play was just one of many close plays that could've gone either way, but continually broke toward the Grizzlies.
Jason Cunningham had a short field goal bounce off the right upright early on, UM punter Brody McKnight was able to finesse a couple roll punts inside the MSU 10-yard line in the first half, and the Grizzlies picked up the game's first touchdown on a well-defended, yet perfectly-thrown pass play on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line.
The Bobcats also seemed to have a hand on Johnson in the backfield numerous times only to see him elude them time and again.
The mounting combination of all those plays seemed to erode MSU's confidence and simultaneously build UM's.
Despite the loss, Ash, as usual, remained positive.
“I totally believe this will set us up well for the playoffs,” he said. “The guys may have fallen into believing that they're always going to find a way to win, but there wasn't a way to win this game. You can't will it to happen.”
The Bobcats had won nine straight games to clinch at least a tie for the conference crown coming into the game and were looking to close the season as outright league champions.
“It was an unusual feeling,” Ash, who saw his squad win nine straight, said of the post-game locker room mood. “We're not good at it and it's not a feeling we want to get good at.”
The Bobcats will find out who their first opponent in the FCS playoffs on Sunday morning.
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