Grizzlies Top Bobcats in 114th Cat-Griz Game

Saturday, November 22

Missoula, MT

3:15 pm

Montana State University

8-4 , 6-2

at Montana

8-4 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana State

Montana

Bobcat sophomore Chad Newell

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

11/22/2014 7:09:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Turnovers spell doom for Montana State

By: Bill Lamberty

Montana forced seven turnovers and Jordan Johnson threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Grizzlies to a 34-7 win over Montana State on Saturday.

"That's the story" of the game, MSU coach Rob Ash said of his squad's seven turnovers. "You can't underestimate the magnitude of ending drives that way time after time."

Trailing 3-0, the Bobcats went three-and out on their opening possession. That would be the last possession of the first half, when ended with MSU scoreless, that the Cats ended with a kick. The next five possessions ended in turnovers, and Montana all but one into points.

"They brought a lot of pressure," said MSU running back Chad Newell. "They played hard in their front four. We moved the ball effectively, we just shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers."

While MSU's offense struggled possessing the ball, Johnson and the Grizzly offense were brilliant. He completed 22 of his 36 passes and threw three touchdown passes, while adding 80 yards on the ground. Jordan Canada rumbled for 119 yards on the ground, as well. A pair of Grizzlies – Travon Van and Mitch Saylor – caught more than 100 yards worth of passes.

Johnson, though, was the trigger man. While some thought he may not be ready physically after an apparent injury last week, those in the Bobcat program knew otherwise. "We didn't expect anything less from him," said senior linebacker Cole Moore. "He's a great player."

Montana started quickly. The Grizzlies took the opening kickoff and marched 60 yards before Daniel Sullivan kicked a 42-yard field goal to stake the home team to a 3-0 lead. After the teams traded punts, Bleskin was picked off by Matt Hermanson, and Jordan Canada scored from one yard out five plays later to push the lead to 10-0.

On the ensuing drive, the Cats moved to the Grizzly 10, largely powered by Chad Newell's 26-yard run. But on third-and-goal, a Bleskin pass was tipped and intercepted. Montana's 88-yard touchdown drive gave the Grizzlies a 17-0 lead, and again on the ensuing drive Bleskin was picked. Sullivan finished the drive with another field goal. Montana State's next drive finished with Bleskin's fourth interception of the half, and the Grizzlies converted that into a touchdown as well. The half ended after MSU fumbled inside the Grizzly 10 to end another scoring opportunity.

The loss drops Montana State to 8-4 on the season, 6-2 in Big Sky play, and Montana finishes the regular season with identical marks. MSU learns its post-season fate beginning at 9 am Sunday, when ESPNU airs the FCS Playoffs Selection Show.