The University of Montana is into the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2011 and will host a Final Four game in Missoula for the first time since 2009. The Grizzlies will host perennial powerhouse North Dakota State, winners of nine national titles since 2011.
The Griz reached the semifinals by earning a first-round bye thanks in part to a 37-7 trouncing of rival Montana State to earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. UM routed Delaware 49-19 in the second round before outlasting No. 7 Furman 35-28 in overtime last week to set up the showdown with the Bison. NDSU beat Drake 66-3, No. 6 Montana State 35-34 in overtime and No. 3 South Dakota 45-17 to earn a trip to Missoula.
Brooks Nuanez has been on the sideline for both Montana playoff games. Blake Hempstead was in Missoula for the quarterfinal win over Furman. Here’s a chronicle of the action.
Montana 49, Delaware 19
Griz senior defensive end Hayden Harris, in his first season at Montana after transferring from UCLA, had a career-best 8 tackles and a tackle for loss against Delaware/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana quarterback Clifton McDowell, the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns to move to 10-0 as Montana’s starting QB this season/ by Brooks Nuanez
McDowell laments a missed opportunity in the snow/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana senior linebacker Braxton Hill has 106 tackles this season to earn All-American honors/ by Brooks Nuanez
Delaware QB Ryan O’Connor got knocked out of UD’s loss at Villanova and didn’t play in the Blue Hens’ win over Lafayette. He returned against the Griz, threw for 197 yards/ by Brooks Nuanez
Griz junior Xavier Harris scored a 27-yard TD against Delaware, using a sweet spin move to get into the end-zone, as pictured here/ by Brooks Nuanez
Snow flurries turned into a blizzard as multiple inches of snow blanketed Washington-Griz
Montana 35, Furman 28, OT
Montana senior quarterback Clifton McDowell rushed for a career-high 118 yards against Furman, giving him 744 rush yards this season, the most by a quarterback in a single campaign/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana defensive end Garrett Hustedt puts pressure on Furman All-SoCon quarterback Tyler Huff. Hustedt had his first tackle for loss of the season against the Paladins/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana junior corner Trevin Gradney, a first-team All-Big Sky selection this season, blasts a Furman receiver with senior linebacker Braxton Hill looking on/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana junior Keelan White is averaging 90 receiving yards per game after his 91-yard effort against Furman last week/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana’s Junior Bergen celebrates a punt return for a touchdown, the fourth of his career, helping him surpass Marc Mariani, LeVander Segars and Jerry Louie-McGee for the UM career record/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana senior linebacker Braxton Hill pressures Furman senior quarterback Tyler Huff/ by Blake Hempstead
Montana senior wide receiver Aaron Fontes eludes tacklers/ by Blake Hempstead
