Entering Saturday, Montana was undefeated – 19-0 – at home against Idaho State.
On a gray, soggy Homecoming with fog hanging just above the M on the side of Mount Jumbo, the Griz made it 20 in a row — but not without a scare from a Bengals team that was projected to be at the bottom of the Big Sky Conference.
Montana – with the help of some trickery – scored touchdowns on three straight possessions in the second half, and Corbin Walker’s interception with under three minutes to go sealed a 28-20 win for the Griz.
Idaho State beat Northern Colorado 35-21 last week in Pocatello for its first win of the season and the first win of Cody Hawkins’ head-coaching career.
Looking to continue the momentum, Jordan Cooke threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns for the Bengals.
Clifton McDowell made his second start of the season at quarterback for Montana, but after an easy 58-yard touchdown drive to open the game, Montana’s offense bogged down for the rest of the first half and the game was tied 7-7 at halftime.
Montana’s defense gave the Griz a lift coming out of halftime when Ronald Jackson Jr. picked off Cooke on an overthrow on the first play of the third quarter, and the Griz turned the turnover into a touchdown when McDowell hit a wide-open Aaron Fontes for a short score.
That kicked off a back-and-forth third quarter.
Cooke and Chedon James, who had hooked up on a short touchdown in the first half for ISU, combined again for a 28-yard score on a beautiful rainbow ball from Cooke to the back corner of the end zone.
Montana took the lead back on a trick play when receiver Sawyer Racanelli took the ball on an end-around and tossed it to a wide-open Evan Shafer for a 15-yard score, but Idaho State went 82 yards and scored early in the fourth on a 6-yard throw from Cooke to Cyrus Wallace.
The Bengals attempted a fake field goal, but the holder slipped as he tried to roll out to leave the score at 21-20, Montana.
ISU then forced a fourth and short from near midfield on Montana’s next possession, but punter Travis Benham slung the ball out to Garrett Graves for 15 yards and a first down.
The fake would prove to be the play of the game, as Montana eventually scored on a 3-yard run by Eli Gillman to make it 28-20.
ISU had one more chance after a Montana punt, but Walker jumped a back-shoulder throw from Cooke for an easy interception as the receiver continued running downfield to snuff out the Bengals’ last chance.
McDowell threw for 160 yards and ran for 66 for Montana.
