Missoula, Montana – After a back-and-forth battle spanning four quarters, the Montana Griz were able to pull away for a 28-20 win over the ever-improving Idaho State Bengals. The Bengals move to 1-4 (1-1 BSC) on the year while the Griz imrove to 4-1 (1-1 BSC).
The Montana Griz struck first in the game, putting together an 11-play 58 yard drive to score first, leading 7-0 with 9:21 to play in the first quarter.
The Bengals defense stepped up forcing the Griz to go three and out on a Todd Payne pass breakup and giving the Bengals the ball back on the Montana 40.
Jordan Cooke led the Bengals on a 10-play drive capped with a touchdown pass to Chedon James from the three yardline to even the score 7-7. The TD pass was James' 3rd score of the season.
The Bengal defense kept stepping up in the first half.
On a 3rd and seven from midfield, Bengal defensive back Mason Young blitzed the UM offensive line and sacked the Griz quarterback for a 17-yard loss, forcing Montana to punt.
Later in the half, Cortland Horton forced his 2nd sack of the season denying the Griz a chance at a scoring drive at the end of the first half.
The clock hit 0 and the Bengals and Griz went into the locker room tied 7-7.
Early in the 3rd quarter, the Griz took a 14-7 lead, but the Bengals were not backing down.
ISU drove the field and on 1st and 10, Cooke launched a 28-yard dart to Chedon James in the endzone for James' second score of the game, tying the contest at 14-14.
The Griz were able to score again and the Bengals once again responded
Starting a 12-play 82 yard drive, the Bengals got to work, deftly catching everything thrown at them. Throwing from the six with a Griz defender in his face, Cooke heaved it to the endzone where Cyrus Wallce lept and snagged the bullet of a pass.
On the PAT conversion a bad snap led to a failure and the Griz led the game 21-20.
The Bengals and Griz fought back and forth for the remainder of the game with Montana scoring another touchdown to extend the lead to 28-20
Idaho State never quit, fighting to the last snap but the Montana Griz ended the game with the victory.
Post Game Press Conference
Bengal Bites
· The Bengals have now only scored first in one game this season ( 3-0 lead vs San Diego State)
· Mason Young had his first sack for the Orange and Black, a sack for 17 yards loss forcing a fourth down and UM Punt.
· Jordan Cooke completed 31-of-47 passes with three touchdowns and 289 yards. The last time a Bengal came close to the 300 yards in a game mark was Tyler Vander Waal against Idaho in 2021.
· Coincidentally, the 28-20 final score is the same score from the Bengals and Griz 2022 matchup in Holt Arena.
· Mason Young had a career game with 10 total tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss.
· The announced attendance of 26,678 is the third-most attended game in Washington-Grizzly Stadium
· Wallace's fourth quarter touchdown was the first of his career and his season-high 79 yards blew his career average out of the water (27.3 yds)
Next Up
Next up, the Bengals have a much-deserved bye week to rest and recuperate before hosting the Eastern Washington Eagles Oct. 14 in Holt Arena.
