Huge Win! Montana Grizzly Football Avoids Heartbreak at Idaho

Easily dismissed as, "well, that's football," when fortunes change so drastically from the first half to the second.

But that's hardly any solace for the University of Montana Grizzly football team, if they can't carry the dominant play into the final 30 minutes. Their opponent showed their true colors in the fourth quarter to seize control, as the Griz squandered 14 points of a 16-point lead. But a last-second defensive play of the year leads the Griz to victory over the Idaho Vandals in Moscow, Idaho Saturday night.

The game could not have started much better. The Griz work it to the Idaho 26 and settle for a field goal. The Vandals do little on their first possession. Then some big time fireworks, as quarterback Clifton McDowell finds Junior Bergen for a 76-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-0.

Idaho moves to the Montana 32 on their next drive, but a Griz sack makes them settle for a punt. From inside their own 10, an Eli Gilman 53-yard run keeps the attack on fire. Clifton McDowell takes it in a few plays later and the Griz are stunning the Vandals, 17-0. Montana tacks on a field goal to bump the score to 20-0, when Idaho finally answers to make it 20-7 as we go to halftime.

Idaho gets the ball to start the second half and they keep their momentum going all the way to the Montana 12, when a 4th-down interception kills the drive. Yet, the Vandals keep the pressure on with another drive into Montana territory. The defense comes through with another interception. A scoreless third quarter comes to an end.

The Griz offense is looking a little feeble in this half. They can't convert a 3rd down at the 28 but a third 40-plus-yard Grant Glasgow field goes makes it 23-7 with 11 minutes, 43 seconds to go.

Idaho takes over at the 25. No defensive heroics this time as a touchdown pass and two-point conversion makes it 23-15 with just under 6 minutes to play. The Griz offense again does nothing, as the Vandals get it back with 4 minutes to go. With less than two minutes to play, first and 10 from the Montana 23. And another touchdown pass. The Griz deny the 2-point conversion.

An onside kick is recovered by Idaho. A penalty takes it away. Another onside kick. Recovered by Montana.

But the Griz have to give it up again.

On first down, a sack and a fumble recovery...BALL GAME!

Montana 23, Idaho 21.