McDowell, defense lead Montana to 37-7 win over rival Montana State
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Digital Subscription
One year of digital access for only $205*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/11/2023 (1049 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Clifton McDowell threw for a touchdown and ran for another and Montana routed rival Montana State 37-7 on Saturday in a showdown for the Big Sky Conference championship.
The Grizzlies (10-1, 7-1) entered the 122nd Brawl of the Wild ranked fourth in the FCS coaches poll and the Bobcats (8-3, 6-2) were third. Montana leads the series 74-42-5 but the previous 10 games were split evenly. It is the 19th league title for Montana but first since 2009.
The Grizzlies kept the momentum from their six-straight wins entering the game, three over ranked teams on the road, and a defense that limited their last three opponents to 17 points.
Eli Gillman capped a game-opening drive with a 4-yard touchdown run and McDowell entered the second with another 4-yard run.
The Grizzlies got a second field goal on the last play of the second quarter to lead 20-0 at the half.
Montana State, which won last year’s game 55-21, got on the board with a 19-yard pass from Tommy Mellott to Ty McCullouch to open the second half. It was the Bobcats first passing yards of the game.
The Grizzlies came right back with Junior Bergen’s 49-yard kickoff return and six plays later his 20-yard TD reception to make it 27-7.
MSU’s next three drives ended on downs twice and an interception. In all, the Bobcats failed on fourth down four times and were 1 for 10 on third down.
McDowell was 17-of-22 passing for 200 yards and added 69 yards on the ground as the Grizzlies piled up 430 yards.
Mellott ran for 108 yards and Julius Davis had 107 with only 67 of Montana State’s 280 yards coming through the air.
With second-ranked Furman losing, Montana could be the No. 2 seed behind defending champion South Dakota State (11-0) when the FCS pairings are announced Sunday.
___ Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football