Griz 37, Southern Utah 17
In front of the 10th-largest crowd in Washington-Grizzly Stadium history - 23,599 - Montana subdued Southern Utah in its season opener behind Cole Bergquist, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.
The Thunderbirds of the Great West Conference rode the arm and legs of Wes Marshall, who threw for 218 yards and ran for 65. But Grizzlies Colt Anderson, Loren Utterback and Shann Schillinger intercepted Marshall, who was also sacked by Kroy Biermann.
The Grizzlies’ Lex Hilliard ran for 108 yards in a promising return from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for 2006. His 2-yard TD run gave the Griz the lead for good, 7-0, at 12:20 of the first quarter.
The T-Birds ended up 0-11 on the season.
Sept. 8, 2007
Griz 49, Fort Lewis 0
Montana made short work of its overmatched Division II opponent, getting a 54-yard touchdown run from Lex Hilliard on its first offensive play.
Hilliard ran for 86 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries in the rout. Cole Bergquist went 13-for-13 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Coupled with a 2-for-2 performance in relief of Jason Washinton in 2005, Bergquist is a perfect 15-for-15 against the Skyhawks, who ended up 1-10.
Sept. 22, 2007
Griz 35, Albany 14
Lex Hilliard had two scoring runs among his 136 yards, but it was Cole Bergqquist who really ignited the Griz, taking a read-zone option play 55 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 UM lead early in the third quarter.
The run was the longest from scrimmage by a Griz in 2007, and ignited the WGS crowd of 23,097. Bergquist also threw for a career-best 283 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Eric Allen and Ryan Bagley.
Kroy Biermann and Jace Palmer each were credited with two sacks of Great Danes quarterback Vinny Esposito, who threw for 273 yards and a score.
Albany, a “mid-major” FCS program, stormed through its Northeastern Conference slate unbeaten. The Great Danes ended up 8-4 after dropping a 42-21 decision to Dayton in the “Gridiron Classic on Dec. 1.
Tyler Corwin relishes a sack against Weber State.
Photo by MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
Sept. 29, 2007
Griz 18, Weber State 10
A crowd of 23,267 witnessed Montana’s 15th straight homecoming win, though it took a Greg Coleman touchdown run and four Dan Carpenter field goals to erase an early 10-0 deficit.
The game was highlighted by defense and scads of personal fouls.
There was just one TD by each team, with Weber’s coming on a halfback option pass from Adrian Conway to tight end B.A. Harrell at 4:00 of the first quarter. The gap grew to 10-0 after Cole Bergquist fumbled to set up a second-quarter WSU field goal.
But the Griz scored on their first four drives of the second half. Coleman’s run was set up by Kyle Ryan’s interception of a Cameron Higgins pass, giving UM the ball at Weber’s 25.
Weber remained winless (0-4) for another week, then caught fire and finished 5-6. The Griz game, 240 penalty yards and all, might have jump-started the Wildcats.
“I think in a physical game that’s going to happen,” said Ryan of the hanky-fest. “I think it was all boiling up a little bit, but they were all stupid mistakes we’ve got to clear up before the rest of the season goes on.”
Oct. 6, 2007
Griz 24, Eastern Washington 23
The last of five straight home games was by far the toughest, and the Grizzlies needed a circus catch by Ryan Bagley ahead of a 34-yard Dan Carpenter field goal with 26 seconds left to win.
The Eagles lost their second Big Sky Conference game in three tries despite outgaining Montana 565-289. Sophomore quarterback Matt Nichols lit up Washington-Grizzly Stadium for 451 yards and two touchdowns.
One score went to Brynsen Brown; another went to fellow sophomore Aaron Boyce, who had an Eastern-record 17 catches for 232 yards.
Montana trailed 20-14 at 9:02 of the third quarter, then rallied twice. After Felipe Macias hit from 39 yards to put Eastern up 23-21 with 2:20 left, the Griz almost ran out of bullets. Then Bagley laid out for a 27-yard pass from Cole Bergquist on fourth-and-10.
Two more passes to Mike Ferriter, covering 12 and 6 yards, set up Carpenter’s game-winner.
“It’s not exactly what we want to do - throw three incompletes in a row and have to rely on a big play on fourth down,” said Bergquist, who threw TD passes to Bagley and Ferriter as UM ran out to a 14-0 lead. “But sometimes that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Eastern was stunned by the loss, but not for long: The Eagles rallied to make the FCS playoffs and pinned a 44-15 rout on No. 2 seed McNeese State in the first round; they lost a quarterfinal game to Appalachian State by 38-35 on Dec. 1.
The Montana coaching staff talks to quarterback Cole Bergquist on the sideline during the Grizzlies' game against Northern Arizona.
Photo by TOM BAUER/Missoulian
Oct. 13, 2007
Griz 17, Sacramento State 3
Montana continued to scuffle on offense in its first road game, but prevailed behind Dan Carpenter’s career-best 54-yard field goal and a defense that sniffed out a fake punt and came up with six Hornet turnovers.
Torrey Thomas’ interception and 17-yard return for a touchdown sealed the deal for Montana, which also got a 1-yard TD run from Lex Hilliard.
Sac State outgained UM 346-173, but Hornet QB Jason Smith threw five interceptions and was sacked twice. Thomas had two picks for the Griz, as did senior corner Quinton Jackson.
That helped offset an off day by both Hilliard, who had 33 rushing yards, and Bergquist, who threw for just 93 yards and was intercepted once.
Hilliard’s TD came after Sac State had a fake punt go awry at its own 36 in the first quarter.
“I’ve never been around a team that was able to turn it over four times on the road and win, I don’t think,” said Montana coach Bobby Hauck, after seeing the Griz lose two fumbles and backup QB Andrew Selle also throw an interception.
Colt Anderson added a pick for the Griz, who also saw Kroy Biermann get one sack and share another with Craig Mettler.
The Hornets fell to 1-5 on the way to a 3-8 season.
Oct. 20, 2007
Griz 52, Northern Colorado 7
The winless Northern Colorado Bears were no match for the unbeaten Griz, whose first TD - a 15-yard pass from Cole Bergquist to Mike Ferriter - was set up by an interception and 32-yard return by defensive tackle Craig Mettler.
A home crowd of 23,134 watched the Griz rack up 32 first downs. Bergquist had career bests of 292 yards and four touchdowns passing. He threw two TDs to Ryan Bagley, who had 10 catches for 110 yards.
Lex Hilliard, apparently shaking off a shoulder injury, added scoring runs of 1 and 39 yards on his way to 112 yards. His second score broke UM’s career record for rushing TDs.
Kroy Biermann sacked UNC quarterback Dominic Breazeale three times. Freshman Andrew Selle threw his first career TD pass, and sophomore Marc Mariani caught his first. Mariani’s TD was an electrifying one-handed grab of a 27-yard Bergquist pass to put UM up 21-0 at 5:35 of the second quarter.
“It’s fairly obvious we played the No. 3 team in the country today,” UNC coach Scott Downing said. The Bears ended up 1-11.
Montana's Rob Schulte escapes the pack on a long gainer against Portland State.
Photo by MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
Oct. 27, 2007
Griz 21, Northern Arizona 16
Montana spoiled NAU’s homecoming game and kept Lumberjacks’ coach Jerome Souers winless against his former team.
Cole Bergquist threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, and Lex Hilliard ran for 146 yards and another score.
Hilliard’s 5-yard scoring run put UM up 21-9 at 5:53 of the third quarter, but his biggest impact came after Alex Henderson scored to draw NAU to 21-16 with 4:42 left in the game.
He ran six times for 44 yards on the ensuing drive, allowing UM to run out the clock.
“At halftime I pulled him aside and told him we were going to ride him like a borrowed mule,” said UM coach Bobby Hauck, who saw Hilliard gain 130 yards after intermission.
Souers fell to 0-10 against UM, where he was an assistant from 1986-97. The Lumberjacks had their chances, including a drive that ended at UM’s 13 when Griz defensive end Kroy Biermann forced and recovered a Henderson fumble.
“I suppose my epitaph may be, ‘He died trying,’ ” said Souers. “But I ain’t going to give up.”
NAU ended up 6-5, including a 5-3 mark in league play.
Nov. 3, 2007
Griz 34, Portland State 31
The game promised some razzle-dazzle, and made good: Vikings quarterback Drew Hubel threw for 404 yards and a TD; PSU punter Danny Urrego took a fake punt 24 yards; and Griz QB Cole Bergquist had a career-best 305 yards and two touchdowns.
In the end Dan Carpenter’s 35-yard, third-quarter field goal provided the winning points for UM, who led 31-24 after a wild first half in front of 23,446 fans at WGS.
The fake punt could’ve been crucial, but a blocking penalty negated part of it and led to Urrego missing a long field goal early in the fourth quarter. Portland State’s second-half points came on a 24-yard interception return by Condrew Allen with 6:14 left.
From there Montana ran out the clock, with Lex Hilliard gaining 22 of his 116 yards during the final drive, and Cole Bergquist hitting Ryan Bagley with two third-down passes.
Bergquist also hit Mike Ferriter with TD passes covering 69 and 18 yards, but was intercepted three times. Still, the Griz went to 9-0 and clinched at least a share of the Big Sky championship for a 10th straight season, along with a record 15th straight FCS playoff berth.
“They’ve got people in the state that care about their results,” said Vikings’ coach Jerry Glanville, after his first trip to Missoula. “It’s a pretty nice deal. You’ve got to respect them to love them. If you don’t, you’re not a football person. We’re not there yet.”
PSU fell to 2-7 with the loss and ended up 3-8, 3-5 in the Sky.
Montana's Kelly Kain sacks Idaho State quarterback Russell Hill for a 5-yard loss. Kain finished the season with 36 tackles, 11 unassisted and three for a loss.
Photo by TOM BAUER/Missoulian
Nov. 10, 2007
Griz 27, Idaho State 14
The road trip started out well enough, with Greg Coleman and Eric Allen scoring touchdowns to stake UM to a 14-7 lead.
From there the Griz had to weather a 100-yard kickoff return by ISU’s J.D. Ponciano and a broken arm suffered by Ryan Bagley. Among other things.
The Griz took the lead for good on Cole Bergquist’s 21-yard TD pass to Rob Schulte at 1:51 of the thrid quarter. Two Dan Carpenter field goals provided the final margin.
Coleman, playing in place of the injured Lex Hilliard (thumb), ran for 105 yards in his final game; he and teammate Mike Shelton were arrested on assault, robbery and kidnapping charges upon the Grizzlies’ return to Missoula. Jeramy Pate and another former Griz, Qwenton Freeman, were also arrested.
Berqguist threw for 283 yards. Bagley had three catches for 107 yards, including the 64-yard reception on which he was hurt. He ended with 46 catches for 692 yards and six touchdowns. All three totals were second on the Griz.
“We’re as banged as anybody else in the conference, but we don’t dwell on it,” said Griz coach Bobby Hauck. “I like what our guys did tonight.”
Josh Barnett ran for 105 yards for ISU, who saw Russel Hill get sacked six times, twice by Kroy Biermann. ISU fell to 3-7 with the loss and ended up 3-8.
Nov. 17, 2007
Griz 41, Cats 20
The 107th “Brawl of the Wild” was Montana’s 67th win in the series, and the first for coach Bobby Hauck in Bozeman.
Behind Lex Hilliard’s 181 yards and three touchdowns, Montana rolled up 496 yards and 27 first downs.
The Griz had to withstand some big plays by the Cats - Jack Rolovich’s 55-yard pass to Deon Toliver set up Demetrius Crawford for a TD and a 14-6 MSU lead - before pulling away with four second-half touchdowns.
Eric Allen caught two TD passes from Cole Bergquist, who threw for 274 yards. Dan Carpenter hit two field goals to tie the FCS career mark of 72. His first field goal, at 10:20 of the first quarter, moved him past ex-Griz Chris Snyder and made him the FCS career scoring leader.
Defensively, Colt Anderson made a key interception to begin the second half. Allen’s first TD followed, giving the Griz a 20-14 lead.
The Cats had 112 yards and two TDs from Crawford, and Rolovich threw for 240 yards. But two interceptions and a third-quarter missed field goal were their undoing.
They also couldn’t keep pace with Hilliard, whose second TD made it 34-20 with 3:38 left and sealed the outcome.
“I think he was very motivated,” MSU coach Rob Ash said of Hilliard, who also had a 31-yard TD scamper with 2:35 left. “He’s a senior, too, I hope, isn’t he?”
The Cats ended up 4-4 in league play, 6-5 overall. Montana’s win capped its second-ever 11-0 regular season.
Nov. 24, 2007
Wofford 23, Griz 22
The Grizzlies’ dream season ended in the first round of the FCS playoffs at the hands of the option-oriented Terriers, who piled up 333 rushing yards.
Wofford also stymied several UM scoring chances in front of 19,761 chilled fans at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Dan Carpenter’s missed field goal from 47 yards at time ran out was but one of several missed opportunities for the Griz.
Wofford committed two turnovers in its first four offensive plays, and had another third-quarter interception. Montana scored no points off the miscues, and ended up losing its third first-round playoff game under fifth-year coach Bobby Hauck.
Carpenter hit three field goals - one coming after UM had first-and-goal at Wofford’s 3-yard line - as the Griz went up 16-10 early in the fourth quarter.
A Lex Hilliard TD run answered a fourth-down Wofford touchdown pass from Josh Collier to Andy Strickland, and gave the Griz a 22-17 lead with 6:00 left.
Wofford ran all but 32 seconds off the clock ahead of Hobbs’ TD. The 11th-ranked Terriers then withstood another thrust by the Griz, who took over at midfield following a kickoff return by Rob Schulte.
Carpenter ended with FCS bests of 413 points and 75 field goals. Hilliard, who ran for 119 yards, ended with 52 career TDs. Cole Bergquist threw for 211 yards, including a 9-yard TD pass to Dan Beaudin, for the Griz.
But Wofford prevailed, getting 145 yards from Kevious Johnson. The Griz could do little to stop the option game triggered by Collier, though they held the Terriers two touchdowns under their scoring average.
“It’s a shame to lose a close game like that, where a play here, a play there and we would’ve had the opportunity to win,” Hauck said. “Remember the season for what it was. We’re a great football team. It was a great season.”
Wofford ended up 9-4, losing a home quarterfinal game 21-10 to Richmond.
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