STATS (htm) | STATS (pdf)HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOSGriz tight end Steven Pfahler hauled in two touchdown passes and player of the game honors to lead Montana to a 38-0 win over Western State College of Colorado. The home-opening win is Montana’s 9th consecutive.
The Washington-Grizzly Stadium record crowd of 25,698 saw Montana shake off a slow start in the first quarter to score 38 unanswered points against the Division II foe.
The Western State Mountaineers, playing 4,541 feet lower than their 7,750-foot home field in Gunnison, Colo., found themselves overmatched, never getting closer than the Montana 29. Western State picked up just 6 first downs on 116 total yards, 59 rushing and 57 passing.
The Griz had 444 yards of total offense, 183 rushing and 261 passing, and 25 first downs.
Head Coach Bobby Hauck said earlier in the week that junior quarterbacks Andrew Selle and Justin Roper would split time, and that held true with the pair each taking a quarter per half. Roper had a slightly better game statistically, going 16-24 for 149 yards and a touchdown throw. Selle, the starter, ended the game with 112 yards on 6 of 15 passing with a touchdown pass and an interception. Freshman Gerald Kemp also saw the field, but didn’t attempt a pass.
Tyler Palmer led Griz receivers with a career-high 6 catches for 87 yards
Brody McKnight’s 31-yard field goal opened the Montana scoring early in the 2nd quarter. McKnight was 1 for 3 on field goals but 5 for 5 on PATs.
Chase Reynolds had a 5-yard TD run with 3:04 in the 2nd quarter. The touchdown carry, the 23rd in his career, puts him 4th on the career list. Reynolds finished with 100 yards on 18 carries to go with 18 receiving yards on two catches.
Pfahler scored on touchdown receptions of 7- and 10-yards in the 3rd quarter, followed up by a pair of 4th quarter touchdown runs by some young Grizzlies. Freshman Peter Nguyen scored from 9 yards out, and sophomore Dan Moore picked up a 1-yard touchdown. Both were career firsts at Montana.
Montana (1-0) hits the road next week for a non-conference clash with UC Davis. Kickoff is next Saturday at 8 p.m. Mountain Time.