By AUSTIN SMITH
Once again Griz Nation was sent home unhappy after the Montana Grizzlies lost Saturday afternoon to the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, 30-20.
After making a fourth quarter field goal to tie the game at 20-20, the Grizzlies watched victory slip from their grasp as a Thunderbird trick punt allowed Brock Miller to tack on a 22-yard first down run. Jordan Tripp and his hard-hitting Grizzly defense prevented a touchdown but allowed the 23-20 field goal with 2:12 left in the game.
Shortly thereafter the Griz went three and out, and Southern Utah sealed the deal with a 34-yard touchdown run by senior back Myles Crawford-Harris.
Montana started the game out well, trading punts with SUU and even scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a 5-yard pass to tight end Clay Pierson. Utah’s subsequent drive was gutted by two back-to-back sacks in the Montana red-zone, but a muffed punt return gave the ‘Birds possession on the Grizzly 7-yard line and set up a touchdown pass to Utah’s Fatu Moala.
Several blocked field goals and a 2-yard keeper by McKinney brought the hometown team up 17-13 at halftime. Both teams traded punts to open the third, but with a little under six minutes left the Thunderbirds scored on the coattails of several untimely Grizzly penalties to go ahead 20-17.
Despite a tough defensive squad and McKinney’s multi-faceted attack, Southern Utah’s special teams unit won the day with two blocked field goals and a critical muffed punt recovery. Despite constant pressure and multiple sacks, SUU’s senior quarterback Brad Sorensen maintained his composure and logged 294 yards for two touchdowns on the day.
The Grizzlies will be away next week in North Dakota, but will return to Washington-Grizzly Saturday, October 27th to take on Idaho State in their last home game before the Griz/Cat showdown.
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Austin Smith is a 21-year resident of the Missoula area, and an ardent fisherman, hunter, and snowboarder. When not working on the University of Montana campus, taking classes in the Journalism program, or contributing to the social media efforts of several local organizations, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his Akita and his family.