By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
THE GAME: The 10th-ranked (Sports Network poll) Montana Grizzlies (7-2/4-2 Big Sky Conference) will play a key non-league game, Saturday, Nov. 9, to keep its FCS playoff hopes alive, facing the talented University of South Dakota Coyotes (4-5/3-3 Missouri Valley Conference) in the DakotaDome (10,000). Kickoff is at 12:07 p.m. (Mtn).
LAST GAME: (Montana 51, at Sacramento State 48-OT): Quarterback Jordan Johnson connected with wide receiver Ellis Henderson for a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime, and running back Jordan Canada rushed for a record-tying four TDs to lead the Grizzlies.
WINNING WAYS: Montana’s win at Sacramento State gave the Grizzlies their 27th winning season in the past 28 years, starting in the 1986 season.
GAME NOTES (PDF)
CANADA TIES RECORD: Canada’s four TD runs ties him with four other players for the most in single-game history at Montana. The last player to rush for four scores was Lex Hilliard in a first round FCS playoff game against Northwestern State in 2004. (See add 2-2-2).
Photo by Patrick Record.
HENDERSON SHINES: Henderson had a career-high 180 yards receiving, along with 177 return yards, for a career-best 357 all-purpose yards in the Sac State win.
JOHNSON HAS CAREER DAY: Johnson was 19-of-38-0 for a career-high 381 passing yards and 2 TDs against the Hornets. (His previous high was 354 yards at North Dakota earlier this season).
KANONGATA LEADS D: Linebacker J.P. Kanongata’a had a game-high 15 tackles. Free safety Matt Hermanson added 14 stops; LB Brock Coyle had 12; CB Nate Harris had a career-high 11.Coyle and Hermanson each had two forced fumbles, and Hermanson also recovered a fumble.
MONTANA’S POW NOMINEES: Canada was UM’s offensive nominee; Hermanson was the defensive nominee; and Henderson was the special teams candidate.
USD SCORES TO DATE: at S. Dakota 10, UC Davis 7; at Kansas 31, S. Dakota 14; at #22-N. Arizona 22, S. Dakota 16; at W. Illinois 24, S. Dakota 10; at S. Dakota 17, Missouri St. 14; at S. Dakota 17, Indiana St. 14; S. Dakota 38, at #11-Northern Iowa 31 (2 OTs); at Illinois St. 28, S. Dakota 14; #10-Youngstown St., 38, at S. Dakota 34. OF NOTE: South Dakota’s only loss at home this season was 38-34 last week to 10th-ranked Youngstown State. SDU is 44-9 at home since the end of the 2003 season. USD head coach Joe Glenn was the head man at Montana from 2000-02, going 39-6, and his 2001 Griz team won the Division I-AA national title.
LAST MEETING: Sept. 1, 2012 (at Montana 35, South Dakota 24): UM’s two senior running backs led the way, as Dan Moore had career-highs of 27 carries for 148 yards and a touchdown, while Peter Nguyen had 10 totes for 192 yards and a score. The Grizzlies picked up a school-record 34 first downs in the win. (Game stats & story on add 13 of the release).
SERIES: The Griz lead the series 10-6, and have won seven of the last nine. UM is 2-5 in games played at South Dakota. (Year-by-year scores are on add 23 of the weekly release).
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GRIZ RADIO: Veteran Mick Holien is in his 21st season calling the play-by-play and the “Voice of the Grizzlies.” Scott Gurnsey provides in-booth color, while Greg Sundberg serves as the sideline reporter. UM’s flagship station is KGVO Radio, 1290 AM/KVWE 101.5 FM. (Griz FB Radio Network listed on add 10 of the weekly release).
VIDEO & AUDIO STREAMING: gogriz.com/all-access.
TWITTER: @umgrizzlies_fb & umgrizzlies_sid.
LIVE STATS: www.GoYotes.com.
TV: The Griz-Coyote game will be televised by Max Media of Montana. Chris Byers calls the play-by-play, Ron Davis provides in-booth color, and Shaun Rainey serves as the sideline reporter. The game will be aired on KTMF-FOX 23 & 42 in Missoula/Kalispell; KWYB-FOX 18 & 28 in Butte/ Bozeman; KFBB-FOX 5 in Great Falls; KHBB-FOX 5 in Helena; KULR-NBC 8 in Billings; and KXGN-NBC in Glendive.
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