Robby Hauck returned a short field goal attempt 99 yards on a day that the coach’s son became Montana’s all-time leading tackler and the second-ranked Grizzlies used a number of big plays to roll to a 53-16 win homecoming win over Portland State on Saturday in Missoula, Montana.
The Vikings reached the Montana 22 in the closing seconds of the first half but the Grizzlies used two timeouts and PSU had a pair of penalties, forcing a 52-yard field goal attempt with five seconds to go.
That’s when Hauck tried to catch the ball in the end zone but dropped it, scooping it up at the 1-yard line. He picked up a wall of blockers on the right sideline to give Montana a 39-14 halftime lead.
The Grizzlies (4-0, 1-0 Big Sky Conference) also had a 72-yard punt return from Junior Bergen, a 46-yard field goal by Nico Ramos and a 64-yard rushing touchdown by Xavier Harris in the first half. The defense also had a safety and Hauk’s second tackle among his seven tied Dante Olson’s school record of 397.
Lucas Johnson went 20 of 26 for 221 yards passing and two touchdowns for the Griz.
The opening kickoff was short and bounced over Bergen’s head and was recovered by the Vikings on the 22, leading to a Mataio Talalemotu 8-yard TD run. The Grizzlies quickly answered on PSU’s next possession, Bergen redeemed himself, returning a punt up the middle before cutting to the left sideline.
The Grizzlies had 396 yards of offense to 199 for Portland State (0-3, 0-1).
Next up: Portland State vs. Northern Arizona, 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Hillsboro Stadium. It’s the first of three consecutive home games for the Vikings.
-- The Associated Press
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