By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian | Posted: Saturday, October 8, 2011 10:00 pm
POCATELLO, Idaho - Check off getting a conference road win for the No. 16 Montana Grizzlies, who dominated Idaho State 33-0 Saturday at Holt Arena.
But leave the square next to "Played two solid halves" blank.
"It kind of reminded me of the Cal Poly first half," Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson said of Saturday's first two quarters, during which the Griz came up with five ISU turnovers but led just 13-0. "We just didn't get going - the passing game or the running game, really."
Johnson threw passes of 43 and 39 yards on a quick first-quarter drive, and had a 22-yard strike to Antwon Moutra to convert a third-down ahead of Jabin Sambrano's third-quarter TD on a reverse.
In between, well, there wasn't a lot to shout about. Idaho State's previously porous defense kept stacking up running plays for losses - as in 53 yards worth.
"We'd get a 5-yard gain and then a 3-yard loss and have third-and-8, which is really tough," said Johnson. "If we can just avoid just those 3-yard losses ... it's a lot easier to operate."
The Griz did have some bread-and-butter plays, the main being a quick hit to Gerald Kemp to the outside. Kemp had eight catches for 82 yards.
"We came in thinking Gerald would be a good option for those bubble screens," said Johnson. "You know, he's the best athlete we have on the team, so if we can get the ball in his hands in space it's always going to be good."
On their opening drive of the third quarter, UM ran two reverses to Jabin Sambrano, covering 10 and 28 yards.
The latter went for the senior's second rushing TD of his Griz career; he cut inside Johnson, who occupied a defender just enough to keep the lane clear.
Jordan Canada had a couple nice carries late as UM began to wear down Idaho State. The Grizzlies finished with 211 yards rushing.
"I think Idaho State's defensive line did a tremendous job," offered UM coach Robin Pflugrad. "They played with a lot of emotion and early on, we didn't match that emotion. The crowd was really into it. I mean, it was a neat environment. And it did take us too long to get going."
Johnson had a couple misfires, including a second-quarter drive that ended with a throw into triple coverage. Donovan Henley intercepted in the end zone for ISU.
"I still think he's in the maturing process," Pflugrad said of Johnson. "Hopefully he learns and grows and you know, I think we have numerous players like him. I think I can name a guy at each and every position."
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It was a tough loss for Idaho State and first-year coach Mike Kramer. From the first play - Bo Tully's interception of a Kevin Yost pass - Montana's defense dictated.
It was a late throw, in Kramer's mind.
"We've got to spin the ball on the outside if you're going to hold it," he said. "The safety stood there. We ran screen-and-go and the safety didn't even move. He didn't move five feet and the ball came right to him."
Kramer had little praise for a defensive front that started strong but wore down in the second half, or for special teams.
"Before we start talking about us like we're the Chicago Bears ... we're not playing that well," he said. "Yeah, we played better than maybe we've shown in the past. In the past it would've been 55-nothing and everybody would've been playing their twos and Tavoy (Moore) would've run two kickoffs back after the curtain was closed. Which is what happened last year."
Moore, ISU's speedy return man, had three kickoff returns for 63 yards and one punt return for minus-5 yards. He fumbled one of each.
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Montana's special teams were at their best, though Brody McKnight missed a pair of field goals, including a 41-yarder that skipped off the left upright. He appeared to slip on the attempt.
"A couple things went wrong on that play, but oh well," McKnight said. "We got the W.
"I've just got to concentrate a little bit more on my attempts. Just focus a little bit more and I'll be fine this second half of the season."
McKnight did come up with a fumble recovery on one kickoff, when teammate Caleb Walden popped the ball loose from ISU's Daniel McSurdy.
"That was real exciting, just seeing that ball pop loose," he said. "I was fortunate enough to be in position and the coaches do a great job of even coaching the kickers up on recovering fumbles."
The reaction he got was more subdued than when McKnight hit the game-winning field goal against ISU in 2009.
" ‘Good job, McKnight,' - that's it," he said, smiling. "That's all I expect."
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Caleb McSurdy, a Boise, Idaho, native who had several family members in attendance - including his brother Daniel, who plays for ISU - took just about every rep on Montana's defense.
"Coming home, having a lot of friends and family here, it's nice to win," said the middle linebacker, who had a sack and six tackles. "Beyond that, it's a conference win. But this one was special. It was fun."
His brother didn't play after his fumble of a first-quarter kickoff.
"He didn't, which is unfortunate, but as a young player, man, you're going to make some mistakes," McSurdy said. "I made plenty as a freshman, believe me. It's a thing where he's the type of person who's going to work hard to fix it. He's going to bounce back. I love him, man. He's going to be fine."
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