Quarterback Brad Lebo passed for 312 yards and one touchdown and Montana's defense converted safeties as the Grizzlies upset Boise State 21-7 in Big Sky Conference football Saturday.
Fourth-ranked Boise State lost its first game of the year, dropping to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in league play. The Grizzlies improved to 2-1 and 3-3.The Broncos were averaging 38 points a game before Saturday, but the Montana defense sacked BSU quarterback Jeff Mladenich five times and held Boise State to 191 yards total offense.
BSU's only score came on a 1-yard run by Rodney Cornist in the third quarter after the Broncos intercepted Lebo and returned the ball into Montana territory.
Montana also had its problems on offense, coming up empty on three opportunities inside the Boise State 10-yard line in the first half.
The Grizzlies didn't get on the board until linebacker Kyle Mirich tackled Mladenich in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter. Kirk Duce also kicked a 45-yard field goal to give Montana a 5-0 lead at halftime.
Nevada 41, Idaho State 20
At Reno, Nev., University of Nevada ran off 21 fourth quarter points Saturday for a 41-20 Big Sky Conference victory over Idaho State.
The Wolfpack, top ranked in Division I-AA, improved to 6-0 overall, 3-0 in Big Sky play. The Bengals fell to 2-3 and 1-2.
The Bengals had rallied to tie the score with 1:04 left in the third quarter, when quarterback Trevor Cavanaugh found Al Smith for a 25-yard touchdown.
But Nevada quarterback Fred Gatlin, who completed 22 passes for 313 yards, completed a pair of passes to Joe King to begin the winning drive. King's second reception was good for a 38-yard gain to the Idaho State 2.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Dedric Holmes ran around right end for the go-ahead touchdown. More of the same on the next Wolfpack possession: three Gatlin completions and 4 Holmes runs netted 55 yards and a 34-20 lead. Holmes scored again, this time from 9 yards out.
"Our offense has good confidence right now and everyone knows what they have to do to make it click," said receiver Brian Reeves.
Portland State 35,
Eastern Washington 23
At Cheney, Wash., John Charles threw four second-half touchdown passes as Portland State overcame a 20-7 halftime deficit to beat Eastern Washington, in non-conference football action.
Charles hit running back Rod Clemente for scores of 19 and 12 yards to bring the Vikings to within 23-21 with 4:49 remaining in the third. He put the game away with scoring passes of 16 and 8 yards to tight end Ed Yoder.
Eastern (2-4) opened the scoring in the first quarter by going 80 yards in three plays, capped by a scoring pass play of 50 yards from Mark Tenneson to Tom Owens.
Portland State (4-2) tied the score at 7-7 on a Rodney Hicks 1-yard run with 4:46 left in the first quarter.
After Eastern's Kurt Schulz thwarted a Viking drive by Charles in the end zone, Eastern drove 80 yards on 14 plays and took a 10-7 lead on Alex Lacson's 25-yard field goal.
Charles fumbled on Portland State's first offensive play following the kickoff with Eastern's Jason Marsh recovering on the Viking 11-yard line.
Tenneson scored on a 1-yard sneak with 11:39 left in the half to extend the Eagles lead to 17-7.
Portland State fumbled again on its first offensive play, and Eastern answered with a Lacson 47-yard field goal with 10:15 remaining.