Montana Griz host Delaware in FCS playoffs second round

MISSOULA — The Griz carry a No. 2 seed and No. 2 national ranking into their FCS-record 27th appearance in the playoffs. They host unseeded and 11th-ranked Delaware, another blue blood, in a second-round game at 7 p.m. Saturday in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Montana is coming off its Big Sky-record 19th conference championship. The Griz hold a 10-1 record and are on a seven-game winning streak after losing their league opener at Northern Arizona. 

Delaware holds a 9-3 overall record and is coming off a 36-34 comeback win over Lafayette in the first round of the playoffs at home last week. The Blue Hens went 6-2 in the 15-team Coastal Athletic Association to finish tied for fourth place.

They’re making their first trip to Missoula since 1993, a 49-48 win for Delaware in its only showdown against Montana. The Griz won’t have to leave home as long as they keep winning, holding home field advantage through the semifinals until the neutral-site title game Jan. 7.

This will be UM’s seventh night game, a single-season program record. The Griz are 6-0 in those contests, including 2-0 at home under the lights this year. Inside Wa-Griz, Montana is 32-7 in playoff games and 36-7 against teams from east of the Mississippi River.

Pregame

Montana is looking to become the first Big Sky team to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals. Earlier in the day, Sacramento State lost at South Dakota, 34-24, and Montana State to North Dakota State, 35-34 in overtime.

Delaware junior QB Ryan O’Connor is taking some first-team reps during pregame. He was injured in the regular season finale two weeks ago and sat out the first-round playoff game. True freshman Nick Minicucci started that game. O'Connor has thrown for 1,907 yards, 17 TDs and seven INTs.

Don't see left guards Hunter Mayginnes, Liam Brown warming up for Montana #GrizFB. Mayginnes hasn't played since Idaho game. Brown got hurt in Portland State game. First-team reps in pregame: LT Chris Walker, LG Cannon Panfiloff, C AJ Forbes, RG Journey Grimsrud, RT Brandon Casey.

Delaware wins the coin toss and defers to the second half. Montana will receive the opening kickoff.

First quarter

Montana QB Clifton McDonald is picked off on second pass attempt of the game. Delaware DB Tyron Herring with the INT at UM 34. McDowell had been picked off once in 155 attempts entering the game. Junior Ryan O'Connor starting at QB for Delaware after injury two games ago.

Delaware penalized for a false start on first down. The Blue Hens end up going three-and-out, lose 5 yards and punt as Montana's defense shows its speed. Delaware came into the game with the eighth-fewest penalties per game in the FCS (4.5).

Montana's Nico Ramos hits a 43-yard FG. McDowell overshot wide-open Bergen in end zone play before. That's a 16-play, 54-yard drive over 7:30. Griz converted 3 of 5 third downs and had drive extended by a pass interference penalty on fourth down.

SCORE: Griz 3, Delaware 0, 5:21 left first quarter

Montana's defense forces its second consecutive three-and-out to start the game. Delaware has 1 total yard through six offensive plays. Griz WR Sawyer Racanelli blocks the punt. The first blocked punt by the Griz this season. Montana starts at the Delaware 27-yard line.

One play after the blocked punt, Montana running back Xavier Harris rushes 27 yards for a touchdown. First TD for him since Sept. 23 against Northern Arizona.

SCORE: Griz 10, Delaware 0, 3:31 left first quarter

Delaware goes for it on fourth-and-2 from the Montana 40-yard line and QB Ryan O'Connor throws an incompletion targeting TE Braden Brose.

End first quarter: Montana 10, Delaware 0

Second quarter

Montana running back Nick Ostmo scampers for a 35-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter and the second play after the turnover on downs. Ryder Meyer 2-point run fails.

SCORE: Griz 16, Delaware 0, 14:51 left second quarter

Delaware QB Ryan O’Connor hits Chandler Harvin over the middle for a 44-yard touchdown. RB Marcus Yarns had started the drive with a 50-yard run. Blue Hens go for 2-point pass and TE Braden Brose is tackled short of the end zone.

SCORE: Griz 16, Delaware 6, 13:59 left second quarter

Montana moves the ball down to the Delaware 10-yard line and settles for a 30-yard field goal by Nico Ramos.

SCORE: Griz 19, Delaware 6, 10:22 left second quarter

Delaware goes for it on fourth-and-2 from the Montana 40-yard line. QB Ryan O’Connor is stopped short of the first down despite a strong second effort. Braxton Hill and Hayden Harris on the tackle for Montana. Griz take over leading 19-6 with 7:56 left in second quarter.

Three plays after the turnover on downs, Montana QB Clifton McDowell finds WR Keelan White down the left sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. McDowell already has 147 yards on 7-of-11 passing. White up to 88 yards on four catches,

SCORE: Griz 26, Delaware 6, 6:37 left second quarter

Delaware snaps the punt over the punter's head and it rolls out of the end zone for a safety.

SCORE: Griz 28, Delaware 6, 5:43 left second quarter

Montana QB Clifton McDowell rushes up the middle for a 20-yard TD two plays after he ripped off a 27-yard run. The play is under review to see if he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line. The TD call stands.

SCORE: Griz 35, Delaware 6, 3:41 left second quarter

Delaware converts its first third down of the game with just over two minutes left in the first half. The Blue Hens had been 0 of 5 on third downs and 0 of 3 on fourth downs. Meanwhile, Montana is 5 of 8 on third downs. Delaware QB Ryan O'Connor throws a 13-yard TD pass to Chandler Harvin, who has two TDs and 57 yards on two catches. 2-point pass is incomplete.

SCORE: Griz 35, Delaware 12, 0:26 left first half

End second quarter: Montana 35, Delaware 12

Third quarter

Montana goes three-and-out, punts for first time today on its first possession of second half. Griz defense steps up as Nash Fouch forces Jourdan Townsend to fumble. Philipsburg native Jaxon Lee scoops up ball and rumbles 56 yards for a TD.

SCORE: Griz 42, Delaware 12, 10:10 left third quarter

Montana CB Corbin Walker picks off QB Ryan O'Connor on Delaware's first snap after the lost fumble. Griz start at UD 43-yard line, convert a fourth down and McDowell connects with TE Evan Shafer, who breaks a tackle to score a 25-yard TD.

SCORE: Griz 49, Delaware 12, 6:36 left third quarter

Delaware QB Ryan O'Connor fools everyone as he keeps the ball on fourth-and-goal and runs for a 1-yard touchdown to end a 14-play, 64-yard drive over 6:11.

SCORE: Griz 49, Delaware 19, 0:14 left third quarter

End third quarter: Montana 49, Delaware 19

Fourth quarter

True freshman QB Keali'i Ah Yat in for Montana. The Griz run the ball three times with RB Isiah Childs. Ah Yat's pass on fourth down intended for Drew Deck is broken up. Griz up 49-19 on Delaware with 10:52 to play.

Delaware has brought in true freshman QB Nick Minicucci, who made his first career start last week. He's the team's third-string QB. Montana linebacker Cooper Barnum, the son of Portland State head coach Bruce Barnum, collects his first career sack on fourth-and-goal from the 15-yard line.

Montana starting left tackle Chris Walker goes down with an injury and stays on the field for a minute. He walks off to the sideline slowly and on his own. Appears the athletic trainers are looking at his right knee. A handful of O-linemen have gathered around him.