Montana Grizzlies play at Portland State

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Montana football team hits the road for the final time in the regular season as it travels to Portland State this weekend.

The No. 3 Grizzlies will look to win their sixth consecutive game when they take on the Vikings at 7 p.m. MT Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium. The Griz are 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Big Sky, part of a three-way tie atop the league standings with two regular-season games remaining.

The Vikings come into the game at 4-5 overall, 3-5 against Division I teams and 3-3 against FCS competition. They’re one of six Big Sky teams that has a 3-3 record in conference action. Portland State has alternated a win and a loss through its first six league contests.

The Vikings are coming off a 37-23 loss at UC Davis. The Griz are fresh off a 34-7 victory against then-No. 7 Sacramento State, their third ranked win this season.

Pregame

The Brawl of the Wild will be for the Big Sky outright championship if Montana can beat Portland State tonight and improve to 6-1 in conference play. Earlier today, Montana State (6-1) beat Eastern Washington, 57-14, while Idaho (5-2) lost at Weber State, 31-29.

ESPN's College GameDay won't be coming to Missoula for the Brawl of the Wild next week. The pregame show announced Saturday afternoon that it will be going to James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Don't see left guard Hunter Mayginnes and wide receiver Aaron Fontes in pregame warmups. Liam Brown is taking first-team reps at left guard in pregame. This would be Mayginnes' third consecutive missed game. Sawyer Racanelli is one three receivers taking first-team reps during warmups along with usual starters Junior Bergen and Keelan White.

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

First quarter

Montana cornerback Ronald Jackson Jr. making his second career start at UM and his second consecutive start in place of Billings' Trevin Gradney. Corbin Walker in his usual starting spot at the other CB position.

Portland State scores on the opening possession as kicker Gianni Smith makes a 37-yard field goal. That's an 8-play, 55-yard drive in 4:08. Viks run 5 times (5 different rushers) for 27 yards and complete a 29-yard pass midway through the drive

SCORE: PSU 3, Griz 0, 10:52 left first quarter

Montana's Clifton McDowell punches in a 1-yard TD on a QB sneak one play after RB Eli Gillman is ruled down short of the end zone. That's a 12-play, 77-yard drive in 5:59. Sawyer Racanelli 2 catches for 26 yards starting in place of Aaron Fontes.

SCORE: Griz 7, PSU 3, 4:49 left first quarter

Portland State punter George Triplett sends his punt just 20 yards. Montana will take over with a short field starting at the Vikings' 38-yard line. The Griz lead 7-3 with 3:07 left in the first quarter. Vikings' punt is after a failed third-and-6 following a false start.

Clifton McDowell breaks two tackles to pick up the first down on fourth-and-8 from the PSU 36-yard line. LG Liam Brown is hurt on the play. Brown not putting any pressure on his left leg while helped off field. Declan McCabe comes in as the Griz are down to their third-string LG.

End first quarter: Montana 7, Portland State 3

Second quarter

Portland native Nick Ostmo bursts 4 yards up the middle for the Montana TD. Griz go 9 plays, 38 yards in 3:47 that drive.

SCORE: Griz 14, Portland State 3, 14:20 left second quarter

Portland State punts for the second straight drive, this time from its own 28-yard line. Frenchtown native/Missoula Sentinel grad Jace Klucewich with a big hit at cornerback on first down to drop a receiver for no gain. #GrizFB 14, PSU 3, 12:03 left second quarter.

Montana QB Clifton McDowell bounces off tacklers to run for a 20-yard TD. Cannon Panfiloff plays RT in place of Brandon Casey that drive. 9 plays, 71 yards in 4:07. McDowell had an 11-yard run on third-and-11 early in the drive to keep it alive.

SCORE: Griz 21, Portland State 3, 7:56 left second quarter

Montana safety Ryder Meyer nearly comes up with his second career interception, but the third-down incompletion leads to a Portland State punt. The Griz take over at their one 9-yard line leading 21-3 with 2:20 left in the second quarter.

True freshman Keali'i Ah Yat in at QB for Montana on its fourth drive. He throws a 39-yard pass to Nick Ostmo, who gains 31 yards after the catch. He completes a third-and-12 pass to Keelan White for 30 yards. Griz add a 26-yard FG by Nico Ramos.

SCORE: Griz 24, PSU 3, 0:00 left second quarter

End second quarter: Montana 24, Portland State 3

Third quarter

Montana's first drive of the second half gets derailed by penalties after a 25-yard catch by Junior Bergen and a 24-yard run by Eli Gillman. Three penalties for 20 yards, including a hold that negated a touchdown. Griz up 24-3 on Portland State, 12:36 left third quarter.

After forcing a punt, Montana QB Clifton McDowell scores his third rush TD, this one from 8 yards out. He had 3 rush TDs all season entering this game. Drive included a 26-yard pass to Junior Bergen and a 20-yard run by Xavier Harris.

SCORE: Griz 31, Portland State 3, 8:29 left third quarter

Portland State goes 99 yards on six plays for its first TD of the game. Dante Chachere connects with Jermaine Braddock for a 64-yard TD, with 30 yards after the catch.

SCORE: Griz 31, PSU 10, 6:12 left third quarter

Montana kicker Nico Ramos makes it 2-of-2 on FGs today, hitting from 43 yards this time. That closes a 12-play, 50-yard drive that ate up 5:20. He's coming up big with starter Grant Glasgow out the past two games.

SCORE: Griz 34, Portland State 10, 0:44 left third quarter

End third quarter: Montana 34, Portland State 10

Fourth quarter

Montana LB Riley Wilson picks up the Grizzlies' first sack of the game. That gives him a team-high 6.5 this season, with 5.5 coming in the past four games.

Montana DE Garrett Hustedt just swallows up Portland State QB Dante Chachere for the Grizzlies' second sack of the game. LB Riley Wilson follows with a sack on the next play to force a punt. Griz up 34-10 with 4:59 to play.

Montana's Jace Klucewich downs Travis Benham's 48-yard punt at the 1-yard line. That's at least the third time this season the Griz have downed a punt inside the 1-yard line: Ronald Jackson at Utah Tech and Garrett Graves vs. Ferris State.

Final: Montana 34, Portland State 10