Cats, Griz romp in homecoming games

MISSOULA (AP) — Jordan Johnson was quick to attribute his four-touchdown passing game Saturday to one thing — the Montana running attack.

"With us establishing the run game, I knew it would help the pass protection and give me time to throw the ball," the Montana quarterback said.

Travon Van and Jordan Canada each ran for more than 100 yards to propel a Grizzly ground game to 378 total yards rushing as No. 10 Montana toppled Portland State 55-27.

Johnson connected for three touchdowns with tight end Clay Pierson and once with wide receiver Cam Warren to help the Grizzlies improve to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky Conference play.

Portland State, which fell to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Sky, racked up 511 yards of total offense in a game that saw both teams combine for nearly 1,100 yards of offense.

"We gave up some huge plays, but we stopped their running game," said Montana coach Mick Delaney. "Our goal going into the game was to stop the run and make them be one-dimensional. I think it worked."

The Grizzlies never trailed, jumping to a 7-0 lead on a 36-yard pass from Johnson to Pierson with 12:22 to play in the first quarter.

Montana scored on five of its first six possessions to take a 35-20 halftime lead. Johnson also connected with Warren on a 17-yard scoring strike. Van scored on a 42-yard scamper, Canada on a 2-yard run and Jordan Tripp on a fumble recovery in the end zone to round out the Grizzlies' first-half scoring.

Portland State got first-half touchdowns on two Kieran McDonagh passes — 32 yards to Shaq Richard and 12 yards to Victor Dean — and a 22-yard pass from backup quarterback Paris Penn to Alex Toureen.

Twelve penalties for 108 yards and four turnovers, including two interceptions by Montana cornerback Anthony Goodwin, proved costly for the Vikings.

"All the things we needed to do well this week, we did," Goodwin said.

In the second half, Pierson and Johnson hooked up on a 25-yard pass on the Grizzlies' first possession to put Montana up 42-20. Pierson added his third touchdown of the game on a 10-yard pass from Johnson in the fourth quarter.

Van finished with 136 yards rushing on 14 carries, while Canada chipped in with 102 yards on 13 carries. Johnson completed 12 of 24 passes for 203 yards.

Dean led the Vikings' attack with 118 yards on four catches. McDonagh completed 18 of 32 passes for 266 yards, but was picked off three times.

Delaney praised his team for staying focused on the important aspects of the game.

"It comes down to who does things best and who is the most disciplined," Delaney said. "We are a very disciplined team."

The Grizzlies ar eon the road this Saturday to face U.C. Davis

Bobcats 36, N. Arizona 7

BOZEMAN (AP) — Shawn Johnson ran for 92 yards and a touchdown and had a 100-yard kickoff return for a score to lead Montana State to a 36-7 win over Northern Arizona in a matchup of two ranked FCS teams on Saturday.

Johnson's 27-yard touchdown run and three field goals by Rory Perez put MSU (4-2, 2-0 Big Sky) up 16-0 at halftime. The No. 8 Bobcats then got a 9-yard TD run by quarterback DeNarius McGhee and a 12-yard TD run by Cody Kirk to build a 29-0 lead.

Kirk ran for 156 yards on 27 carries for MSU.

"I tell Shawn before every game that I'm thunder and you're lightning," Kirk said. "I'll pound on them, you take it to the house and that's just what we did today."

The Bobcats ran for 276 yards on 56 carries in sun-splashed Bobcat Stadium with Kirk, Johnson, and McGhee getting all the carries.

"They're really fast on defense, so we just ran right at them," offensive tackle Quinn Catalano said.

NAU's only score came on a 37-yard interception return by Austin Hasquet, but Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

MSU's defense didn't allow any scoring and held No. 16 NAU (3-2, 1-1) to 232 yards.

NAU running back Zach Bauman, who went over 4,000 career yards last week, was held to just 26 yards on nine carries.

"Defensively, I felt we made a statement," MSU cornerback Deonte Flowers said. "When a great running back comes in and we shut him out that's great for our defense."

NAU coach Jerome Souers said the raucous crowd of 21,027 caused his squad problems.

"It's difficult with the crowd noise," he said. "Difficult to maintain a rhythm and that makes it tough on the run game when you can't hear the snap count."

MSU wide receiver Tanner Bleskin caught four passes, breaking the school record for career receptions with 170 on his last catch of the day. The quarterback on the record-breaking play was his brother Jake.

McGhee was injured early in the fourth quarter and didn't return. He finished 7 of 18 for just 72 yards and an interception. It was his first interception of the season. He ran for 36 yards on eight carries.

NAU quarterback Kyren Poe was 24 of 44 for 168 yards. NAU had just 64 yards on 20 carries.

The Cats have a bye this week.

Note: Havre Daily News sports editor George Ferguson contributed to these stories.