Cats, Griz survive scares

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Jordan Johnson connected with Ellis Henderson for a 25-yard touchdown in overtime to lead Montana over Sacramento State 51-48.

Johnson passed for 381 yards and two touchdowns to pace No. 12 Montana (7-2, 4-2 Big Sky Conference), while Jordan Canada rushed for four touchdowns and 78 yards on 17 carries. Canada's 1-yard plunge with 3:38 left in the game seemed to set the Grizzlies up for the win.

But Sacramento State (4-5, 3-2) tied it up with a 77 yard drive, culminated by Garrett Safron's 5-yard TD toss to Cole Hikutini with 23 seconds remaining.

Safron ended the day 41 of 58 for 412 yards and 4 TDs, and ran for 93 yards and 2 TDs.

In overtime, the Hornets' drive stalled at Montana's 8-yard line, where Brad Cornish hit for a 25-yard field goal. On the Grizzlies' first play in the extra session, Johnson found Henderson for the game-winner.

The Grizzlies remain on the road, playing at South Dakota in a non-conference battle this Saturday.

Bobcats 35, N. Colorado 28

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - Cody Kirk rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns as Montana State held off Northern Colorado for a 35-28 win Saturday.

Montana State (7-2, 5-0 Big Sky) just could not pull away from Northern Colorado (1-8, 0-5). The No. 5 Bobcats jumped out to separate leads of 14 and 13 points, only to see the Bears reel them back in.

Trailing 27-14 in the fourth quarter, Seth Lobato threw a touchdown pass to Austin Wilbers and ran for another as Northern Colorado took a 28-27 lead. Montana State responded with a 12-play, 69-yard scoring drive. Kirk capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. DeNarius McGhee found Kirk for the two-point conversion.

Northern Colorado would get two chances to drive for the tying score, but both ended on failed fourth down conversions.

Lobato finished 30 of 43 for 291 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw one interception.

The Bobcats will now prepare for this Saturday's huge showdown with No. 3 Eastern Washington in Cheney, Wash.