Cats, Griz pummel DII foes at home

MISSOULA AP) - Travon Van reached the end zone the first three times he touched the ball Saturday in Montana's 48-14 win over Central Washington. But it was no big deal for the Grizzlies senior running back.

"Oh yeah, I've done it before back in high school," said Van when asked if the three-for-three touchdown performance was a first. "But it felt really good to do it again."

Montana (1-1), playing without injured starting quarterback Jordan Johnson, turned to Van to dismantle the Division II Wildcats (0-1) in the Griz' home opener at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Van scored on runs of 31 and 9 yards and an 85-yard pass from Shay Smithwick-Hann to lead the Grizzlies to a 34-7 halftime lead. Van added a fourth touchdown in the third quarter on a 43-yard run.

"(Van) is so electrifying in space that we know we have to get him the ball," said Montana coach Mick Delaney. "He is just such a fine athlete."

Montana dominated on both sides of the ball from the start. The Grizzlies denied the Wildcats a first down in the first quarter and racked up 443 yards of total offense, including 298 yards on the ground. Jordan Canada led the way with 98 yards.

"Our goal coming into the game was to be able to run the ball and stop the run," Delaney said. "We ran for nearly 300 yards which makes an old bugger like me happy."

Malta product Tucker Schye picked up a fumbled punt by teammate John Nguyen and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown and Harrison Greenberg booted a 29-yard field goal to round out Montana's first-half scoring.

Central Washington coach Ian Shoemaker called Schye's return with 4:10 left in the first quarter, which gave Montana a 17-0 lead, a turning point in the game.

"Obviously it was a big momentum change right there," said Shoemaker. "We thought we had made a big play. It was exciting and deflating at the same time."

Central Washington got on the scoreboard with 10:06 to play in the half on a 13-yard pass from Jake Nelson to Kent McKinney Jr.

But it was all Montana the rest of the way, even with Delaney emptying his bench in the fourth quarter.

After Van's fourth touchdown of the day, Nguyen capped the Grizzly scoring on a 22-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Jordan Todd added a 32-yard scoring run for the Wildcats with 12:20 remaining in the game.

Van finished the day with 153 yards in total offense. Smithwick-Hann completed 10-of-16 passes for 145 yards.

The Griz remain at home, taking on FCS rival South Dakota this Saturday night. The game is a prelude to Montana's much-anticipated trip to North Dakota State Sept. 20.

Bobcats 57, Black Hills 10

BOZEMAN (AP) - Dakota Prukop threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 176 yards and three more touchdowns to help No. 20 Montana State win its home opener 57-10 over Black Hills State Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium.

Prukop did all his running in the first half when the Bobcats (1-1) built a 42-10 lead. His touchdown runs were from 60, 57 and 6 yards. He was 14-of-16 passing and connected on touchdown passes of 43 yards to Justin Paige and 33 yards to Tanner Roderick both in the first half as he gave way after one series in the second half.

"I was just trying to catch my breath," Prukop said when asked to describe the feeling of scoring his first touchdown on the 60-yard run. "I did a lot of zigging and zagging on that one. I was pleased, but we don't ever fulfill our expectations.

"He's a great player, and it wasn't a surprise to see him do that," Bobcats running back Gunnar Brekke said. "That's why we call him 'Crazy Legs' Prukop."

The Division II Yellowjackets (0-1) scored their lone touchdown on Phydell Paris' 49-yard run. Paris finished with 16 carries for 81 yards.

Montana State scored on seven of its eight first-half possessions, amassed 637 total yards and snapped a four-game losing streak dating back to last season. The Bobcats held Black Hills State to eight yards in the second half.

"We're used to winning around here," MSU coach Rob Ash said, whose teams have won three of the last four Big Sky Conference titles. "It felt good and we hope it continues."

MSU remains at home, hosting FCS rival Central Arkansas this Saturday, before playing a huge game against Eastern Washington Sept. 20, also in Bozeman. The Central Arkansas game kicks off at 3 p.m. in Bozeman.

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