Junior slotback Kristaan Ivory led all rushers with 121 yards on 22 carries, but it wasn’t enough as Cal Poly dropped a 21-14 overtime decision at Montana on Saturday.
Mustang News Staff Report
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Driving late in the fourth quarter on the road, the Cal Poly football team sniffed an upset against No. 9/10 Montana Saturday afternoon.
The Mustangs used a time-consuming drive that lasted 5:54 late in the period, but senior kicker Bobby Zalud’s field goal attempt to put Cal Poly up by two scores was blocked, reversing the tables and giving Montana the ball and all the momentum.
The Grizzlies cashed in on a fourth and goal from the 2-yard line with 12 seconds left in regulation as quarterback Jordan Johnson found Ellis Henderson in the end zone to send the game into overtime tied at 14.
From there, Montana scored again on its opening possession — a 23-yard touchdown pass by Johnson — and intercepted a pass on Cal Poly’s ensuing possession to hand the Mustangs a 21-14 loss in Missoula, Mont.
The loss dropped Cal Poly to 3-4 overall and to 2-1 in the Big Sky, while the Grizzlies improved to 6-1 and 3-1 in conference play. Cal Poly has now lost 10 of the 11 meetings at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
The Mustangs held Montana to 146 yards and eight first downs through the first three quarters before the Grizzlies broke out for their two late scores.
Senior fullback Akaninyene Umoh scored both Cal Poly touchdowns on runs of 6 and 4 yards. He finished the afternoon with 38 yards on nine total carries.
In only his second-career start, sophomore quarterback Dano Graves completed 13 of 18 passes for 95 yards and added 91 yards on the ground. The interception thrown in overtime was the first of his career.
Johnson threw for 242 yards on 22 of 39 passing for Montana and threw his first interception of the season when junior defensive back Jordan Williams picked off a pass in the second quarter.
Junior slotback Kristaan Ivory led all rushers with 121 yards on 22 carries, netting his fourth 100-yard game of the season.
The Mustangs outgained Montana 403 to 315 in total yards while posting 308 of those yards on the ground, but it wasn’t enough as two Cal Poly turnovers eventually led to Montana touchdowns.
Cal Poly returns home next weekend to face Northern Arizona, the only team to have beaten Montana this season, in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:05 p.m.
Stephan Teodosescu contributed to this report.