University of Montana vs UC Davis 2009 Highlights

The Montana Grizzlies survived another slow start, two record-setting Aggie individual performances, and a light failure to notch a come-from-behind 17-10 road win.

The game was in question with less than a minute to go. UC Davis was knocking on the door, sitting at the Montana 12-yard line down 17-10 when things went crazy in Davis, Calif. The stadium lights failed with 57 seconds left to play, causing a lengthy delay going into 4th and 7.

Following the delay, cornerback Trumaine Johnson out-jumped Davis receiver Chris Carter in the end zone to snag the game-securing interception, Johnsons second of the game, allowing Montana to run out the clock.

Montana went with a quarterback rotation for the second time this season. Justin Roper started the game, going 9-for-19 for 143 yards and a touchdown, and Andrew Selle threw for 83 yards on 7-of-10 passing. Running back Chase Reynolds had a game-high 90 yards on 25 carries.

UC Davis quarterback Greg Denham and Carter both set school records against Montana. Carters 18 receptions and Denhams 43 completions were both single-game bests. Carter finished with 190 receiving yards, and Denham threw 64% (43-67) for 362 yards and a touchdown, as well as two interceptions.

The first quarter was a scoreless affair, as the teams traded punts to start things off. Johnsons first interception, also a jump ball won over Carter in the end zone, kept the Aggies off the board. The Griz offense couldnt move the ball, and Davis was driving, ending the quarter at the UM 1-yard line. The Griz defense took advantage of an Aggie false start and held UC Davis out of the end zone, forcing the Aggies to settle for a 21-yard Sean Kelley field goal to go up 3-0.

Montana didnt pick up a first down until 13:48 when Roper hit Reynolds for a 12-yard strike. The success was short-lived, and the Griz again traded punts with the Aggies. The next Griz drive fizzled on a Jabin Sambrano drop on 3rd down, and following another Grizzly defensive stop, another promising Grizzly drive was cut short, this time when linebacker Mike Healey stripped Marc Mariani. Safety Danny Hart recovered and returned the fumble 39 yards to the UM 44. Davis couldnt capitalize, and the half ended with the Aggies leading 3-0.

Sambrano returned the opening kick of the second half 35 yards to give UM great field position at near midfield, but a botched snap led to a turnover, giving the Aggies the ball at the UM 45. UC Davis took full advantage, putting together a 13-play scoring drive, capped by a Denham 1-yard play-action pass to wide-open tight end Brad Bispo in the end zone.

Montana got on the board the following possession, a 12-play affair punctuated by a Justin Roper 17-yard strike to Sam Gratton in the corner of the end zone to make it 10-7 Aggies.

Montana turned it on in the fourth quarter. After Austin Mullins broke up a screen pass on 3rd down to force the Aggies into a 38-yard field goal attempt that Kelley pushed wide right, Montana strung together a 5-play scoring drive, highlighted by a Roper to Dan Beaudin 61-yard catch-and-run to the Davis 3. Reynolds threw a key block on that play and also got the touchdown on the next snap, a 3-yard run to the left, giving Montana its first lead, 14-10.

Davis turned the ball over on their next possession, on a high shotgun snap recovered by UMs Severin Campbell at the Aggie 20-yard line. Montana at a 1st and goal, but the Davis defense stiffened, and held the Griz to a Brody McKnight field goal, good from 23 yards out.

The 17-10 lead with 8:34 to go would be all Montana would need. Davis receiver Bakari Grant dropped a would-be touchdown in the end zone, helping the Griz D to force a turnover on downs. Montana burned 3:30 off the clock on its next possession, giving UC Davis 67 yards to go in 2:31. A Denham pass to Carter for 42 yards picked up a large chunk of that, but the Aggies would only get to the UM 12 before the lighting delay.

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[MrPatriotsfan4life]

Chase Reynolds is a beast enough said and this year they will win it all

[romerider182]

UM's pass d blows

[smarterray]

The thing I appreciate about Montana's highlight videos is that they show the highlights of BOTH teams. Thanks!