MISSOULA, Mont. - Corbin Walker intercepted a two-point conversion attempt to clinch No. 2 seed Montana's 31-29 double overtime win over North Dakota State in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 16, before a crowd of 26,544 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
North Dakota State finished its season 11-4, while Montana (13-1) advanced to face top-seeded defending national champion South Dakota State (14-0) in the FCS championship game Sunday, Jan. 7, in Frisco, Texas.
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NDSU tied the game with 51 seconds left in regulation on a 9-yard pass from
Cam Miller to
Eli Green, then went ahead on the first play of overtime on
Cole Payton's 25-yard touchdown run.
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That was NDSU's first lead since a field goal on the opening drive of the game, but the Grizzlies scored two plays later on a 22-yard pass from Clifton McDowell to Junior Bergan.
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Montana went ahead in the second overtime on a 13-yard touchdown run by Eli Gillman before converting the mandatory two-point attempt on a pass from Bergan to Keelan White.
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NDSU scored on a 2-yard run by
TK Marshall, but Walker intercepted a pass from wide receiver
RaJa Nelson intended for tight end
Joe Stoffel, who was knocked down in the end zone.
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Griffin Crosa kicked field goals of 30, 35 and 38 yards for NDSU, which converted only 3 of 13 third down attempts. The Bison outgained Montana 345 to 284 in total yards.
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Miller was 9 of 22 passing for 157 yards, Green had five receptions for 98 yards, and
TaMerik Williams led the Bison rushing game with 11 carries for 52 yards.
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NDSU safety
Cole Wisniewski made a game-high 11 tackles and
Javier Derritt had two of NDSU's three sacks.
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McDowell finished 16 of 30 passing for 160 yards for the Grizzlies, and Bergan made six catches for 59 yards plus a 47-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter.
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It was the final game for NDSU head coach
Matt Entz, who earlier in the week was announced as the new assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Southern California. Entz was 60-11 in five years as the Bison head coach.
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