UC Davis is Aggie-nizing! Grizzly Football Pulls Out a Thriller

With both teams putting on an electrifying offensive show in the first half, fans could only expect more in the final 30 minutes.

So, who would blink first? Would the visitors pay the price for some costly mistakes, like losing two fumbles inside their opponents 10 yard line, and committing two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that aided in a game-tying touchdown?

Or would grit and determination, along with some spectacular catches and one huge touchdown run, in addition to some big defensive stops, be enough to to get out of there with a win?

It took until late in the fourth quarter for the University of Montana Grizzlies to answer those questions. And they had the right answers, as Montana hangs on to post a heart-stopping  31-23 decision over the UC Davis Aggies in Davis, California Saturday evening.

Griz quarterback Clifton McDowell threw three touchdown passes and Eli Gilman busted loose for an 85-yard touchdown run. Grant Glasgow added a field goal to increase Montana's lead to 31-20 with under 7 minutes to go.

On their next possession UC Davis moved to the Montana 25 and settled for a field goal, making it 31-23. The Griz do nothing on their next possession and give the ball right back to the Aggies, who fly down the field. With the ball at the Grizzly 12, the Montana D steps up big time, forcing a fumble with just over a minute to play and head home with a key Big Sky Conference victory.

Montana improves to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. It hardly gets easier next Saturday, as the Griz head to Moscow, Idaho for a late-night match-up with third-ranked Idaho.