MISSOULA, MT. — Montana quarterback Clifton McDowell's 13-yard touchdown pass to Keelan White during the first overtime session would prove the difference as the Grizzlies held on in dramatic fashion to defeat the Furman Paladins 35-28 in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
The No. 2 seeded Grizzlies (12-1) will host the semifinals next weekend against the winner of South Dakota and North Dakota State, who play Saturday.
Montana got an outstanding performance on special teams from Junior Bergen, who returned both a kickoff and punt to help the Griz keep their national championship hopes alive. The first-team All-Big Sky return specialist and receiver finihsed the night with 242 all-purpose yards.
Bergen made an impact on the opening kickoff, taking the kick back 99 yards for his first career kick return touchdown. He juked out the kicker, who fell in a heap around the Furman 40-yard line and sent the crowd into an early frenzy.
The junior wide reciever would later return a punt 59 yards to give the Grizzlies a 28-21 lead to begin the final quarter. On the play, Bergen fielded the Paladin punt at his own 41, ran towards his team's bench, raced up the sidelines, and go untouchded into the end zone to give Montana the lead.
Despite the big play, Montana's offense struggled to move the ball for most of the second half, allowing the Paladins (10-3) to force overtime with 13 seconds remaining in regulation when quarterback Tyler Huff found a leaping Mason Pline — who used his 6-foot-7 frame — to outjump two defenders for the touchdown.
Huff overcame an interception with 2:03 left in the game to lead Furman on the last-minute drive. Huff, the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year, finished 16-of-47 passing for 187 yards and ran for 71 on 11 carries.
Montana would find paydirt on their first possession of overtime with McDowell's 13-yard strike to White, and then the Grizzlies defense held the Paladins out of the end zone on four plays.
Furman 14 0 7 7 0 = 28
Montana 14 6 0 8 7 = 35
First Quarter
MONT—J. Bergen 99 kickoff return (N. Ramos kick), 14:47.
FURM—D. Roberto 1 run (A. Lepvreau kick), 13:22. MONT— C. McDowell 8 run (N. Ramos kick), (6:44).
FURM—T. Huff 53 run (I. Williams kick), 5:21.
Second Quarter
MONT—N. Ramos 39 field goal, 14:56.
MONT— N. Ramos 28 field goal, 8:15.
Third Quarter
FURM— D. Roberto 1 run (A. Lepvreau kick), 6:22.
Fourth Quarter
MONT—J. Bergen 59 punt return (S. Racanelli pass), 14:47.
FURM—M. Pline 13 pass from T. Huff (I.Williams kick), 0:13.
Overtime
MONT—K. White 13 pass from C. McDowell (N. Ramos kick), 0:00.
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