Wofford uses back-breaking drive to beat Griz, 23-22
For the second time in three years, the Montana football season ended in the first round of the playoffs. In the game's final minutes, the Terriers used a lengthy scoring drive that put them up five with only 32 seconds remaining. After running the ball down the Griz's throats, the Terriers of course used a pass from the 5 yard line to beat the Griz. This came after the Griz scored and failed to convert a 2 point conversion that put would've put them up 7.
Even though there was almost no time left, the Griz nearly won it. When the Terriers kicked off with 32 seconds remaining, the Griz ran the ball out to mid-field. A few Bergquist completions moved the ball near the 30. Carpenter had a shot at a 47 yard field goal to win it. Of course it came to that. The call started with "Carpenter drilled it" until the vacuum sucked all the emotion out of Washington-Grizzly and he finished the call with "he missed it."
I'm sure Dan feels like he's gonna die but you cannot hang this loss on him. The Terriers turned the ball over three times and the Griz failed to cash in any of them.
The entire season the Griz wanted their respect. You have to earn it. Today, they did not.
Actually, that would be the first time in two years that the Griz lost in the first round; the 2006 season ended with a loss to UMass in the semifinal of the NCAA D-1 Championship.
Yeah, that was a really dumb typo. I meant to type second in three w/ the loss to cal poly being the last time. This seemed a bit like the UMass game w/ the desperation drive in the closing seconds.
It was an awesome game in terms quality of play. We lost not because Wofford outplayed us but, missed opportunities specially the 1st and goal that ended up for a field goal due to a penalty. A good running game hurt us against Umass and, Wofford this yr, a better schedule I feel would def help prepare for teams with explosive backs.
I can't believe we lost 2 a school called "Wofford" where the fuck and who the fuck is "Wofford" wow our football team disappointed me this year oh well maybe next year
Devin, I'm sorry your football team disappointed you - I've heard of high standards... I'd take 11-1 any season!
Wofford is a good school and good football program, not worthy of an F-bomb. They won because they outplayed Montana - at least it seems so from the stats: 1st downs, total yards, time-of-possession... and most importantly: score. Their defense stopped your offense at key points where they had to. It was obviously a great game, hard fought between two great teams, and could have gone either way. Montana has nothing to be ashamed of.
Just in case you really do want to know who Wofford is - they are a small (1400 student) school in South Carolina that has a rich academic and sports tradition. They regularly play schools that are 10 or more times their size, and hold their own.
One sports writer who covered the game from SC wrote an entire article on what a classy crowd the Grizzlie fans were, even in defeat. I'm glad you are outnumbered!
I'm only a little surprised that we lost in the first round this year. The Griz really didn't have a strong schedule this year; we crushed every non-conference opponent in the first three weeks of play. The only two games in which we clearly defeated the other teams were against Northern Colorado, Sacramento State,and Montana State. That being said, the rest of our games in the Big Sky were fairly close.
This season just didn't seem right for Montana to go all the way(or at least any further). It seemed like we were pretty scrappy for the most part, and didnt really have solid performance. We weren't as consistent as we could've been, and unfortunately it showed in the first playoff game.
There's always next year.