Missoula, MT – Portland State couldn't survive a second-quarter tidal wave from the Montana Grizzlies and that made for a long afternoon at Washington-Grizzly Stadium for the Vikings. Second-ranked UM defeated PSU, 53-16.
 
PSU trailed only 17-14 at one point, but Montana broke the game open in the second, taking advantage of some heady special teams play, scoring 25 points in the quarter. Then, a defense considered one of the best in the nation wouldn't allow the Vikings to come back.
 
Montana improved to 4-0 on the season. The Vikings dropped to 0-3, with all three games coming on the road.
 
"Montana is a good football team. We knew we couldn't make mistakes, but we made mistakes in all three phases of the game, caused by them," said Viking Coach Bruce Barnum. "When you play a team like that, you have to play mistake-free and get a couple of breaks. We didn't do that.
 
"They did a hell of a job on special teams and that didn't make all the difference, but it was big."
 
A little trickery by the Vikings to open the game got them on the board first. Kicker Gianni Smith sent a pooch kick down near the Montana 20. Viking wide receiver Maclaine Griffin raced down the field and snatched the ball before a Montana player could cover it. The Vikings were in business at the UM 22 on the first play. 
 
PSU ran the ball four times and wide receiver Mataio Talalemotu ended up scoring on an eight-yard reverse play.
 
Montana's vaunted defense stifled the Vikings the rest of the quarter. The Griz scored twice, the biggest being a 72-yard punt return by Junior Bergen, and led 14-7 after the first quarter.
 
Following a UM field goal, the Vikings put together a 14-play, 75-yard drive with Dante Chachere hitting wide receiver Beau Kelly on a 13-yard touchdown pass. 
 
After that though, it was all Montana. The Griz got a 64-yard TD run from Xavier Harris. A pair of special teams errors by the Vikings also hurt. A muffed kick return spotted PSU at the two-yard line following Harris' run. On the next play, Viking QB Dante Chachere tripped in the endzone for a Montana safety. At the end of the quarter, the Vikings attempted a 54-yard field goal. It came up short and Griz Robby Hauck returned it 99 yards for a score. 
 
Meanwhile, quarterback Lucas Johnson was 14-14 for 175 yards throwing the ball for Montana. At intermission it was 39-14 Griz.
 
PSU capitalized on a Montana special teams mistake in the third quarter. A bad punt snap resulted in free safety Broderick Harrell tackling the punter in the endzone for a safety. That was the only score of the period as the teams combined for only 31 yards of offense.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Hauck intercepted a pass at the Viking 21. The Griz needed only two plays to score again, leading 46-16. Montana added one more score after getting into a short field situation to win 53-16. 
 
Montana's defense, considered one of the best in the nation, was up to it on this day. Quarterbacks Chachere, and later Mike Irwin, routinely felt the pressure of six, and on occasion, seven rushers.
 
The Griz outgained the Vikings 396-199 overall. Johnson finished 20-26 passing for 221 yards and two scores. Meanwhile, the Vikings combined to go 14-27 passing for 103 yards, one score and one interception. 
 

GAME NOTES

• SR S Broderick Harrell made a team-high 10 tackles, including one for loss on the safety. SR LB Robert Holt had eight tackles, two for losses and a sack.
• SR WR Beau Kelly's touchdown reception was the 15th of his career, ranking him 11th all-time at PSU.
• SR CB Anthony Adams missed the first game of his Portland State career. He had started 37 consecutive contests but missed the Montana game due to an ankle injury. Defensive Coordinator Payam Saadat started true FR Ezriel Vasquez in Adams' place.
• Portland State plays its home opener next Saturday, hosting Northern Arizona at Hillsboro Stadium in a 2 p.m. contest. The Vikings also have home games on Oct. 8 (Lincoln) and Oct. 15 (Weber State).