MISSOULA, Mont. - Fourth-ranked Montana limited South Dakota State to 108 total yards in downing the Jackrabbits 7-0 Saturday before a sell-out crowd of 23,086 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Both teams are now 2-1. SDSU returns home Sept. 24 to take on Cal Poly in the 39th Annual Beef Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium in a game which also will be the Great West Football Conference opener.
Montana scored the lone touchdown of the game with 4:18 remaining in the first quarter as Lex Hilliard scored on a three-yard run. That capped a nine-play, 54-yard drive after the Jacks punted for the first of eight times in the game.
The Jackrabbits couldn't capitalize on a golden opportunity to tie the game in the fourth quarter. After a blocked punt put the ball at the Montana 43, SDSU marched down the field to a first and goal from the Montana 5-yard line. However, a botched snap pushed the Jackrabbits back to the 16 and a potential tying touchdown was called back when the officials ruled SDSU quarterback Andy Kardoes threw the ball past the line of scrimmage.
After Montana took over on downs, the Grizzlies were able to run out the clock.
Hilliard gained 128 yards on 25 carries to lead the Montana offensive attack. Jason Washington was 18-of-29 passing for 114 yards, with Jon Talmage catching nine balls for 62 yards.
Montana ran 21 more offensive plays than the Jackrabbits, 77-56, rolling up 300 yards of total offense.
SDSU was held to 28 net yards rushing, with Anthony Watson leading Jackrabbit rushers with 54 yards on 16 carries.
Kardoes finished the game 9-of-24 passing for 80 yards. He threw one interception and was sacked five times. Josh Davis caught three passes for 80 yards.
One bright spot for the Jackrabbits was junior punter Neal Bainbridge, who punted eight times for an average of 44.8 yards. He landed five of his punts inside the Montana 20-yard line, including three inside the 5-yard line as the Jackrabbits won the field position battle.
SDSU was led on the defensive end by Andrew Hoogeveen, who made 12 tackles with one sack and recovered a fumble. Billy Ray Kirch added 10 tackles.
