MONTANA STOPS JMU 35-27 IN FCS SEMIFINALS

Friday, December 12

Harrisonburg, Va.

8 p.m.

James Madison University

12-2

Montana

14-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana

James Madison

12/13/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Dec. 12, 2008 – Montana forced four James Madison turnovers and held off a final drive to clinch a 35-27 victory on Friday night in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision semifinals at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

Montana, the fourth seed and fifth-ranked team by the Sports Network, improved to 14-1 with its 10th straight win. The Grizzlies will make their sixth appearance in the FCS Championship Game, first since a 31-21 setback to JMU in 2004.

Next Friday's 8 p.m. game in Chattanooga, Tenn. will pit UM against the winner of Saturday's other semifinal between Northern Iowa and Richmond.

The top-seeded and top-ranked Dukes end the season at 12-2 after having a 12-game winning streak snapped, along with a nine-game home winning streak.

The turnovers made the difference in the game as JMU fumbled twice on kickoff returns to set up a short field for UM. The Dukes also fumbled once and threw an interception on a pair of drives within scoring range. The four turnovers were the most this season by JMU, which had committed just 12 all season heading into the game.

JMU actually led in total yardage 419 to 298, including a 334 to 156 advantage in rushing yardage. The Dukes also led time of possession 32:30 to 27:30.

Cole Bergquist completed 11 of 17 passes for the Grizzlies for 142 yards and three touchdowns. Chase Reynolds had three total scores, one receiving and two rushing after carrying 26 times for a net of 123 yards.

Senior tailback Eugene Holloman (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) rushed 21 times for 105 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Drew Dudzik (Clifton, Va./Centreville) had 88 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion, while also completing six of 13 passes for 70 yards. He entered the game on the final series of the first half after senior quarterback Rodney Landers (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) left with an injury. Landers had 85 rushing yards.

Montana led 14-10 at the half and built its advantage to 35-17 with one minute remaining in the third quarter.

On the ensuing JMU possession, the Dukes drove 62 yards to the Montana one yard line, but Holloman was pushed backwards for a loss of two on fourth and goal to end the drive.

The Grizzlies took possession and were held three and out. On fourth and seven at the six, the snap went over the punter's head and out of the back of the end zone for a safety to cut the lead to 35-19.

JMU took possession after the free kick at its own 43 with 8:22 remaining. The Dukes drove 57 yards in six plays covering just over two minutes with Dudzik scoring on an 18-yard scamper. He then tried to launch himself over a pair of UM defenders for a two-point conversion, which initially failed. However, with replay in use for the FCS semifinals and championship, the official review showed the ball narrowly breaking the plane of the goal line to overturn the call on the field.

Montana started its next possession at its own 22 and earned one third-down conversion before facing third and two at the 42. Bergquist appeared to initially complete a 35-yard pass to Marc Mariani that would have essentially sealed the win. However, another official review showed the ball bobbled in the receiver's hands and hitting the ground for an incomplete pass.

JMU took possession at its own seven yard line with 2:06 remaining after the Montana punt. Dudzik drove the Dukes to midfield and, on second and 10, completed a 14-yard pass to junior Rockeed McCarter (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic), but the play was called back for a holding penalty, pushing the Dukes to second and 20.

A pair of incompletions brought up fourth and 20 and Dudzik's pass to McCarter was knocked away by Montana's Andrew Swink to seal the win for the Grizzlies.

JMU actually scored first in the game with a 13-play, 46-yard drive in six minutes the culminated in a 32-yard field goal by senior Dave Stannard (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill). That was the only lead of the night for the Dukes.

Montana responded with a four-minute drive in 10 plays with Reynolds scoring on a two-yard run. The Dukes then fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the 15 and the Grizzlies took quick advantage of the opportunity, scoring in two plays on a seven-yard run by Reynolds. JMU followed with another long 13-play drive, finished by a one-yard rush by Holloman to pull within 14-10.

Montana started its next drive with the longest play of the night, a 38-yard pass from Bergquist to Mariani, but a 45-yard field goal attempt by Brody McKnight was short.

The Dukes twice appeared poised to retake the lead. Landers drove JMU to the Montana 12 yard line before Mike Stadnyk forced a fumble, which was recovered by Tyler Pelluer of the Grizzlies.

After a Montana three and out, Landers rushed five yards to start a drive at midfield, but he was forced to leave the game due to an injury. Dudzik took the Dukes to the 28 before being intercepted on second and 10 by Swink at the five yard line to end the half.

The Grizzlies held possession to open the second half and scored on a 27-yard pass from Bergquist to Reynolds on a seven-play, 56-yard drive.

JMU fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the 34 yard line. This time Montana drove 34 yards in five plays with Bergquist finding Steve Pfahler on a 16-yard scoring strike.

The Dukes pulled within 28-17 on a 54-yard drive capped by a 10-yard rush by Dudzik. However, Montana came right back for a 60-yard drive with Bergquist throwing to Mike Ferriter nine yards for the score. The Grizzlies completed a pair of third-and-long situations in the drive and went 8-for-12 on third down conversions for the game.

NOTES: Montana improved to 2-8 all-time in road playoff games... Holloman went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season and climbed from 10th to eighth on JMU's career rushing chart, finishing his career with 2,321 yards... Landers broke JMU's season rushing record with 1,770 yards, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,719 set by Curtis Keaton in 1999