Griz Top Bison in Double Overtime to Advance to Title Game

Saturday, December 16

Missoula, Mont.

2:30 p.m. MT

North Dakota State Athletics

11-4 , 5-3

Montana

13-1 , 7-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	OT	Final F
North Dakota St.	3	3	3	7	7	6	29
Montana	0	10	0	6	7	8	31

Photo by: Tim Sanger

Griz Top Bison in Double Overtime to Advance to Title Game

12/16/2023 8:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score Game Statistics Photo Gallery

MISSOULA, Mont. - Corbin Walker intercepted a two-point conversion attempt to clinch No. 2 seed Montana's 31-29 double overtime win over North Dakota State in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship on Saturday, Dec. 16, before a crowd of 26,544 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

North Dakota State finished its season 11-4, while Montana (13-1) advanced to face top-seeded defending national champion South Dakota State (14-0) in the FCS championship game Sunday, Jan. 7, in Frisco, Texas.

NDSU tied the game with 51 seconds left in regulation on a 9-yard pass from Cam Miller to Eli Green, then went ahead on the first play of overtime on Cole Payton's 25-yard touchdown run.

That was NDSU's first lead since a field goal on the opening drive of the game, but the Grizzlies scored two plays later on a 22-yard pass from Clifton McDowell to Junior Bergan.

Montana went ahead in the second overtime on a 13-yard touchdown run by Eli Gillman before converting the mandatory two-point attempt on a pass from Bergan to Keelan White.

NDSU scored on a 2-yard run by TK Marshall, but Walker intercepted a pass from wide receiver RaJa Nelson intended for tight end Joe Stoffel, who was knocked down in the end zone.

Griffin Crosa kicked field goals of 30, 35 and 38 yards for NDSU, which converted only 3 of 13 third down attempts. The Bison outgained Montana 345 to 284 in total yards.

Miller was 9 of 22 passing for 157 yards, Green had five receptions for 98 yards, and TaMerik Williams led the Bison rushing game with 11 carries for 52 yards.

NDSU safety Cole Wisniewski made a game-high 11 tackles and Javier Derritt had two of NDSU's three sacks.

McDowell finished 16 of 30 passing for 160 yards for the Grizzlies, and Bergan made six catches for 59 yards plus a 47-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter.

It was the final game for NDSU head coach Matt Entz, who earlier in the week was announced as the new assistant head coach and linebackers coach at Southern California. Entz was 60-11 in five years as the Bison head coach.