Box Score

MISSOULA, Mont.—Fourth-ranked Montana scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions out of halftime and forced three turnovers in a 28-20 win against South Dakota in front of a stadium-record 26,303 fans at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The Grizzlies (2-1) beat South Dakota and former head coach Joe Glenn for the third consecutive season. Glenn and the Coyotes (1-2) will play their final non-conference game against Northern Arizona at 2 p.m. next Saturday, Sept. 20, inside the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

Montana running back Jordan Canada carried 16 times for 114 yards to spearhead a ground game that compiled 207 yards and two scores behind a revamped offensive line. John Nguyen carried six times for 34 yards and scored on a 9-yard run late in the first quarter for the game's first score. Travon Van's touchdown run from 28 yards out made it 28-13 with 6:18 to go in the fourth quarter.

South Dakota wide out Eric Shufford caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Saeger to make it 28-20 with 1:50 remaining. The Coyotes' ensuing onside kick was knocked out of bounds and Montana earned a first down on the ground to run out the clock.

Montana held a slight edge in total yards, 334-317, but the difference was three Coyote turnovers and what the teams accomplished in the red zone. Montana was 3-for-3 in scoring touchdowns. South Dakota scored all three times, but was forced to make two field goals.

Jasper Sanders carried 12 times for a team-high 74 yards for South Dakota. His 2-yard plunge into the end zone midway through the third quarter closed Montana's lead to 14-10. The Coyotes gained 134 yards on the ground while Saeger completed 16 of 25 passes for 183 yards.

South Dakota had the ball near midfield trailing 21-13 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter when Montana's Tonga Takai forced a fumble that the Grizzlies recovered. Four rushes later, Van was in the end zone to make it 28-13.

Matt Hermanson and Justin Whitted had interceptions for Montana and standout defensive end Zach Wagenmann had three of the Griz' four sacks. Cornerback Micheal Lilly had eight tackles to lead the Coyotes.

Aaron Ramsey had five catches for 76 yards to lead the Coyotes. His only collegiate reception heading into the game was the 28-yarder against Oregon.

Steve Tellefsen aided a South Dakota secondary that limited Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson to 127 yards on 16 of 27 passing. He broke up two deep balls intended for Ellis Henderson, who a season ago had four catches for 188 yards and two scores against the Coyotes. Henderson had two catches for six yards in this one.

South Dakota kicker Miles Bergner made field goals of 35 and 29 yards. He's made two kicks in all three games this season and has yet to miss. Montana missed three field goals of 40 yards or more.