Montana ends NDSU’s FCS playoff run in double overtime thriller
GRIZZLIES TOP BISON 31-29 IN DOUBLE OVERTIME
MISSOULA, MT. — North Dakota State fell to the Montana Grizzlies 31-29 after failing to convert on a two-point conversion attempt in double overtime. For the Bison, this is the end of an era as well as a magical playoff run. The loss is Matt Entz’s final game coaching NDSU as he now is set to take his new position as linebacker coach with the University of Southern California. Montana moves on to face South Dakota State in the FCS National Championship after earning their trip to Frisco in a game that lived up to the hype and came down to the final play multiple times.
North Dakota State struck first on a Griffin Crosa field goal early in the first quarter but fell behind 7-3 after Montana found the endzone on a Eli Gilman rushing touchdown. The Bison trailed Montana until late in the fourth quarter when they were able to tie the game at 16 on a Cam Miller touchdown pass to wide receiver, Eli Green. North Dakota State found the endzone on their first play of the first overtime as Cole Payton sprinted into the endzone at Washington Grizzly Stadium. The Bison were a stop away a trip back to the National Championship for a rematch with SDSU but the Grizzlies were not done yet. Clifton McDowell threw a touchdown pass to Junior Bergen, the Grizz matched the Bison’s extra point and the game went to a second overtime. Eli Gillman scored again for the Grizzlies and then Bergen came up big again for the Grizzlies addling a throwing two-point conversion to his stat sheet that already featured a receiving score, and a punt returned for a touchdown. The Bison offense quickly responded by getting into the endzone on a T.K. Marshall rushing touchdown but were unable to match the Grizz on the two point conversion, with Montana intercepting the Bison’s final pass and earning the victory.
The Bison now look forward to an era filled with question marks as their head coach leaves and potential transfers loom. Many players have endorsed offensive coordinator and former Bison running back Tyler Roehl for the head coaching job. While Bison Nation awaits to see what the future holds, who the next head coach will be, and what the road back to a championship looks like, the rollercoaster that was the 2023 football season has come to a shocking end by the claws of the Montana Grizzlies.