MISSOULA — Jordan Canada rushed for a career-high 189 yards and two touchdowns as Montana beat Weber State 42-6 on Saturday.
The Grizzlies (9-2, 5-2 Big Sky) piled up 461 yards of total offense, with John Nguyen, Marlon Miles and Shay Smithwick-Hann each rushing for a TD. Cam Warren caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Johnson to put Montana on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a lead it would never relinquish.
“I’m so tired of everybody saying we don’t run the ball and can’t run the ball,” Montana head coach Mick Delaney said. “Watch today’s game, that’s all I’m going to say.”
Weber State (1-10, 0-7 BSC) had six turnovers, including three interceptions from quarterback Austin Chipoletti. The only Wildcat scoring came from kicker Shaun McClain, who hit two field goals for the Wildcats, including a 48 yard field goal as time expired in the first half to cut the Grizzlies lead, 14-6.
“The turnover thing has been killing us and we’ve got to keep overcoming that demon,” Weber State head coach Jody Sears said.
Johnson sat out the second half because of an illness. Smithwick-Hann replaced him in the second half.
Canada opened the third quarter for Montana with an 80-yard TD run.
Canada now has 2,053 career rushing yards, which moves him up to fifth all-time, as he passed Steve Caputo (2,033 yards, 1969-71). He is the sixth running back in UM history to rush for more than 2,000 career yards.
Canada’s two touchdown runs gave him 14 this year, which ties him for the seventh most in a season with current Griz running backs coach Justin Green (14, 2003) and former quarterback Dave Dickenson (14, 1993).
“The offensive line gave me a beautiful seam and I don’t know what the defense was doing but they weren’t ahead of me or anywhere close,” Canada said.
The Grizzlies added three more touchdowns after that and held Weber State to just four yards in the second half.
“It’s kind of been a thorn in our side, our execution offensively, and sustaining drives,” Sears said.
Zack Wagenmann had four sacks and nine tackles to lead Montana’s defense. Jordan Tripp recorded one fumble recovery and interception for the Grizzlies.
Chipoletti finished the game 18-of-36 for 185 yards passing and zero touchdowns. The last time the Wildcats won in Missoula was 1987.
Montana is at eighth-ranked Montana State Saturday, Nov. 23, for the 113th meeting between the Griz snd Cats in the long-time intrastate rivalry. WSU hosts Idaho State next Saturday.