DAVIS, Calif. – Clifton McDowell threw three touchdown passes, Montana forced a turnover late in the game and the Grizzlies held off UC Davis 31-23 on Saturday night.
On first down from the Montana 12 with 1:18 remaining, UC Davis’ Miles Hastings tossed a 2-yard pass to Andre Crump Jr., but Crump had the ball stripped while driving for extra yardage. Montana’s Ryder Meyer then recovered the ball to seal it for the FCS 13th-ranked Grizzlies.
Eli Gillman took a pitch to the right sideline, cut back inside and then ran 85 yards into the end zone in the third quarter that stretched Montana’s lead to 28-20. The teams traded field goals in the fourth.
McDowell tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Keelan White in the first quarter and then connected with Aaron Fontes with TD passes from 11 and 41 yards in the second as Montana (5-1, 2-1 Big Sky Conference) took a 21-20 lead into halftime. Fontes and White combined for 10 receptions and 192 yards receiving.
Hastings was 31-of-46 passing for 359 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes for 18th-ranked UC Davis (3-3, 1-2).