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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Grizzlies dominate, set up showdown with Eagles

Associated Press

Jordan Johnson threw three first-half touchdown passes Saturday as Montana coasted past San Diego 52-14 in the first round of the FCS playoffs in Missoula, Montana.

Montana (9-4) plays at Big Sky Conference champion Eastern Washington next weekend.

The Grizzlies dominated San Diego (9-3) from the start, taking a 38-0 halftime lead and limiting the Toreros to one first down before the break.

Johnson threw first-half touchdown passes of 22 and 30 yards to Jamaal Jones and 3 yards to Jordan Canada.

Canada also scored on a 17-yard touchdown run and John Nguyen returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.

San Diego finally got on the board with 6:05 to play in the game on a 27-yard halfback pass from Dallas Kessman to Justin Priest.

Priest added a second touchdown for the Toreros on an 11-yard pass from Trey Wheeler with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter.

South Dakota State 47, Montana State 40: Zach Zenner rushed for 252 yards in light snow and scored a career-best five touchdowns as the Jackrabbits defeated the Bobcats in the opener of the FCS playoffs in Bozeman, Montana.

South Dakota State will face No. 2 seed and three-time defending national champion North Dakota State on Dec. 6 in Fargo, North Dakota.

Montana State (8-5) scored with 1:10 left and Dakota Prukop passed for the two-point conversion to make it 47-40. The Jackrabbits (9-4) fumbled the onside kick, but Connor Landberg recovered to save the game.

Zenner, a Walter Payton Award candidate, broke free for 45 yards and a TD on the second snap of the game, and added scoring runs of 7, 60 and 69 yards to go with a 69-yard touchdown catch from Austin Summer.

Chad Newell rushed for five touchdowns for the Bobcats. Newell and Zenner swapped third-quarter TDs, the latter’s 60-yarder putting SDSU up for good 31-26.