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Big Sky: Chad Chalich throws 7 touchdown passes in Montana’s win over Idaho State

Montana wide receiver Justin Calhoun catches a pass for a touchdown over Idaho State defensive back Anthony Ricks in the first half of Saturday’s game in Missoula. (Patrick Record / Associated Press)
Associated Press

Chad Chalich threw six of his program-record seven TD passes in the first half, Keenan Curran tied a Montana record with four touchdown catches, and the Grizzlies beat Idaho State 62-44 on Saturday night in Missoula.

Chalich overtook Makena Simis (2015), Jordan Johnson (2011), Brian Ah Yat (1998) and Dave Dickenson (1995) in the Montana record book with his seventh TD pass – a 6-yard strike to Curran that made it 55-31 with 10:49 left in the game.

Chalich, who found out he would be starting shortly before game time, finished with 388 yards passing and a 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.

The Grizzlies (6-3, 3-3 Big Sky) led 41-31 at the break and pulled away as Idaho State (2-6, 1-4) struggled without starting quarterback Tanner Gueller, who left the game at halftime due to an injury. Trae Pilster and Tom Jewell handled the Bengals’ QB duties in the second half.

North Dakota 23, Northern Colorado 13: Backup quarterback Ryan Bartels threw a TD pass and the UND defense suffocated Northern Colorado as the Fighting Hawks (8-2, 7-0) defeated the Bears (5-4, 3-3) in Greeley, Colorado.

North Dakota has won eight straight games and will play Northern Arizona next week with at least a share of the conference championship on the line.

Northern Arizona 33, Weber State 20: Blake Kemp threw for two touchdowns and Griffin Roehler kicked four field goals as the Lumberjacks (5-4, 4-2 Big Sky) defeated the Wildcats (5-4, 4-2) at Ogden, Utah.

Kemp had 357 yards on 24 of 41 passing for NAU.

Southern Utah 38, Montana State 21: Patrick Tyler threw for 231 yards and three touchdowns and the Thunderbirds (5-4, 4-3 Big Sky) defeated the Bobcats (2-7, 0-6) at Cedar City, Utah.

Malik Brown added 64 yards rushing with a touchdown and Logan Parker, Cameron Chambers, and Steven Wroblewski all had receiving scores for the Thunderbirds.

Portland State 51, UC Davis 29: Alex Kuresa threw for 384 yards and a touchdown and the Vikings (3-6, 2-4 Big Sky) snapped a three-game losing skid with a victory over the Aggies (2-7, 1-5) in Davis, California.

The Vikings gained 602 yards of total offense and 51 points for their highest output of the season.