MISSOULA, Mont. — For most of the first half Saturday, Montana didn’t look like the higher division team.
The Grizzly offense was held scoreless by Division II Western State in the first quarter before posting a 38-0 victory.
“The goal is to win the game,” Montana coach Bobby Hauck said. “We did that and did it convincingly. But I wasn’t impressed with our performance in the first half.”
Steve Pfahler led Montana (1-0) with two second-half touchdown receptions, and the Montana defense did its part, holding Western State (0-2) to 116 total yards.
Humboldt State 36, Adams State 24
ALAMOSA — Quarterback Stephen Baca threw for 178 yards and led on the ground with 91 yards on 16 carries, but the Grizzlies could not recover after spotting the Jacks a 16-0 lead.
Baca accounted for 21 of the Grizzlies’ 24 points, throwing a 4-yard scoring strike to Bryce Buderus, a 65-yarder to Dustin Bolt, and running for a score.
Missouri Western 35, Mesa State 14
GRAND JUNCTION — Cedric Houston caught 98- and 24-yard scoring passes from Drew Newhart in the first half as the Griffons ran out to a 28-0 halftime lead.
Griffin Chernoff got the Mavericks on the board with a 57-yard punt return in the third quarter, and Mesa got to within 28-14 on a Will Halboth 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Abilene Christian 58, Fort Lewis 10
ABILENE, Texas — The Skyhawks were no match for the Wildcats, who are ranked No. 3 in Division II and rolled up 537 yards of total offense, forced three turnovers and returned a punt for a touchdown.
Fort Hays State 31, Colorado Mines 21
HAYS, Kan. — Mines quarterback David Pesek completed 34-of-55 passes for 376 yards without an interception, but Tigers quarterback Mike Garrison was also stellar, completing 19-of-27 for 233 yards with a 70-yard scoring pass and a 6-yard rushing touchdown.
NW Oklahoma State 34, CSU-Pueblo 28
ALVA, Okla. — The Thunderwolves were within six points with 2:51 left in the game on a 96-yard pass from Colin Clancy to Jesse Lewis, but the Rangers answered with a 26-yard run from Kyle Jech less than a minute later. Clancy led a six-play, 61-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Augustine Agyei with 55 seconds left, then the Rangers recovered the onside kick.
Denver Post staff and wire services
