MISSOULA, Mont.—With an injury to Montana starting quarterback Jordan Johnson, backup Gerald Kemp knew he needed to be prepared to split time in Saturday’s game against Northern Colorado.
Kemp’s preparation paid off as the junior quarterback, who split time playing time Saturday with fellow backup Nate Montana, threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more Saturday to lead Montana to a 55-28 win.
“It’s a little bit of a challenge,” Kemp said of splitting time at quarterback. “It’s kind of hard to get in a good rhythm. That’s why you have to be prepared for anything.”
Kemp did most of his damage in the third quarter scoring on 6 and 7-yard runs and connecting with Peter Nguyen on a 19-yard scoring pass. Kemp also tossed a 32-yard scoring strike to Antwan Moutra in the second quarter.
Montana also contributed in the game, particularly on the first Grizzly play from scrimmage when he hit Moutra with a 39-yard touchdown pass.
“I think we got the football in the hands of our playmakers today,” said Montana coach Robin Pflugrad. “Both quarterbacks did a good job.”
The win improved the Grizzlies to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Sky Conference play. The loss left Northern Colorado winless on the season at 0-5, including 0-3 in the Big Sky.
After the Grizzlies opening score, the Bears tied the game on a 7-yard pass from Seth Lobato to Patrick Walker with 5:55 to play in the first quarter. Montana capped off the first quarter with a 47-yard field goal from Brody McKnight.
The second quarter saw both teams trade long touchdowns on returns. Montana’s Jabin Sambrano scored on a 43-yard punt return and Northern Colorado’s Dominic Gunn then took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for the score.
Montana than ran off 28 straight points to seal the game. A 1-yard touchdown run by Brett Kirschner capped the Montana scoring binge and left the Grizzlies with a 55-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
“We need to get it all together from the first quarter to the fourth quarter,” said Northern Colorado coach Earnest Collins Jr. “We’ve got to figure out a way for our kids to fight through adversity.”
The Bears took advantage of sloppy play by backup players off the Grizzly bench, scoring two late touchdowns on a 6-yard fumble return by Chuks Nweke and a 4-yard pass from Seth Lobato to Chris Morris with 1 second left in the game.
“It got a little bit choppy in the fourth quarter, but I’m proud of some of the guys who got in the game,” Pflugrad said. “They’ve all worked really hard.”
