Kats & Griz battled twice in 2004
12/16/2011 6:32:00 AM | Football
That season was a championship year for both squads with a pair of games with two different outcomes.
The first meeting marked the biggest upset in Sam Houston football history. The second saw the end of the Bearkats' best-ever NCAA playoff run.
Sam Houston's only victory over the Montana Grizzlies came on Sept. 18, 2004 at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville when the unranked Bearkats upset No. 1 Montana 41-29.
Quarterback Dustin Long passed for 329 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bearkats to the victory.
Jarrod Fuller caught 10 passes for 133 yards and Stevie Smith rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns as Sam Houston rolled up 453 total yards.
The contest was telecast to a six-state audience by Fox Sports Southwest.
It was a turnover created by the Bearkat defense that turned the game around.
After a short kickoff, the Grizzlies had driven to the Sam Houston 30-yard line on their first series when Mark Hughes interception a pass in the end zone.
Sam Houston drove 80-yards in 11 plays to go up 6-0 after a Smith 11-yard touchdown with 8:12 remaining in the quarter.
After Montana punted on its second possession, the Kats drove 89 yards in 12 plays for a nine-yard Robert Garmon scoring run and Sam Houston never looked back.
Long hit Vincent Cartwright for a 17-yard pass with 7:14 to play in the half and went in at intermission with a 20-3 lead. Long's second touchdown pass of the night, a 27-yard bullet to Jason Mathenia in the third quarter and a three-yard tally by Smith gave Sam Houston a 41-10 lead with 9:28 to play.
Montana rallied for 19 points in the final minutes but the scoring was too little, too late. The Grizzlies were limited to 78 yards rushing and quarterback Craig Ochs passed for 198 yards and a touchdown.
The Grizzlies avenged the loss in the NCAA Division I Playoffs at Missoula on Dec. 11, 2004, when the two met again in the semifinals.
Montana took advantage of two fumble recoveries and two interceptions to end the Kats' best playoff run with a 34-13 loss.
Robert Herron blocked a punt to set up a field goal to cut the Grizzlies' margin to 7-6 in the season quarter. Sam Houston trailed 14-6 at halftime.
But Montana opened the second period with a 12-play, 81-yard scoring drive, then converted a fumble into a 59-yard drive to go up 28-6 with 4:42 left in the third quarter.
Now the pair battle again at Bowers Stadium in another contest that pits two top teams.
The contest kicks offs at 7:05 p.m.
GAME DAY TICKET PURCHASES
The Bowers Stadium West Side Ticket Office (located beneath the press box on the side of the stadium facing campus) will open for sales of $15 general admission tickets and $5 SHSU student tickets at 8 a.m.
The Will Call Window at the Bowers west side ticket office will open at 12 noon for pickup of pre-purchased tickets (and parking passes if applicable).
The gates at Bowers Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m. Kickoff is at 7:05 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to arrive at the stadium and pick up their tickets early to avoid lines. Tickets are still available at the game.
With Sam Houston commencement ceremonies at Johnson Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. and the football game at 7 p.m., special parking areas for each event have been designated.
• Commencement/Football Game Parking information
For more information, please call the SHSU athletic ticket office at (936) 294-1729 or visit the athletic web site at www.gobearkats.com .
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