The win improved the Grizzlies to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in Big Sky Conference play. The Hornets ended their year at 2-9 overall and 1-6 in league games.

Montana struck first when Lance Spencer intercepted a pass at the 1-yard line and walked into the end zone five minutes into the game. On the play, Spencer deflected Crosby Wehr’s pass and caught the ball out the air.

Sacramento State responded with a 59-yard scoring drive capped by a 5-yard run from Kris Daniels to tie the game with 54 seconds left in the first quarter. However, the Grizzlies answered right back with a 48-yard kickoff return from Rob Schulte and need just four plays to travel the remaining 48 yards to retake the lead. Hilliard was pivotal during the drive, tallying a 26-yard gain and then adding an 11-yard touchdown as time expired in the period.

Dan Carpenter extended the Montana advantage to 17-7 with two seconds left in the first half with a 31-yard field goal.

After a scoreless third quarter, Schulte again put the Griz in good field position with a 13-yard punt return to take the ball to the Hornet 29. JR Waller received all the carries in the ensuing drive, rushing for 29 yards on five attempts, including a 2-yard TD with 7:40 left in the game.

The Hornets matched the touchdown on their next drive when Brad Tredway found McRuben Fleurinord from 1-yard out. Sacramento State started the drive on its own 27 but James Cummings dashed 66 yards to set up Fleurinord’s team-leading fourth touchdown reception.

The final points came with 1:13 left when Tredway was intercepted by Jimmy Wilson who traveled 42 yards down the sideline for the touchdown.

As a team, Sacramento State finished with 264 total yards but 181 came on the ground where Cummings finished with a career-high 91 and Daniels added 87. The Hornets were limited to 83 passing yards marking the first time in the school’s Div. I-AA history that the team has failed to have 100 yards in consecutive games (68 at Montana State last week). Ryan Coogler and Bobby Mooshagian each tallied 22 receiving yards to lead a group of nine Hornets who had at least one reception.

Defensively, Matt Logue capped his stellar career with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Sophomore Brett Shelton also had 11 while freshman Mike Brannon had nine, including 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Freshman Durrell Oliver also recorded his first career interception.

Hilliard was the workhorse for the Grizzlies as he accounted for all but 30 of the team’s 185 rushing yards. Freshman Cole Berquist finished the day 14-of-28 for 111 with an interception while Ryan Bagley caight a team-leading four passes for 36 yards.

As a team, Montana had 296 yards of total offense. The Grizzlies were called for 10 penalties for 100 yards — the most by a Hornet opponent this season.

NOTES: Sacramento State honored its 14 seniors prior to the start of the contest…senior Mason Mitchell returned to the defensive line after playing nearly the entire season on the o-line. Mitchell did record a tackle and was involved in numerous plays…Brannon’s 3.5 tackles-for-loss matches Tyson Butler’s performance against Eastern Washington as the most on the team this year…Logue finishes his career ranked second in school history with 306 tackles, second with 182 solo stops, first with 46.5 career tackles-for-loss, first with five career fumble recoveries and eighth with 11.5 sacks…the team played, again, without the services of quarterback Chris Hurd (arm) and running back Ryan Mole (shoulder)…Montana faces Montana State next week. A UM win would secure the regular-season title for the Grizzlies. A loss would allow Eastern Washington to win the crown based on a tie-breaker.