Dalton rallies Montana past Idaho State 59-20

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Quarterback Dalton Sneed threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores to push Montana past Idaho State 59-20 Saturday.

Sneed, a senior, completed 26 of 41 passes while leading the Grizzlies (5-1, 2-0 Big Sky Conference) back from a 17-0 second-quarter deficit. Marcus Knight scored three rushing touchdowns as Montana took a 24-17 lead by halftime.

Sneed’s touchdown passes, covering 25 and 8 yards, went to Samuel Akem and Samori Toure, respectively, in the third quarter. Toure had eight catches for 188 yards, and Akem caught 10 passes for 135.

Sneed added two short scoring runs in the fourth quarter for Montana, ranked No. 8 in the FCS Coaches poll.

Idaho State (2-3, 1-1 in the Big Sky) surged out of the gates, capping a game-opening 98-yard drive with a Ty Flanagan 1-yard TD run at 9:36 of the first quarter. Early in the second quarter Flanagan tore off a 71-yard scoring run to put the Bengals ahead 17-0.

Flanagan had 130 rushing yards on 18 carries.

Sneed then led touchdown drives of 68, 76 and 47 yards in the second quarter, all of them capped by Knight.

Idaho State quarterback Matt Struck was held to 16-of-33 passing for 189 yards. Michael Dean caught six passes for 109 yards for the Bengals.

THE TAKEAWAY

Idaho State: The big-play Bengals took a 17-0 lead before surrendering it in the second quarter and then falling way off the pace after halftime. Struck passed for 189 yards, but just 41 in the second half.

Montana: A slow start was offset when quarterback Dalton Sneed caught fire and piled up a career-best 467 all-purpose yards. The Grizzlies amassed 31 first downs over the final three quarters.

UP NEXT

Idaho State: The Bengals return home Saturday for a nonconference game against former Big Sky foe North Dakota.

Montana: The Grizzlies have a bye this coming Saturday and then travel to play Big Sky rival Sacramento State Oct. 19.