Sept. 20, 2008
Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery 
MISSOULA, Mont. - Marc Mariana caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Cole Berquist with less than four minutes remaining on Saturday as No. 4 Montana rallied to beat upset-minded UC Davis 29-24 in a nonconference football game played before a record crowd of 25,209 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
The loss sends UC Davis to 1-3 while Montana improved to 3-0. The Aggies, in the midst of playing four of its first five games on the road, have dropped their three games by a combined 11 points.
Quarterback Greg Denham completed 31 of 38 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown, helping to lead the Aggies back from an early 13-0 first-quarter deficit. Running back Brandon Tucker - getting the start for injured Joe Trombetta - rushed 21 times for for 81 yards and a touchdown while also catching nine passes for 34 yards.
Defensive tackle John Faletoese continued his prowess blocking kicks, knocking away an extra-point attempt by Montana in the first quarter and then swatting a field goal try in the fourth.
The Aggies trailed 23-10 at halftime but scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to take a 24-23 lead only to have Montana pull out the win with Mariani's touchdown grab.
"(This is) familiar ground for us," said Aggie coach Bob Biggs of the close loss. "Obviously it's frustrating. I give Montana credit for coming back and putting a drive together there at the end in the fourth quarter when they needed to. But I'm extremely proud of our football team.
"We dug a hole for ourselves in the first half," he added. "The storm got us initially but then we weathered it. I was really, really proud of how (we) fought back, paritcularly in the second half."
Two quick scores by Montana in the game's first five minutes - the second one set up after a blocked punt at the Aggies' 26 - staked the Grizzlies to a quick lead. Faletoese's first blocked kick - after Berquist hit Mike Ferriter for a 26-yard score - kept it at 13-0.
UC Davis trailed 16-3 after trading field goals with the Grizzlies but got to within a touchdown when the Aggies' strung together an 11-play, 70-yard drive that was capped by Tucker's one-yard run with 4:36 left in the half. Denham was 6 for 6 passing on that drive with strikes of 20 yards to tight end Dean Rogers and 18 yards to Brandon Rice.
After the Aggies' defense forced a three-and-out, UC Davis took over near midfield looking to take a lead into halftime. However, Denham's pass to Bakari Grant bounced around and was intercepted by Trumaine Johnson who returned it to the 5. Brooks-Fletcher then ran in from three yards to make it 23-10.
The Aggies got closer after putting together perhaps their best drive of the season in the third quarter after taking over at their own 9-yard. A 17-play, 91-yard drive that chewed up 9:11 of the clock and extended into the fourth quarter brought UC Davis to within six points again with Denham's plunge from the 1.
Tucker rushed for 24 yards on that drive while also catching three passes for 20 more.
Faletoese's second block, this time on a 34-yard attempt by Brody McKnight gave UC Davis the ball at its on 19. It turned into an 81-yard surge that ended with Denham's seven-yard TD pass to Bakari Grant that helped put the Aggies up 24-23 with 6:36 to go.
Berquist rallied the Grizzlies, though, by hitting Mariani on throws of 6 and 33 yards to help put them at the Aggies' 9. The pair connected on a slant pattern for the go-ahead score with 3:36 left.
UC Davis had a final drive that stalled at its own 40 after a fourth-down pass to Chris Carter was knocked away by Brandon Fisher.
Free safety Nero Evero had eight tackles to lead the Aggies' defense while Faletoese added a sack to his efforts. Linebacker Mike Morales finished with seven stops. The defense once again played well after halftime, allowing just the final touchdown. In their past two games, UC Davis has given up just 10 points after intermission.
They also were tough against the rush, giving up just 66 yards on 26 carries. Opponents are rushing for just 63.0 ypg. this season.
The Aggies outgained the Grizzlies 336 to 321 in total yards and had more first downs (21 to 18). UC Davis was also 4 of 4 in the red-zone and held the ball for nearly 13 more minutes (36:27-23:33).
Sean Kelley had a 36-yard field goal and is now 3 of 5 for the season.
Mariani finished with seven catches for 98 yards while Berquist was 19 of 29 for 255 yards and two scores. The Grizzlies did not turn the ball over in the game.
UC Davis will finish up the road-heavy portion of its schedule on Saturday when they travel to Boston to take on Northeastern for a 9 a.m. (PDT) kickoff.
