Scan the checklist. The 2009 semifinal between the Montana Grizzlies and Appalachian State Mountaineers had it all.
For starters, it was two traditional powerhouse FCS programs playing in one of the premier venues. No team in Division I football won more games during the 2000s than Montana. Appalachian State was second to the Grizzlies in the FCS total wins during the decade, and the Mountaineers won three straight national championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The game featured arguably the best FCS player of all-time in Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, the only two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award.
ESPN was there. Not ESPN2 or ESPN3, or ESPNU. This showdown was televised live in HD on the “Mothership.’’ A trip to the national championship was on the line.
Oh, and let’s not forget the snow.
It had all of the makings of an epic, memorable night. Unlike so many marquee events, this one didn’t disappoint. In fact, it exceeded all expectations. Montana’s 24-17 victory, which wasn’t decided until the game’s final play, ranks 35th on the Big Sky Conference’s list of “50 Greatest Men’s Moments.’’
“The second half looked like a Christmas snow globe,’’ said Bobby Hauck, Montana’s coach at the time. “It was a night game at the end of the semester. It was just wild.”
Not long after a sell-out crowd of 24,207 had settled in, Grizzly junior running back Chase Reynolds broke for a 39-yard scoring run to cap his team’s first drive. Reynolds, who grew up 50 miles outside of Missoula in Drummond, didn’t feel any differently than he had before any other game.
“I approached it like I did every game, like it was my last,’’ said Reynolds, who was the Grizzlies’ star with 193 rushing yards and two touchdowns. “It didn’t matter if we were playing a Division III team or Appalachian State. It was a premier game. Guys were juiced up all week and excited to play. For me, personally, it was another game. That’s the way I prepared.’’
Appalachian State tied the game 7-7 on a short Devon Moore run early in the second quarter. Kicker Jason Vitaris made it a 10-7 lead with a 46-yard field goal later in the second quarter.
Montana regained the lead on its first possession of the second half, thanks in large part to Reynolds. The Grizzlies ran five plays on the 55-yard drive. Reynolds opened with a 24-yard reception, and followed with runs of 4, 13 and a 7-yard touchdown.
By this time, the snow was coming down hard, a winter storm warning was in effect, and the stadium was rocking.
“I thought it was great when it started snowing,’’ Reynolds said. “I felt like I played my best when it was cold out. For some reason, I get a little more spring in my step, and a little more elusive.’’
Moore scored on another short run to put the Mountaineers up 17-14 in the third quarter, setting up an epic final 15 minutes. On the second play of the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies tied the game on a 32-yard Brody McKnight field goal.
Appalachian State’s next drive was thwarted by an interception by safety Shann Schillinger, who tallied a team-high 13 tackles. With 3:46 to play, Vitaris was short on a 44-yard field-goal attempt that was nearly blocked.
The Grizzlies took over on their own 27-yard line looking to win the game on the drive. Reynolds picked up 7 yards, and then busted loose for 26. A 15-yard facemask took the ball all the way to the Appalachian State 25-yard line. Reynolds picked up 10 more on his next carry, but that yardage was negated on the next play by a holding penalty.
By this time, a thin layer of snow covered the turf. Footing was suspect. On first-and-20, sophomore receiver Jabin Sambrano, who hadn’t caught a pass all game, lined up as the outside receiver to the far left of Selle, who was working from the shotgun. Reynolds was lined up to the right of Selle.
Selle looked left and lofted a ball in the direction of Sambrano. His feet skidded through the snow just in front of the Grizzly student section as he grasped the ball tightly with his left and held it against his chest. The play was reviewed by officials, but the catch stood.
“We had instant replay, but they had no choice but to give us the touchdown,’’ Hauck said. “You could see the skid marks in the snow. That was awesome.’’
“I remember watching Selle throw the ball up, and remember it was like slow motion,’’ Reynolds recalled. “Jabin caught it. They reviewed it, and we were watching it on the big screen, saying ‘that’s a touchdown, that’s a touchdown.’ I don’t remember too much about college, but there are a few moments, and that’s one of them.’’
By this time, TV sets across the United States had tuned in. The snow, the score, the game setting had all lured them in. It drew a 1.87 cable rating, the largest viewing audience ever for an FCS game.
“I remember going out after the game with some of the ESPN guys,’’ Hauck recalled. “They were scared they were going to screw it up. With the snow, and game, and it being a Friday night, they thought the ratings would be through the roof.”
Montana’s second straight trip to the national championship game was just 91 seconds away. It would be a long, agonizing, tense 91 seconds of game clock. Edwards, who had thrown for more than 10,000 yards and rushed for more than 4,000 during his illustrious career, was primed for one more win to add to his resume. Time wasn’t an issue.
Three straight pass completions by the left-hander accounted for 51 yards, and the Mountaineers were in business at Montana’s 24-yard line. After three straight incomplete passes, and facing a fourth-and-10, Edwards connected with Brian Quick, who is now teammates with Reynolds and UM’s Trumaine Johnson on the St. Louis Rams, over the middle right at the first-down marker. The spot was reviewed, but by the tip of the ball, Appalachian State had life.
“I recall that play distinctly,’’ Hauck said. “I thought it was a good yard short. We challenged it, and as coaches generally do, I didn’t win the challenge. He got it by about two inches.’’
Appalachian State’s Devon Moore caught a pass over the middle and was tackled by a host of Grizzlies at the 3-yard line. Appalachian State burned its final timeout with six seconds left.
On first down, Edwards’ pass was batted away by Grizzly linebacker Brandon Fisher, who was in the right place, and it wasn’t an accident.
“We had a real solid defense that year,’’ Hauck said. “We were very, very smart. We had a bunch of guys who were 3.0 and 4.0 students. They never got fooled. They were in the right position all the time. Brandon was one of those guys, and he obviously made a nice play.’’
One second still remained on the clock. Edwards took the snap, and glanced to his right. He came back left, trying to hit quick right at the goal line. Grizzly cornerback Trumaine Johnson was tight on Quick. The ball was a bit too high, and went through Quick’s hands.
Bedlam followed. Montana won 24-17. Players and fans stormed the field, some falling to the turf to make snow angels. Fireworks lit up the sky.
“It was a great college football game,’’ Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore said in the postgame press conference. “I’ll probably get chastised for saying this, but the FCS probably needed a game like that on national TV. It had to be a plus for the FCS. I’m glad to be a part of it.’’
The game led to the two athletic directors signing a home-and-home contract for regular season games in 2012 and 2013. Appalachian State won the 2012 game, in Boone, N.C. Montana won the rematch in Missoula in 2013.
Sadly, the two FCS titans likely won’t play again anytime soon. Appalachian State made the decision to move to the FBS starting in 2014. The Mountaineers are not eligible for the FCS playoffs in 2013.