MISSOULA, MT – After the Monmouth University football team cut the deficit to six with 11:32 left in the fourth quarter, #19 Montana scored the final two touchdowns for an eventual 47-27 win.

Fifth-year quarterback Kenji Bahar found junior wide receiver Lonnie Moore IV for a 19-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, making it a 33-27 Montana advantage. Bahar completed 34 of 50 passes for 393 yards, three total touchdowns, and two interceptions. He threw for over 300 yards for the fifth time in his career, tying Brandon Hill (2013-14) for the most in program history. Moore IV ended with seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Terrance Greene Jr. compiled eight catches and 99 yards in the loss, both career highs.

The defense forced two turnovers and had three different players with at least 10 tackles. Freshman safety Davis Smith led the team with 11 tackles and forced his first career fumble. Junior defensive back Anthony Budd totaled 10 tackles and registered his FCS-leading fourth interception of the season. Senior linebacker Da'Quan Grimes also compiled 10 tackles, and remains the team leader at 30 on the season.

The Hawks played in front of their largest crowd ever at 23,119. Monmouth drops to 2-2 on the year, and will travel to Wagner after a bye week.

NOTES AND QUOTES

"We came out here knowing that we were going to have to put out a really solid effort on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game to give ourselves a chance. For the most part we did a lot of really good things out there today but in the end we didn't do enough good things to come away with a win. We had a couple big plays against us that hurt us.  I was very happy with the way they guys played, the way that they proud of the way the guys played and the way that they battled and the way kept coming back. If we continue to play like that through the rest of our schedule, we'll be in good shape. – Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan 

-On Monmouth's second possession, sophomore Colin McCreary booted a 58-yard punt all the way down to the Montana 4.
-After the Griz got into Monmouth territory late in the first quarter, Budd intercepted his fourth pass of the season down the right sideline. Junior DB Justin Terry broke up the pass on a second-and-3.
-After a scoreless first quarter, Montana scored the game's first points with 12:35 left in the second quarter. A 23-yard touchdown pass down the seam made it 7-0.
-On the ensuing drive, Monmouth later went for it on a fourth-and-4, and fifth-year senior TE Shawn Clark pulled it down between two defenders at the one yard line. On the next play, Jones pounded it in to tie the game.
-Montana answered with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to go ahead 14-7.
-Another sack from junior LB DeJaun Cooper forced Montana into a third-and-15, but the Griz completed a 25-yard pass to move the chains. They later scored on a trick play 25-yard touchdown pass. –Right before halftime, Monmouth needed just seven plays to go 75 yards in 1:18 to cut the deficit. Bahar found Clark for an 8-yard touchdown to make it 21-14 at the break.
-Montana opened the second half with a 61-yard drive in 2:03. A nine-yard touchdown pass made it 27-14 early in the third quarter.
-Midway through the third, the Hawks ran a successful QB sneak on fourth down to cut the deficit to 33-20. Moore IV and junior Joey Aldarelli each had two catches on the drive.
-Davis Smith forced his first career fumble on a quarterback rush, and senior DL Russell Davidson jumped on it.
-A 17-yard pass to Greene Jr. and a 26-yard strike to Moore IV got the Hawks offense into Montana territory. Bahar later found Moore IV for a 19-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline. Monmouth trailed 33-27 with 11:32 left in the fourth.
-The Griz then used a six-play, 62-yard scoring drive in 1:43 to go ahead 41-27 with 9:42 left in the game. Montana added one more score with just under four minutes to play.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth totaled 474 yards of offense. The Hawks were 3-for-4 on fourth downs.
-Jones rushed for his 20^th career touchdown.
-Moore IV went over 100 yards for the second time this season.
-Clark ended with three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown.
-In the first half, Bahar completed 16 of 19 passes for 159 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions.
-Fifth-year senior DB Matt Castronuova had a 43-yard kickoff return in the third quarter. He also added a career-high eight tackles on defense.
-Junior RB Pete Guerriero needs 30 yards to tie Lavon Chaney (2013-16) for third most all-time.
-Junior WR Zach Tredway hauled in a 47-yard catch in the fourth quarter.
-Freshman LB Tyler Delgado registered his first three career tackles.
-Monmouth had a 32:30 to 26:01 advantage in time of possession.

 UP NEXT
Monmouth will travel to Wagner on October 5 for a 6 PM matchup. The Hawks have a 14-10 all-time series lead, including five straight wins. Last season in West Long Branch, Monmouth earned a 54-47 win.