Tyler Roach blocked a Garrett Rolsma extra-point attempt with 6 seconds to play as Northwest Missouri State knocked off top-ranked Central Washington, 21-20, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs on Saturday in Ellensburg.
Cole Morgan led the Wildcats (12-1) on a frantic 70-yard drive with just 1:11 left to play, connecting with Mike Waller on a 15-yard touchdown to pull CWU within one point.
The Bearcats (12-1) got a big surge on the extra point and Roach got his hand up to block the attempt by Rolsma, the Curtis High graduate.
Northwest Missouri State quarterback Blake Bolles completed 31 of 40 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. LaRon Council rushed for 102 yards for the Bearcats.
Morgan was 21-of-38 for 250 yards but had two costly interceptions
Linebacker Buddy Wood had a career-high 19 tackles to break Central’s career record, and fellow linebacker Adam Bighill of Montesano matched his career high with 16 tackles, including four for losses.
At Stephen F. Austin 44, E Washington 33: Jeremy Moses’ 432 passing yards helped lead the Lumberjacks over the Eagles in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Eastern’s Matt Nichols attempted 76 passes, completing 43 for 461 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Taiwan Jones had 118 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Eagles (8-4).
Tony Davis, a senior from Capital, caught 10 passes for 115 yards.
Moses completed 43 for 57 passes for four touchdowns and three interceptions. He connected with Duane Brooks 15 times for 124 yards and Brandon Scott 11 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Vincent Pervis ran the ball 16 times for 125 yards for the Lumberjacks (10-2).
At Montana 61, South Dakota State 48: Marc Mariani’s 98-yard kickoff return kick-started an epic comeback as the Grizzlies overcame a 48-21 deficit in the FCS first-round game.
Mariani also scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Selle with 1:08 to play.
Montana (12-0), champion of the Big Sky Conference, will meet Stephen F. Austin next.
Mariani scored three touchdowns for the Grizzlies, who scored the game’s final 40 points. Mariani caught 12 passes for 171 yards and two of the scores.
At No. 18 BYU 26, No. 22 Utah 23 (OT): Cougars quarterback Max Hall burned his in-state rivals with a touchdown pass in overtime, then blasted them with scathing comments,
Hall redeemed himself from a year ago, when Utah intercepted him five times in a 48-24 blowout in Salt Lake City. Hall said Saturday he was still upset with the way his family was treated by Utes fans.
“I don’t like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything,” Hall said. “It felt really good to send those guys home.”
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