SACRAMENTO – Running backs Chase Reynolds and Thomas Brooks-Fletcher combined for 245 yards and four touchdowns in Montana’s 45-30 victory over Sacramento State on Saturday.
Reynolds had 20 carries for 112 yards and three touchdowns and Brooks-Fletcher ran for 133 yards and a TD on 22 carries for the Grizzlies (7-0, 4-0 Big Sky), who own a 15-0 overall record against the Hornets.
Quarterback Jason Smith completed 31 of 46 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns and receiver John Hendershott caught two TDs for the Hornets (2-5, 2-3 Big Sky).
Trailing by a touchdown, Reynolds tied the game 14-14 on a 2-yard TD run with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter.
After quarterback Gerald Kemp recovered an on-side kick for Montana on the kickoff, Reynolds scored on a 1-yard run to give the Grizzlies a 21-14 halftime lead.
Reynolds had 17 carries for 100 yards and wide receiver Marc Mariana caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in the first half for the Grizzlies.
Reynolds scored his third touchdown on a 5-yard run while Brooks-Fletcher’s lone TD came on a 17-yard carry. Reynolds, who takes a majority of the snaps, said Brooks-Fletcher is great at spelling him.
“When he’s out there we don’t skip a beat” Reynolds said.
Quarterbacks Andrew Selle and Justin Roper each threw one touchdown pass, including Roper’s 57-yard strike to Jabin Sambrano late in the fourth quarter.
“They didn’t do anything we didn’t think they would do,” said Hornets quarterback Smith, noting that the Grizzlies were favored to win.
Brandyn Reed caught 10 passes for 111 yards for the Hornets and Terrence Dailey ran for 90 yards and one TD for the Hornets.