The Grizzlies are done. After a perfect 11-0 regular season, Montana’s quest for its first national championship since 2001 ended with a 23-22 loss to Wofford at home in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. It was the final college game for Flathead native Lex Hilliard, who finished his career at Montana with three school records and 54 yards shy of the all-time rushing record. But the state still has one national champion hopeful left after Carroll knocked off Iowa’s Morningside 27-16 in the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs on Saturday.
In college basketball news, Mandy Morales led Montana’s women’s basketball team to an 86-81 victory over Richmond on Saturday to win the UNLV Lady Rebel Shootout tournament. The win came a day after the Lady Griz beat Oregon State 57-42. On the men’s side, the Grizzlies fell short in their upset bid of No. 9 Washington State, losing 66-55 on Friday night. At the state’s other big university, both Bobcats’ basketball teams lost on Saturday night, with the women falling 80-68 to Denver and the men losing 76-61 to UC Santa Barbara.
There was no high school action, though winter sports have started practicing at all high schools in the Flathead.