MISSOULA, Mont. — In a thrilling contest, Junior Bergen made a significant impact by scoring two punt return touchdowns during the second half, leading the Montana Grizzlies, the 14th seed, to a 41-27 victory over Tennessee State in the opening round of the FCS playoffs Saturday night. This win marked Montana’s 28th appearance in the playoffs, and they will now face off against the third-seeded South Dakota State in the next round.
Bergen’s performance was notable as he tied the FCS record for career punt returns for touchdowns, matching the eight set by Florida A&M’s LeRoy Vann from 2006 to 2009.
The Grizzlies started strong, courtesy of Ty Morrison, who kicked a 39-yard field goal just five minutes into the game. He followed this up with successful kicks from 31, 50, and 30 yards, with his last field goal putting Montana ahead 19-6 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.
After a pivotal sack by Noah Kaschmitter, which pushed the Tigers back to their own 8-yard line, Bergen seized the opportunity. He caught a punt at the 48-yard line and surged up the field, navigating through defenders before finding the end zone. This remarkable play extended Montana’s lead to 27-6, shortly after which Logan Fife contributed with a successful 2-point conversion.
Tennessee State responded with a 63-yard kickoff return by Craig Cunningham, which set up a touchdown for Karate Brenson from quarterback Ellis, narrowing the score. However, the defensive play by Chris Walker, who strip-sacked Fife, allowed Sanders Ellis to recover the ball and return it 27 yards to Montana’s 11-yard line. Following that turnover, Ellis ran for a touchdown, bringing Tennessee State within a touchdown at 27-20 with over 14 minutes left on the clock.
Bergen, undeterred, then delivered another explosive play with a 54-yard punt return that propelled Montana ahead 34-20. Eli Gillman solidified the victory with a 59-yard rushing touchdown, concluding the scoring.
Tennessee State concluded its season with this game, marking their first playoff appearance since 2013, while Montana celebrated another successful chapter in their playoff history.
