MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Alex Ross threw for three touchdowns and Lorenzo Taliaferro rushed for two touchdowns as Coastal Carolina pushed past the No. 8 seed Montana 42-35 in the second round of the FCS Playoffs on a frigid Saturday.
Coastal Carolina (12-2), which survived minus-4 degrees at kickoff, will play the winner of No. 1 North Dakota State (11-0) vs. Furman (8-5) in the quarterfinals.
Ross’s three touchdowns came in the first half, including two to Niccolo Mastromatteo as Chanticleers scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to build a 35-14 halftime lead.
The Grizzlies (10-3) opened the second half with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Johnson to Jamaal Jones. Johnson found Jones again in the fourth quarter for a 72-yard touchdown, to pull within seven, but Coastal Carolina ran out the clock to seal its victory.
Johnson led Montana with 388 yards passing, four touchdowns and had one interception.
