Montana combined a dominating defense and an error-free offense for a 13-6 victory over Furman in the Division I-AA Football Championship December 21 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Grizzlies came one play away from registering their second straight shutout, but did record their second Division I-AA title. Montana, which lost in the final in 1996 and last year, also won the championship in 1995.

In the process, Joe Glenn became the first head coach to win NCAA championships in two divisions. Glenn added a Division I-AA crown to the Division II titles he garnered at Northern Colorado in 1996 and 1997.

Vince Huntsberger and Dave DeCoite played major roles in holding Furman scoreless until the game's final play. DeCoite forced a fumble that Huntsberger recovered to halt a Paladins first-half drive.

In the third quarter, DeCoite knocked down a third-down pass that forced a Furman failed field-goal try. Both Grizzlies intercepted passes in the fourth quarter to help thwart a Furman comeback.

Huntsberger topped Montana, which blanked Northern Iowa in the semifinals, in tackles with 10.

After a scoreless first quarter, Montana embarked on a second-period drive that started at its own one-yard line, but stalled inside the Furman five. The Grizzlies then missed a 20-yard field goal attempt, but gained a reprieve when the Paladins were offside.

The mistake gave Montana a first down, and the Big Sky Conference champion took advantage when Yohance Humphrey scored on a two-yard run. Chris Snyder made a 35-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining in the first half to up Montana's advantage to 10-0.

Snyder booted a 30-yard field goal at the 6:13 mark of the fourth quarter for the Grizzlies' final points. James Thomas caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Billy Napier on the game's last play for Furman's lone score.

Humphrey was Montana's workhorse, carrying the ball 30 times for 142 yards. Quarterback John Edwards completed 18 of 28 passes for 124 yards. His favorite target was Etu Molden, who made 10 receptions.

Punter Mark Spencer helped Montana in the field-position department, as he averaged 40.7 yards on six kicks and trapped the Paladins inside their 20-yard line on three occasions.

Will Bouton and Shelvis Smith topped Furman with 12 tackles each. The Paladins held Montana well below their season average of 34.7 points per game, as the two teams tied the Division I-AA championship-game record for fewest points. Youngstown State nipped McNeese State, 10-9, in 1997.

Montana finished 2001 with a 15-1 record, its only loss coming to Division I-A Hawaii. Furman ended the year with a 12-3 mark.

Championship

M -- Yohance Humphrey 2 run (Chris

Snyder kick) (6:27); M -- Snyder 35 field goal (0:53).

M -- Snyder 30 field goal (6:13); F -- James Thomas 54 pass from Billy Napier (0:00).

Attendance -- 12,698.

Rushing: Montana -- Humphrey 30-142, John Edwards 11-32, Branden Malcom 2-(minus 1); Furman -- Eric Emerson 7-34, Louis Ivory 12-33, Napier 12-30, Hindley Brigham 4-14, Toreico O'Neal 3-10, Al Means 1-0.

Passing: Montana -- Edwards 18-28-0-124; Furman -- Napier 10-26-2-172.

Receiving: Montana -- Etu Molden 10-74, Spencer Frederick 2-15, T. J. Oelkers 2-11, Humphrey 2-4, Dane Oliver 1-20, Rory Zikmund 1-0; Furman -- Thomas 4-75, Trent Sansbury 3-31, Bear Rinehart 2-49, Isaac West 1-17.