Humphrey and Montana defeated E. Washington 57-41 in the FCS playoffs

MISSOULA, Mont.
Cam Humphrey threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to Samuel Akem in the second half, and No.6 Montana beat East Washington 50-35 on Friday night in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Montana (10-2), a two-time FCS champion making his record 25th playoff appearance, has advanced to his 14th and second quarterfinals in the past three years.
Kevin Macias kicked a 44-yard field goal for the Grizzlies and then Montana’s Gavin Robertson and Robby Hauck had back-to-back tackles both of which were considered, but neither was ultimately determined to aim before the East Washington (10-3) doesn’t line up to go for it on the fourth field and -2 near midfield. After a false start for the Eagles, Ryan Tirrell blocked a punt picked up in the 17th by Levi Janacaro. Four games later, Junior Bergen scored on a 5-yard run to reduce the Grizzlies’ deficit to 21-20 midway through the third quarter.
Macias scored 46 yards to open the scoring in the third quarter and, after East Washington lost three goals, Bergen returned a 37-yard punt on the 8, setting up a Xavier Harris touchdown in the next game for go 30-21 and Montana led the rest of the way.
Eric Barrière completed 47 of 80 passes for 530 yards and five touchdowns with a fumble – which turned into a Montana touchdown and gave the Grizzlies a three-goal lead at the end of the third quarter – and an interception, a 55-yard-by-6 pick by Justin Ford who went 57-35 with 2:08 to play.
Barriere hit Talolo Limu-Jones in fourth and 6 – after an EWU false start in fourth and 1 – for a gain of 24 yards on 9 and a penalty for the passer, a play made later in the first and the 4’s goal. Three games later, Barriere shot a laser at Limu-Jones in the back of the end zone to make it 30-28 with 6:33 left in the third quarter. Barriere, who was battered throughout the game, was hit on the pitch and was in obvious discomfort – gripping his mid section – as he left the pitch.
Garrett Graves returned the next kick for 33 yards before Cam Humphrey’s 44-yard pass to Akem crowned a 60-yard triple play and made it a two-possession play just 71 seconds later.
Barriere has 120 career touchdown passes and passed Steve McNair for fifth place in FCS history.
Limu-Jones finished with 14 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns and Andrew Boston, who also had 14 catches, finished with 141 yards and one scoring.
Montana is 18-6-1 at home against the Eagles all-time.
Akem finished with five receptions for 104 yards.
___
More AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.
Sign up for the AP College Football Newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25