Montana loses in FCS semifinals

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Tim Flanders rushed for 287 yards on 26 carries and Sam Houston State advanced to its first national championship game with a 31-28 win over Montana in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinal on Friday night. The Bearkats (14-0) will play the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between North Dakota State and Georgia Southern on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas. Sam Houston State stormed to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, then held on as the Grizzlies mounted a furious comeback in the second half. Montana (11-3) got within 31-28 after quarterback Jordan Johnson scored on a 54-yard run. The Bearkats forced a Montana punt in the fourth quarter, then ran out the final 6 minutes. Flanders rushed for 49 yards on the final drive, including a 22-yard run on fourth-and-1 from the Sam Houston 47.