Simis throws for 6 TDs as Montana beats North Dakota 42-16

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) Makena Simis threw for 321 yards and a school-tying six touchdowns, and the Montana Grizzlies swamped North Dakota 42-16 on Saturday.

Montana (4-3, 3-1 Big Sky), trailed early after John Santiago scored on an 80-yard run on North Dakota's first snap. The Grizzlies dominated after that, taking the lead for good at 14-10 on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Simis to Ellis Henderson with 5:27 left in the second quarter.

Henderson and Jamaal Jones each caught two touchdown passes. Henderson hauled in a 63-yarder to push the lead to 21-10 before halftime, and Jones caught touchdowns covering 74 and 22 yards, the last pushing the gap to 42-10 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Simis, a sophomore, began the season as the third-string quarterback. He completed 15 of 22 passes in his first start.

Santiago, a freshman, ran for a career-best 178 yards for North Dakota (4-4, 2-3).