Star Montana Quarterback Takes Stand, Denies Rape Allegations

The divisive case -- the Internet a -- Laney is -- a popular college football star against a classmate who says. He raped her. For the first time the former University of Montana quarterback took the... See More

The divisive case -- the Internet a -- Laney is -- a popular college football star against a classmate who says. He raped her. For the first time the former University of Montana quarterback took the stand to tell his side of a high profile he said she said story. But will it save him from prison here's ABC's -- today just. -- Jordan Johnson the former steeler quarterback for the University of Montana is accused of racing the former acquaintance. It's being coldly plan. A case of he said she said he says he had consensual sex she says it was rape. The case has divided the university and surrounding college town of Missoula in western Montana today on the stand he insisted he's not guilty. We had consensual sex and that have never. Do that to anyone. The incident happened last February but it wasn't until more than a month later that the alleged victim whose name -- and being reported told authorities he raped her. According to the 21 year -- affidavit she sent a text message to a friend shortly after the encounter sank. Only MG I think I might have just gotten raped he kept pushing and pushing and I said no but he wouldn't listen. According to court documents the next day she got a medical exam and the prosecution says they discovered bruises. Johnston admits that on the night of the incident he initiated contact with the woman via text that said -- He says she later invited him to watch a movie in a room and ultimately picked him up. He says about fifteen minutes into the movie they started kissing on her bed and things quickly escalated. She asked me if I had a condom. Listen known she says it's okay. She would've -- the stopped. But according to her account she didn't want to have sex that night. And told police that she repeatedly told him no not tonight closure -- the division. -- the prosecution argues shortly after Johnson arrived in her room and things got ugly. He changed. This demeanor changed he became more aggressive. And in her words it got real scary real fast. She says he told her turnover or -- -- -- Johnson admits at one point he did turn her over but they were just changing positions but Johnson's attorney was quick to point out. Yes my. She is -- -- the defense describes a victim as a spurned woman who was jealous of -- relationship Johnson was having with another woman he recently started seeing. This kind of certain to think about. Kelly. And I didn't want her to know that I had sex with another girl. The defense also points out the long delay in reporting the incident is significant but psychologists say it's -- unusual. It is common for survivors of sexual assault to delay reporting to police and blaming people in -- sounds or. -- is sent to be the most common violent crime on American college campuses today. And in the overwhelming majority of those cases the rape is by an acquaintance. Not a stranger every team and -- somebody in the -- -- sexually assault said. And nearly half of some drivers -- under the age of eighteen. Women and cons -- at highest risk for this -- him. Guilty or not allegation alone has been life changing for the former starting quarterback. It's not only suspended Johnson's promising football career he led the grizzlies to an 113 season as a sophomore and threw six touchdowns in one game. But it's also impacted his family. It's very hard. To deal -- Not just mean that multifamily. I don't you remember what it's like to be normal. Johnson is charged with sexual intercourse without consent a felony with a maximum sentence of 100 years in prison. His testimony. Was absolutely crucial. But more. To see if he slipped up. And the fact that he survived. The cross examination. Relatively unscathed it. He's a big win for the defense in this case the -- points or her conflicting text messages to support their argument in one text to a friend she wrote. I don't think he did anything wrong and in a message to a friend on FaceBook she wrote may -- I wanted to. Are her text messages the biggest obstacle for prosecution. When she says I don't think he did anything wrong. Even if you put that into context. Even if you explain why she would have said that. That's a real problem. For prosecutors in this case. This case is playing out against the backdrop of investigations by the US Justice Department and the NCAA. And it's made national headlines some calling it trial by Twitter because bloggers are feverishly tweeting play by play -- on every word and movement in the courtroom. But it's a jury that will ultimately decide as early as Friday. For Nightline I'm Lindsey Davis in New York.