Things to watch: Montana Grizzlies Fans Enjoys More Tantalizing News to Cheer About

It may not have been the most exciting game, but No. 9-ranked Montana took care of business on Saturday, shutting out Northern Colorado 24-0 at Nottingham Field under sunny skies.

Montana’s defense recorded three interceptions, and quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat performed well in his first game back in three weeks, leading the Grizzlies to their second consecutive victory.

Coming off a bye, the Griz improved their record to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Sky, staying competitive near the top of the conference standings.

“Shutting teams out in modern college football is a significant achievement, and I was very pleased we accomplished that,” said head coach Bobby Hauck. “I think our players really embraced that challenge in the fourth quarter.

“We played several guys who hadn’t seen much action late in the game, and they took it upon themselves to secure the shutout, which I appreciated.”

Logan Fife started at quarterback for Montana, but Keali’i Ah Yat handled most of the important snaps. Ah Yat threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns, outdueling UNC’s Kia’i Keone, both of whom played high school football at Kapalama High School in Honolulu.

Neither team scored on their opening drives. However, after a personal foul on linebacker Riley Wilson gave UNC a first down on their second drive, a pass from Keone was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Ryan Tirrell and intercepted by Montana’s Jace Klucewich.

This set up a drive dominated by Eli Gillman, culminating in a 4-yard touchdown run that put the Griz up 7-0.

Trailing by a touchdown in the second quarter, UNC was pushing for an equalizer when an errant pass from Keone was deflected and caught by Montana’s Caleb Otlewski at the UM 3-yard line.

Montana then extended their lead to 14-0 with a short touchdown pass from Ah Yat to Ian Finch just before halftime.

The Grizzlies quickly increased their lead in the third quarter when Xavier Harris returned the kickoff 76 yards, placing Montana at the UNC 24, where Ty Morrison kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it 17-0.

Later in the third quarter, after Jaxon Lee’s interception, Ah Yat connected with Gillman for a 9-yard touchdown pass, pushing the score to 24-0. This capped an impressive 16-play, 87-yard drive.

Montana preserved the shutout by stopping Northern Colorado on fourth down inside the red zone early in the fourth quarter.

Turning point: After Montana’s defense forced a punt late in the second quarter, Ah Yat made a beautiful 35-yard pass to Harris down the right sideline. Nick Ostmo then ran for 22 yards into the red zone, and Ah Yat found Finch for a 2-yard touchdown, giving the Grizzlies a crucial two-possession lead at 14-0 with just 31 seconds left in the half.

Stat of the game: Montana’s defense had only two interceptions in their first seven games but grabbed three against UNC, with Otlewski’s interception at UM’s 3-yard line being especially vital in preventing the Bears from tying the game.

Grizzly game balls:

• QB Keali’i Ah Yat (Offense). After struggling with an injury earlier in the season, Ah Yat returned to form with two touchdown passes and no turnovers.
• DE Hayden Harris (Defense). Harris led the team in tackles for loss (two solo) and helped the Griz achieve their first shutout of the year.
• KR Xavier Harris (Special Teams). His 76-yard kickoff return at the start of the third quarter was pivotal in helping the Grizzlies extend their lead.

What’s next: The Grizzlies continue their road trip next Saturday against Cal Poly at Mustang Memorial Field. Montana leads the all-time series 18-5 and has won the last three matchups.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Mountain Time, and the game will be broadcast by Scripps Sports.

Northern Colorado (1-7, 1-3) will also be on the road next week, facing another Big Sky contender, UC Davis.