“Historic Night of Offense: Head Coach Bobby Hauck’s Perfect Balance And More

If you’ve seen Montana face off against Eastern Washington in Cheney before, you knew Saturday night wouldn’t be a walk in the park. The Grizzlies and Eagles always bring their A-game on the red turf at Roos Field, and Montana aimed to achieve a historic victory on the Inferno for the first time ever.

The game featured daring fourth down attempts, clever trick plays, unexpected onside kicks, and much more, culminating in a thrilling contest that showcased over 100 points and 1,252 total yards.

Montana left it all on the field, securing a narrow 52-49 victory over Eastern Washington. The Grizzlies racked up an impressive 701 yards, the second-highest total in the program’s history, outpacing the Eagles in a late-night offensive showdown.

Head Coach Bobby Hauck’s preferred balance was on full display, with Montana throwing for 364 yards and rushing for 337, surpassing the 700-yard milestone.

“That was an incredible game, a wild showdown,” Hauck remarked. “Defensive fans might not have enjoyed it as much, but it was a fantastic matchup. I’ve been praising Aaron Best all week for his excellent work with this program. He had his team ready to battle. We had them on the ropes multiple times, but they kept fighting until the end. We were holding on for dear life, but we found a way to get it done.”

Montana (4-1, 1-0 Big Sky) held the lead for most of the game after scoring the last 21 points of the first half, but it took several crucial fourth down conversions for the Grizzlies to secure the victory. They successfully converted all three fourth downs, including a touchdown pass in the final minutes, showcasing bold decision-making, effective play calling, and strong execution.

Logan Fife started and played the entire game, delivering an impressive performance. The transfer quarterback completed 30 of 42 passes for 364 yards and five touchdowns. This marks the first time since 2021 that a quarterback has thrown five touchdown passes, and the first instance since the 2022 non-conference season that a player has surpassed 300 passing yards.

“Logan played exceptionally well. We needed every point he provided, and he managed multiple situations well,” Hauck noted. “There were a few moments that might have been tricky for him, but I believe that once we review the film, we will see he made a lot of smart choices throughout the game. Great job by Logan.”

Nick Ostmo was the standout in the rushing game, amassing 160 yards on 15 carries, averaging 10.7 yards per attempt, highlighted by a significant 62-yard run in the fourth quarter that set up the winning score. Ostmo scored a rushing touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass.

Ostmo moved up to fifth place on Montana’s all-time rushing yards list, surpassing Rocky Klever. He now trails only Yohance Humphery, Chase Reynolds, Lex Hilliard, and Jordan Canada.

Eli Gillman carried the ball 11 times for 109 yards, scoring on a 69-yard run in the third quarter as he continued to make big plays. This was his third consecutive game with over 100 rushing yards, and he has scored in all five games this season.

Gillman has now become just the 13th Grizzly to achieve 20 career rushing touchdowns, tying with legends Dave Dickenson and Josh Branen. He also moved up to 16th place on the all-time yardage chart with 1,598 career yards, averaging 10.1 yards per carry this season and an impressive 6.2 yards per carry across his career.