MISSOULA — As the fourth quarter wound down Saturday night at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the Montana Grizzlies were in urgent need of a crucial stop.
A field goal during their previous possession had given Montana a narrow five-point lead, 29-24, over the Missouri State Bears. With a minute and 38 seconds remaining, the Bears had plenty of time to score a game-winning touchdown.
On first down, Bears quarterback Jacob Clark connected on a 5-yard pass. However, Montana’s defensive line took charge in the following three plays.
“We needed that stop,” said Montana defensive lineman Hayden Harris. “If they had scored, we would have lost, so we really focused and went after them.”
Two sacks and a decisive stop in the backfield sealed the Week 1 win for the Grizzlies, who recorded four sacks in the second half. Although the Grizzlies allowed 24 points, their defense stepped up in critical moments.
Two of the three starting defensive linemen Montana fielded against Missouri State were making their debut in maroon and silver. Nose tackle Pat Hayden joined from Monmouth in the offseason, while former Youngstown State player Andres Lehrmann also transferred.
Linebacker Vai Kaho, who came over from San Diego State, made an immediate impact on his first play by registering a tackle for loss.
“The coverage really allowed us to go after them,” said Harris. “Andres, Vai, and everyone up front, including Pat, did an excellent job. The result was exactly what we hoped for.”
Harris recorded the first sack on the final drive, leading to a critical third-and-12 situation. Lehrmann then electrified the crowd with a second consecutive sack, forcing Missouri State into a fourth-and-15.
By the time the final play was underway, the atmosphere at Wa-Griz was electric. Kaho brought down Clark one last time, allowing his offense to take the field for a quick kneel-down.
Redshirt senior Harris, who transferred from UCLA before the 2023 season, was pleased with the defense’s performance in their first game together.
“As the game went on, I thought the guys did an excellent job adapting and overcoming challenges, which was crucial for us,” he noted.
The defense displayed awareness, stepping up for a key fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter. Trailing 19-17, the Bears found themselves at the Montana 42-yard line, needing 7 yards on fourth down. Missouri State coach Ryan Beard decided to go for it, but senior corner Trevin Gradney disrupted the play.
The Griz capitalized on the excellent field position with a touchdown that turned out to be the game-winner.
“Montana plays aggressively,” Beard remarked. “Their defense is exceptional, applying pressure from all angles. They are physical and tough.”
Montana conceded 24 or more points in only one game of the 2023 regular season, which was a 28-14 defeat against Northern Arizona. Despite this, head coach Bobby Hauck expressed pride in his team’s resilience in overcoming challenges to achieve victory.
“Things aren’t always easy, and outcomes can be unpredictable,” Hauck remarked. “Sometimes luck isn’t on your side, whether due to our own mistakes or the opponent’s efforts, but I’m proud of our guys for their hard work and for securing a fantastic win tonight.”
Photos: Montana vs. Missouri State football
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