Fontes named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week
10/9/2023 10:09:00 AM | Football
Montana used a near-evenly split offensive attack to help defeat No. 18 UC Davis on the road in California over the weekend with 243 passing yards and 181 rushing yards. But one player seemed to come up with the biggest, most eye-popping plays right when the Griz needed them most.
Aaron Fontes led all receivers in the game with five catches on seven targets for a career-high 99 yards and two touchdowns, with a career-long play of 41 yards. He also carried the ball once for four yards (on what was really a pass behind the line of scrimmage), giving him a personal haul of 103 yards on the day.
Impressive numbers to be sure. Even more impressive, though, were the high-flying circus catches he used to rack up the yardage.
For his efforts, Fontes was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, the first weekly accolade of his career and the first for the Grizzlies this season.
"When the ball is in the air, you have to attack it, whether you're on offense or defense, and our guys went after the ball. I think they've been playing quite well, and it was good to see Aaron have a really nice game. He's a great kid, and he's all Montana," said head coach Bobby Hauck.
Trailing 13-7 early in the second quarter, Fontes helped regain the lead for Montana with two big plays on the ensuing drive after Davis took the lead.
He connected with quarterback Clifton McDowell on the first play of the drive for an acrobatic grab for 24 yards that put the Grizzlies into Aggie territory.
Three plays later, Fontes made a SportsCenter-worthy catch when McDowell escaped pressure in the pocket, rolled out right, and found him laid out horizontally in the endzone, coming down with the bobbling catch for a touchdown that gave Montana the go-ahead score.
Fontes caught his second touchdown pass of the second quarter with just over a minute to play when he and McDowell connected from deep on second and ten.
This time, Fontes sprinted down the right sideline and sailed between two Aggie defenders for another leaping grab in traffic. He then took the ball 26 yards after the catch to the end zone, dragging defenders along with him. The score put UM up 21-20 at the break and gave the Grizzlies a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Fontes came up big again at the start of the fourth quarter when it was a one-score game, converting a third and ten for a gain of 16 to around midfield, easing the pressure for the Griz en route to the win.
The Big Sky Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors went to a pair of Northern Arizona Lumberjacks who helped secure a win on the road at Weber State in DB Alex McLoughlin and punt returner Owen Coleman.
Montana punt returner Junior Bergen did get a tip of the hat from the national pundits, however, with an honorable mention for the Stats Perform FCS Special Teams Player of the Week. Bergen had 126 total yards on five combined punt and kickoff returns.
He set the Griz up with good field position with 92 yards on four punt return attempts, with a long of 39 yards. The Billings native also totaled 34 yards on one kickoff return.
Aaron Fontes led all receivers in the game with five catches on seven targets for a career-high 99 yards and two touchdowns, with a career-long play of 41 yards. He also carried the ball once for four yards (on what was really a pass behind the line of scrimmage), giving him a personal haul of 103 yards on the day.
Impressive numbers to be sure. Even more impressive, though, were the high-flying circus catches he used to rack up the yardage.
For his efforts, Fontes was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, the first weekly accolade of his career and the first for the Grizzlies this season.
"When the ball is in the air, you have to attack it, whether you're on offense or defense, and our guys went after the ball. I think they've been playing quite well, and it was good to see Aaron have a really nice game. He's a great kid, and he's all Montana," said head coach Bobby Hauck.
Trailing 13-7 early in the second quarter, Fontes helped regain the lead for Montana with two big plays on the ensuing drive after Davis took the lead.
He connected with quarterback Clifton McDowell on the first play of the drive for an acrobatic grab for 24 yards that put the Grizzlies into Aggie territory.
😳 WHAT. A. GRAB. for @aaronfontess!
— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) October 8, 2023
Griz on top!#GoGriz pic.twitter.com/qKlUtKtPPq
Three plays later, Fontes made a SportsCenter-worthy catch when McDowell escaped pressure in the pocket, rolled out right, and found him laid out horizontally in the endzone, coming down with the bobbling catch for a touchdown that gave Montana the go-ahead score.
Fontes caught his second touchdown pass of the second quarter with just over a minute to play when he and McDowell connected from deep on second and ten.
This time, Fontes sprinted down the right sideline and sailed between two Aggie defenders for another leaping grab in traffic. He then took the ball 26 yards after the catch to the end zone, dragging defenders along with him. The score put UM up 21-20 at the break and gave the Grizzlies a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
🦍 @aaronfontess IS ON A MISSION! 🤯
— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) October 8, 2023
TOUCHDOWN, MONTANA! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/CFqatWAgyy
Fontes came up big again at the start of the fourth quarter when it was a one-score game, converting a third and ten for a gain of 16 to around midfield, easing the pressure for the Griz en route to the win.
The Big Sky Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors went to a pair of Northern Arizona Lumberjacks who helped secure a win on the road at Weber State in DB Alex McLoughlin and punt returner Owen Coleman.
Montana punt returner Junior Bergen did get a tip of the hat from the national pundits, however, with an honorable mention for the Stats Perform FCS Special Teams Player of the Week. Bergen had 126 total yards on five combined punt and kickoff returns.
He set the Griz up with good field position with 92 yards on four punt return attempts, with a long of 39 yards. The Billings native also totaled 34 yards on one kickoff return.
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