Griz grind down Catamounts in come-from-behind win

Saturday, September 21

Missoula, Mont.

1 PM

Montana

3-1 , 0-0

Western Carolina

1-3 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Western Caro.

Montana

Photo by: Tommy Martino/University of Montana

9/21/2024 6:33:00 PM | Football

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By: Montana Sports Information

In a top 25 matchup in Missoula, the Montana Grizzlies came from behind to knock off Western Carolina 46-35 using a dominant rushing attack for the second straight week.

The Grizzlies outscored Western Carolina 46-18 through the final three quarters in front of another sell-out crowd to cap the nonconference season at 3-1 with a win that had a playoff feel.

There were tense moments in Washington-Grizzly Stadium early as the Catamounts, last year's FCS leaders in total offense with over 500 yards per game, came out of the gates in a hurry and jumped ahead 17-0 in the first quarter.

Montana made the adjustments moving forward, however, and the rushing trio of Keali'i Ah Yat, Eli Gillman, and Nick Ostmo ran through WCU all day long to get the win. All three made a little history as well in leading the Griz to their 15^th-straight win at home.

"If you're going to win a lot, which we do, you have to find a lot of different ways to win," head coach Bobby Hauck said. "Every football game is different, every season is different, and you have to rely on your fundamentals and your formula and find different ways to win.

"Being down 17 to that team, with that offense, was scary to say the least. It was a gut-check, steely-eyed, stare adversity in the face game, and the Griz came out with a resounding W. So that was awesome."

Gallery: (9-21-2024) FB: vs Western Carolina (9. 21.24)

Ah Yat ran it 11 times for 57 yards and entered the Grizzly record book by rushing for four touchdowns. He's just the sixth player in program history with four rushing scores in a game, and the first quarterback to ever do it.

Gillman had a career-high 175 yards on the ground in his second-straight 100-yard game, averaging 12.5 yards on his 14 carries and finding the end zone once. The sophomore had two different runs for 50-plus yards, including Montana's first score on the day on a play that changed the entire tone of the game.

"He's a unique combination because he's got enough shiftiness and mobility to make you miss and he can outrun you a bit. He got caught once today, but he doesn't get caught very often," Hauck said. "He's also got the willingness and the size to be a power back and break tackles and run through contact. He's got it all, and I thought he had a great day today."

Ostmo moved into sixth in program history in rushing yards, passing John Nguyen behind 72 yards on 15 carries. All told, Montana outgained Western Carolina by 246 yards on the ground, and it proved to be the difference maker late in the game.

The running backs and quarterbacks shined in the rushing game, but a big reason they were able to eat up large chunks of yardage was the blocking of Montana's offensive line and tight ends.

"They're coming off and doing a great job," Hauck said. "There wasn't penetration in the run game. They weren't getting up-field on us. Our backs were very patient today and they were hanging with their reads and even though it wasn't wide open, they were sticking with it."

The big plays on the ground were what turned the tide for Montana as they had 10 rushes of at least 10 yards in the game. It was a battle of styles as Western Carolina picked up most of their big plays in the air as they had eight completions of at least 15 yards.

It's the first time Montana has come back from down 17 in a game since a playoff win over Southeast Missouri State in 2022 where they trailed 24-3.

The offensive attack was familiar, but getting in a high-scoring, shootout type game is not a spot Montana has been in for a while. It's the first time since 2022 that the Grizzlies allowed 30 points in a game, but when you're playing an offense like WCU's you have to find new ways to win. Montana did just that.

The Griz were 50 percent on third down and converted 2-of-3 fourth down attempts, and they held WCU to 5-of-14 on third down. It was a game that saw plenty of penalties on both sides as the teams combined for 23 total flags for 201 yards, splitting them nearly 50/50.

Montana forced one crucial turnover as Trevin Gradney picked off a tipped pass in the third quarter, and it turned into seven Grizzly points at a big moment in the game. The defense made a great adjustment at the break, holding the WCU passing attack to just 115 yards in the second half after they had more than that in both the first and second quarters.

Jaxon Lee led the team with 11 tackles, five of which were solo in a career day. Ryan Tirrell added 10 tackles and broke up a pass as well.

Ah Yat went 16-of-27 for 145 yards through the air and Logan Fife played the final several drives for the Griz, going 7-of-10 for 58 yards. Junior Bergen officially announced his return with eight catches for 99 yards, the third-most in a single game for the talented senior.

"He showed a lot of guts on some of those runs to finish them, get in the end zone, move the chains. He's good with the ball in his hands," Hauck said. "There is obviously progress being made each week. We're not there yet, but those guys are getting better and better. I was proud of Keali'i, and I was proud of Logan coming in and doing the stuff he does really well in the fourth quarter."

The high-powered Catamounts offense came out fast, getting the ball to start the game and driving the length of the field for a touchdown on their first possession. They went 75 yards in eight plays, taking up just over three minutes of game time.

Montana got a quick first down but gave it back with a punt and the Catamounts doubled the lead with 7:35 remaining in the first period.

It was an uncharacteristic start for the Grizzlies, who committed five penalties in the opening 15 minutes. The Catamounts went ahead 17-0 early in the second quarter, kicking a field goal after a Grizzly interception gave them great field position.

The comeback started for Montana behind a big play from Eli Gillman. The running back ran for nine yards on the first play of the following drive and bounced outside and found a hole in the defense for a 66-yard score, his sixth of the year and the fourth 50-plus yard TD run of his career.

The lengthy touchdown completely changed the momentum of the game, getting the Grizzlies right back into it.

The Catamounts were able to get another scoring drive together, driving it down inside the Montana five-yard line. The Grizzly defense backed them up and forced another field goal that made it 20-7.

The defense gave the Griz some momentum, and the rush game delivered on the following drive to keep it going. Gillman had another big run, gaining 20 yards to get into Western Carolina territory.

Once there, Montana ran a reverse to Aaron Fontes for a 29-yard gain around the edge that brought the Griz all the way down to the six-yard line. Ah Yat scrambled down to the one-yard line, and then punched it in on the next play on a QB sneak.

The Griz cut the lead to 20-14 and appeared to have a three-and-out on the following defensive drive before a roughing the passer penalty extended it for WCU. It was the seventh penalty of the first half, which was more than the Griz had committed in any full game this season.

Western Carolina took advantage. On a 3rd-and-15 play, they connected for a 61-yard score to make it 27-14 with 1:47 to play.

Montana needed the two-minute offense to step up, and they delivered. The Grizzlies drove 70 yards in just six plays, scoring inside of a minute to make it a one-score game at 27-21.

Ah Yat completed his first four passes on the drive, the last of which went to Bergen, who was tackled late out of bounds for a WCU penalty. The Catamounts got another unsportsmanlike penalty before the next snap, giving Montana the ball on the nine-yard line.

Ah Yat kept it on a rush around the edge and cut up-field for his second rushing touchdown of the first half.

Western Carolina aired it out on the following drive but couldn't find a completion and were forced to punt, giving Montana another drive with 30 seconds left on the clock.

While under pressure, Ah Yat floated a ball to Bergen for a 24-yard gain to get the Griz to the edge of field goal range. A 43-yard attempt as time expired went wide right, sending the teams to the break at 27-21 with Montana receiving the ball out of the half.

"At halftime, we felt like we missed a couple of opportunities. We missed a field goal and a couple of scoring opportunities where we were moving the ball," Hauck said. "We were running it really well, they couldn't run it, and the talk at halftime was that it was playing out just the way we planned it all week long. Our guys really felt like they could wear them down, that they were wearing them down, and even though we were behind on the scoreboard it felt like an ahead locker room."

The Griz drove into Catamount territory coming out of the half but were stopped on fourth-and-one to give it back to WCU. The defenses certainly seemed to find effective changes in the locker rooms, as the teams traded punts on the first four possessions.

The game was calling for a big play, and who else to deliver it but Eli Gillman. The Griz running back broke free for a 58-yard gain to set Montana up inside the 10 again.

On third down, Ah Yat once again kept it on a read option and sprinted out to his right. Two Catamounts stood in his way, but Ah Yat took the contact, diving through the tacklers and extending for the goal line to give Montana its first lead of the day at 28-27.

If the first lead of the day got the Griz fans on their feet, the very next offensive snap blew the lid off Washington-Grizzly Stadium. An attempted screen pass by the Catamounts was tipped in the air, and Trevin Gradney dove to make the play and get his first interception of the year.

Montana quickly turned the turnover into points as they started the next drive just outside the red zone. Ah Yat continued his impressive day on the ground, scrambling for a 12-yard gain and being tripped up at the one-yard line. He would keep it on the following play and go right up the gut for his fourth rushing touchdown of the day.

Western Carolina came right back down the field, using a trick play receiver pass to get into the red zone. The Grizzly defense held up, stuffing the Catamounts and forcing them into a field goal, which sailed wide left.

The Griz took the ball and went quickly in the opposite direction, leaning on a rushing attack that was wearing down the WCU defense. They ran six times, picking up every yard on the ground on a drive that ended in a field goal to give Montana a 38-27 lead. It capped off a 24-0 run for Montana.

The second half defensive shutout was lost on the next WCU drive as they were able to go 69 yards in seven plays to cut the Grizzly lead to 38-35.

The Montana drive started with 8:22 on the clock as they looked to get one more scoring drive to put the game away. They drove deep into Catamount territory but faced a 4th-and-4 and a decision. Instead of a field goal that would make it a six-point game, the Griz went for it and Logan Fife was able to connect with Bergen for a 13-yard gain and a first down.

"If that was earlier in the game, we would have taken the field goal and gone up by six. But we were up three so a field goal from them ties it and you've got to figure they will make the PAT so a touchdown would beat you. So we wanted to move the chains and take the clock all the way down. We went for it, got it, and then the guys ground them down and got it in the end zone."

Ostmo finished the game off with his 23rd career rushing touchdown which moved him into sole possession of eighth place in program history.

The defense held for a three-and-out on the last WCU drive and were able to take a knee to seal the ranked win.

It's the 33rd straight home non-conference win for a Hauck-coached team as he won his 132nd game in charge of the Grizzlies. The Montana faithful also showed-out again with 25,720 in attendance – the 13^th-straight regular season sell out, which extends a program record.

Montana will now open Big Sky Conference play on the road against the rival Eastern Washington Eagles. Eastern is on a three-game losing streak after falling 49-16 at Nevada.

"It's been kind of quirky for us with injuries, but we've made a lot of progress," Hauck said of the non-conference finish. "It's looking smoother, it's better, and there's obviously always things to clean up but it's good to get a win over a good team and to do it by making them tap."