Griz trounce Coyotes to set up rivalry Semifinal

Saturday, December 13

Missoula, Mont.

1:30 PM

Montana

13-1 , 7-1

South Dakota

10-5 , 6-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

South Dakota

Montana

Photo by: Tommy Martino/ University of Montana

12/13/2025 8:48:00 PM | Football

Box Score Playoff Bracket Photo Gallery

By: Montana Sports Information

Any coach will tell you. The goal is not to play your best football in September. The goal is to play your best in the business end of the season. Two games into their 29^th playoff appearance, and the Montana Grizzlies are doing just that.

"You want to play well in November and December, and I think we are," said head coach Bobby Hauck. "Focus, effort and detail, those are the things that always get you to where you need to go."

The No. 3 Grizzlies were plenty focused from the start Saturday, jumping out to and early lead and dominating the No. 11 South Dakota Coyotes 52-22 in the quarterfinal round of the FCS Playoffs on a spectacular December day inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

With millions of viewers tuned in to the network broadcast on ABC, the Griz punched their ticket to the semifinal round of the postseason for the second time in the last three years and the 12^th time in program history with the record-breaking win.

Montana burst out of the gates to take a 24-0 lead in a near-flawless opening quarter and a half as the Griz torched the Coyotes for 305 yards through the air, the sixth time this season and the second-straight week UM has passed for 300-plus.

South Dakota entered the game having outscored its first two postseason opponents 85-17 but was held to just a single score in the first three quarters of play with a fluke 69-yard touchdown scored in the fourth quarter when a receiver rolled over the tackler and never touched the ground before going the distance.

Montana, conversely, wins the unofficial South Dakota State Championship with the win over the Coyotes after rolling over South Dakota State last week in the second round of the playoffs. The Griz have now outscored opponents 102-51 in the postseason after hanging a pair of 50 burgers on USD and SDSU.

"Our guys played great offense, defense, and special teams today. Our guys were better, and I was proud of the Grizzlies being so ready to play today," added Hauck.

"I thought we were in control of the game from the jump. It was really a concerted effort to get ready this week, and the guys went out and performed. Credit to them and their preparation and going out and executing the plan. I thought that was good."

With 449 total yards against USD, Montana has now broken a school record that stood for over two decades. The Griz and their high-flying offense have now posted 6,508 yards of total offense this season, breaking the 2004 school record of 6,416. That's on top of the new school records the Griz set last week for total points and touchdowns in a season.

Mr. All-Purpose Michael Wortham also etched his name atop Montana's record books with a huge day for the Grizzlies. The electric senior receiver totaled 201 yards through the air, 43 on the ground, and 25 in the kick return game for a monster 269 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns to post 2,295 all-purpose yards this season. That total breaks Hall of Famer Marc Mariani's 2008 record of 2,265 single-season all-purpose yards.

"It means the world to me. Coming in here and doing it with these guys – I couldn't do it without them," said Wortham.

"I got the record, but my teammates deserve all the praise as well. They help me so much, and they're so happy for me."

Wortham's 201 yards receiving were also the second-most of any Grizzly ever in the FCS playoffs, just behind Samori Toure's 2019 total of 303 that broke Randy Moss' playoff record. Wortham is also the first Grizzly to catch three TD passes in a game since that Toure playoff game. Behind that, Wortham is just the second Grizzly to catch more than 200 yards worth of passes for the Griz since Mariani did it against Cal Poly in 2009.

He wasn't the only record-setter though. Playing in his final game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, senior receiver and return man Drew Deck broke free for a 93-yards punt return for a touchdown early in the third quarter.

That return is now the longest punt return TD in NCAA FCS Playoff history, surpassing the record set by Richmond's Dejon Brissett in 2016 of 92 yards. It's also the second-longest return in UM history behind Mariani and Tuff Harris, who each uncorked a 94-yard return in 2008 and 2006, respectively. It was also the first punt return for the Griz this season, with the last coming from Junior Bergen in the 2024 playoffs against Tennessee State.

Deck finished with two scores on the day after opening the game with a short-yardage touchdown catch early in the first quarter to start the scoring for the Griz. It was his second-straight game with a receiving TD and his fourth this season.

Keali'i Ah Yat was again special for the Griz as well, completing 21 of 30 passes for 305 yards and three scores – all to Wortham. He aired-out seven passes of 15-plus yards with two to Wortham for 50-plus yards – both for a score – while going 4-for-6 on deep balls on the day. The Grizzly offensive line also kept him clean, not suffering a sack.

Eli Gillman had his quietest game of the season as the Coyotes cued-in on the Grizzly run game, netting just 38 rushing yards on 18 carries and 32 receiving yards. He did punch in a second quarter touchdown run in the second quarter form one yard out, however, giving him seven-straight games with at least one rushing touchdown.

At 1,434, Gillman is riding the fourth-best single-season rushing total in Grizzly history. He's also now tied with the great Lex Hilliard for the second-most total touchdowns in program history with 52 and is also tied with Hilliard for fifth among UM's leading scorers with 312 points.

Wortham and Gillman also got in on one of the trickiest-trick plays Montana's offensive coordinator Brent Pease has rolled out this season. Wortham caught a short pass out of the backfield from Ah Yat before turning and firing all the way across the field for a lateral to Gillman that picked up 20 yards and converted a third-and-long. The trick play eventually set up Wortham's third TD of the day – an 11-yard scamper around right tackle on a direct snap to put the Griz up 45-22.

"The offense was churning and burning. It was explosive," said Hauck.

"It was a big day for Mike. When I came in on Monday morning and there are a lot of Mike plays on the board in the offensive coordinator's office, that is a great thing. He's good with the football in his hands, but he was special today."

Defensively, Montana forced South Dakota into a pair of turnovers wit a fumble recovery early and a late interception. The Coyotes entered the game having not given up a turnover since October 1. Sophomore linebacker Caleb Otlewski led the game with 10 tackles and 1.5 TFLs, with Peyton Wing picking off his fourth pass of the year and Kenzel Lawler jumping on a L.J. Phillips fumble.

The Griz will now prepare to head across the divide and face Montana State. It will be the 125^th all-time meeting between the ancient rivals but will be the first ever in the postseason. It's also the first time the two have played twice in the same season in over a century, dating back to 1913. The semifinal is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20. Montana's game will again broadcast around the nation on ABC.

Montana leads the all-time series with Montana State 74-44-5 and leads 24-22-3 all-time in Bozeman.

Per NCAA rules, visiting teams receive a very limited number of tickets for road playoff games. Montana's small allotment will be available starting Monday morning.

Below is a timeline of when tickets will go on sale. Prices for tickets will be set by Montana State Athletics.

Monday at 9 a.m. – Quarterback Club members, Don Read Society members, Club & Suite ticket holders
Monday at 12 p.m. – GSA members
Tuesday at 9 a.m. – Season ticket holders
Tuesday at 12 p.m. – General public

Please note, that Montana will receive a very limited quantity of tickets, and that there is a chance that tickets may not open to your section before they sell out.