Griz fall in FCS Semifinal

Saturday, December 20

Bozeman, Mont.

2 PM

Montana

13-2 , 7-1

Montana State

13-2 , 8-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana

Montana St.

Photo by: Ryan Brennecke

12/20/2025 6:43:00 PM | Football

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By: Montana Sports Information

Montana's magical run through the 2025 season came to a close on Saturday in Bozeman as Montana State came away with a 48-23 win over the Grizzlies in the FCS semifinal and the 125^th meeting between the old rivals.

A revenge win was not in the cards for Montana as the Griz close the season at 13-2 in the program's 13^th appearance in the semifinal round of the playoffs, with the only two losses of the year coming at the hands of Montana State.

The Grizzlies took a 23-20 lead halfway through the third quarter, battling back from a slow start and a 17-point deficit to lead in Bozeman for the first time since 2017. The advantage wouldn't last long though as MSU piled on 28 unanswered points of their own down the stretch to pull away.

"I love our team. Not many teams in the country have 13 wins. We went out 11-0 and then lost to these guys and then kicked the dog out of two Missouri Valley teams and we were rolling,"

"At the end of the day they are good. We're good, they're good. Good job by them."

Montana outgained MSU in the passing game as Keali'i Ah Yat racked up 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Eli Gillman rushed for 106 yards and a score.

Montana captured the lead and the momentum in the third quarter with scores from both, but MSU converted a long third and 20 with an 87-yard strike from Justin Lamson to Taco Dowler that opened the flood gates in the third quarter and put the game out of reach for the Grizzlies.

It was an ideal start for the host Bobcats, forcing a quick three-and-out from Montana before driving 60 yards for a touchdown to jump out ahead 7-0 in the first five minutes of the game.

Montana State would add to the lead with a rushing touchdown towards the end of the half, but a failed extra point resulted in a 13-0 start in the opening 13 minutes.

The Grizzly offense picked up steam on the third drive of the day. Gilman started things, rushing for 12 yards to bring Montana near midfield. Ah Yat had great patience in the pocked on an 18-yard dump down to Stevie Rocker Jr. to get the Griz near the red zone.

Evan Shafer had a catch across the middle that nearly put Montana into the end zone for the first time, but a low tackle saved a score. The tackle also sent Shafer to the side line, the fourth injury to a starter on either side in the first 20 minutes of a physical ball game.

Montana came up short on goal-to-go, settling for a field goal to cut the lead to 14-3.

The big play Bobcat offense punched back, scoring on the third play of the next drive with a 54-yard touchdown run.

The Grizzly offense did what it needed to do after falling behind 20-3. Gillman created some breathing room with a 22-yard run to start the drive off, added another big 10-yard run, and capped the drive off with a 17-yard scamper up the middle for the first touchdown of the day.

Gillman had 49 yards on the drive that led to his 49th career rushing touchdown that cut the Bobcat lead to 20-9 with seven minutes left in the half.

Hauck needed a big play from his defense, and Peyton Wing delivered with the first momentum swing of the game. The linebacker knocked the ball free in Bobcat territory and TJ Rausch dove on top of it for the first turnover of the game by either side.

Ah Yat converted a third down on the following drive with a dump down to Gillman, who had four catches for 37 yards to go with 85 rushing yards in the first half, to keep the drive alive.

Once in the red zone, Ah Yat kept it on a designed QB draw to score from five yards out to cut the Bobcat lead to 20-16 with just 12 seconds left in the opening half.

The Bobcats had the halftime lead after scoring on big plays, but Montana outgained the hosts 224-203 in the opening half hour. It was the first time since playing Cal Poly on Oct. 11 that Montana was scoreless in the opening quarter, but they responded with 158 yards and 16 points in the second quarter.

On the first drive of the second half, Peyton Wing blew up a reverse for a five-yard loss that put MSU behind schedule. They were forced to punt for the first time all day, setting Montana up to take the lead for the first time all day.

When they needed big plays, they went to Wortham on multiple occasions. He went over the middle for a 27-yard reception that brought the Grizzlies into Bobcat territory. He caught a screen pass two plays later and took it 35 yards all the way down to the Bobcat 2-yard line.

Ah Yat found Jake Olson two plays later, and the tight end's first catch of the year was one of the biggest plays of the season for Montana. His touchdown grab put Montana ahead for the first time in the game at 23-20 with 8:47 to play in the third.

"I think to fight back after that atrocious start and take the lead shows who this football team is and what they are about," said Hauck "We felt good about it at halftime down four, we come out and take the lead and felt really good. Then obviously, 3rd-and-20 them hitting the post into post defense."

Montana's run of 20 unanswered points came to an end as Montana State was able to put together a 14-play, 75-yard drive to retake the lead at 27-23 late in the third quarter.

The Bobcats delivered a backbreaking touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Facing a 3rd-and-20 deep in their own territory, Lamson escaped the pocket and found Dowler for an 87-yard touchdown to go ahead 34-23 with 12:05 to play.

Lamson would score on a 7-yard rushing touchdown on next MSU drive to move ahead 40-23 with just under eight minutes remaining in the game. They added another score on a pick-six to make it 48-23.

Montana couldn't rally a comeback through the air on a cold and windy day in Bozeman, turning it over on downs on the final possession to allow for a Bobcat kneel down.