Maroon pulls away to beat Silver in balanced Spring Game
4/11/2025 9:07:00 PM | Football
Paced by 142 yards and two TDs passing from quarterback Jake Jensen and another hundred-plus yards on the ground, the Maroon team outdueled the Silver for a 24-20 win in the annual GSA Grizzly Spring Game on a mild Friday evening at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Â
In an evenly matched and balanced effort from both the squads, the Maroon team put up 250 yards of total offense to the Silver's 247 as both teams turned heads with big plays while also sustaining methodical drives.
Â
It was a spirited and competitive final practice of the spring season for the Griz as Montana showcased the talents of 17 newcomers and gave the 42 underclassmen on the roster plenty of reps in an effort to reach maximum improvement before the summer workout season.
Â
"This actually ended up being decent work for us. It's usually the worst practice of the year, just in terms of what we get done, but I thought it was pretty good competition today," said head coach Bobby Hauck.
Â
"I liked having the ability to divide it up into two teams and have the seniors draft them so there was some kind of spirit of competition. It was fun seeing offense and defensive guys cheering together for their team instead of offense against defense. So, I thought that was great."
ÂGallery: (4-11-2025) FB: Spring Game ( 4.11.25)
Jensen, a senior who has been with the Griz since January after transferring in from USC, completed his day for the Maroon team going 14-of-20 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns, with a long of 34 yards. He also showed off his legs, picking up first downs where he could with three carries for 12 yards.
Â
All-America running back Eli Gillman showed he hasn't missed a beat with 26 yards and a TD in just five touches for the Maroon team, turning over the bulk of the carries to Stevie Rocker Jr and freshman Tommy Running Rabbit who each had eight carries for an evenly balanced 74 rushing yards.
Â
Another speedy freshman Lekeldrick Bridges also showed his stuff for the Maroon with a team-high 59 yards on five catches, while senior Drew Deck of Kalispell punched in a short yard catch for a touchdown as well.
Â
Tight end Jake Olson of Butte caught Maroon's other touchdown pass of the day, hauling in the catch on a crossing route at the back of the endzone for a six-yard score in the third quarter that put them back in front of Silver 21-20.
Â
Sophomore Keali'i Ah Yat started the game for the Silver squad and completed four passes for 43 yards but ceded most of the reps to freshman Luke Flowers out of Idaho who went 8 for 15 passing with a pair of interceptions and one TD.
Â
That TD was one of the biggest highlights of the afternoon though, with Flowers airing it out down the right sideline for fellow freshman speedster Brooks Davis for a game-high 69-yard strike early in the third quarter that put the Silver team ahead for the first time.
Â
For the Silver, All-American Michael Wortham showed off his athleticism on his first touch of the ball, rushing a team-high 33 yards and setting up a Ty Morrison field goal early in the game. Freshman Malae Fonoti also earned some hard yards with six carries for 14 yards and a second quarter TD.
Â
Montana was balanced defensively as well with safety Kade Cutler leading the Silver with five tackles along with Jareb Ramos' four stops and two tackles for loss – a game high.
Â
Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert showed why he's earned All-America nods in the past as well, leading the Maroon with five stops and 1.5 sacks along with Grady Walker who posted four tackles but also had a sack-and-a-half.
Â
The back-and-forth offensive and defensive standout plays highlighted the competitiveness of the spring game with both rosters full of players trying to make a name for themselves.
Â
"They want to win. We put them in competitive scenarios all the time and we try to make it matter, whether it's lifting weights, conditioning or whatever. So, they want to win, and they should want to win. It shouldn't matter if it's October or if it's April. They should want to win whatever scenario you put them into, and I think they do. I think they're competitive," added Hauck.
Â
The game officially capped Montana's 15-practice spring season. With so many fresh faces learning the Montana way, for Hauck it also showcased the improvement his squad has made since that first morning of winter conditioning in a February blizzard.
Â
As the veteran mentor now prepares to enter his 19th overall season as a head coach and his 14th at Montana, he says he's happy with the improvement he's seen as the Grizzlies get set to chase a 20th Big Sky Championship in 2025.
Â
"The whole thing is development. We're not game planning or anything like that in the spring game. So, it's really about the individual taking it upon himself to try to get better every day. And our guys are learning to do that. The older guys know how and the younger guys are learning," said Hauck.
Â
"I think the individuals on our team got better this this spring, and when that happens collectively, your team gets better."
Â
Spring Game Scoring
QTR    Time   Scoring Play                                                                                                       S/M
1st       10:01  S - #36 T.Morrison 50 yd FG, 5-33, 03:02                                                              3-0
1st       02:05  M - #2 D.Deck 2 yd pass from #16 J.Jensen (#46 J.Silver kick), 13-65, 07:09     3-7
2nd      12:19  S - #36 T.Morrison 30 yd FG, 9-58, 03:39                                                          6-7     Â
2nd      08:57  M - #10 E.Gillman 16 yd rush (#41 B.Boyer kick), 5-69, 02:57                          6-14
2nd      00:00  S - #7 M.Fonoti 2 yd rush (#36 T.Morrison kick), 13-69, 07:35                         13-14
3rd       14:42  S - #3 B.Davis 69 yd pass from #17 L.Flowers (#36 T.Morrison kick), 1-69, 00:17    20-14
3rd       02:09  M - #87 J.Olson 6 yd pass from #16 J.Jensen (#46 J.Silver kick), 10-66, 06:16          20-21
4th       02:07  M - #41 B.Boyer 20 yd FG, 3-5, 03:58                                                            20-24
Â
Â
In an evenly matched and balanced effort from both the squads, the Maroon team put up 250 yards of total offense to the Silver's 247 as both teams turned heads with big plays while also sustaining methodical drives.
Â
It was a spirited and competitive final practice of the spring season for the Griz as Montana showcased the talents of 17 newcomers and gave the 42 underclassmen on the roster plenty of reps in an effort to reach maximum improvement before the summer workout season.
Â
"This actually ended up being decent work for us. It's usually the worst practice of the year, just in terms of what we get done, but I thought it was pretty good competition today," said head coach Bobby Hauck.
Â
"I liked having the ability to divide it up into two teams and have the seniors draft them so there was some kind of spirit of competition. It was fun seeing offense and defensive guys cheering together for their team instead of offense against defense. So, I thought that was great."
Â
Jensen, a senior who has been with the Griz since January after transferring in from USC, completed his day for the Maroon team going 14-of-20 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns, with a long of 34 yards. He also showed off his legs, picking up first downs where he could with three carries for 12 yards.
Â
All-America running back Eli Gillman showed he hasn't missed a beat with 26 yards and a TD in just five touches for the Maroon team, turning over the bulk of the carries to Stevie Rocker Jr and freshman Tommy Running Rabbit who each had eight carries for an evenly balanced 74 rushing yards.
Â
Another speedy freshman Lekeldrick Bridges also showed his stuff for the Maroon with a team-high 59 yards on five catches, while senior Drew Deck of Kalispell punched in a short yard catch for a touchdown as well.
Â
Tight end Jake Olson of Butte caught Maroon's other touchdown pass of the day, hauling in the catch on a crossing route at the back of the endzone for a six-yard score in the third quarter that put them back in front of Silver 21-20.
Â
Sophomore Keali'i Ah Yat started the game for the Silver squad and completed four passes for 43 yards but ceded most of the reps to freshman Luke Flowers out of Idaho who went 8 for 15 passing with a pair of interceptions and one TD.
Â
That TD was one of the biggest highlights of the afternoon though, with Flowers airing it out down the right sideline for fellow freshman speedster Brooks Davis for a game-high 69-yard strike early in the third quarter that put the Silver team ahead for the first time.
Â
For the Silver, All-American Michael Wortham showed off his athleticism on his first touch of the ball, rushing a team-high 33 yards and setting up a Ty Morrison field goal early in the game. Freshman Malae Fonoti also earned some hard yards with six carries for 14 yards and a second quarter TD.
Â
Montana was balanced defensively as well with safety Kade Cutler leading the Silver with five tackles along with Jareb Ramos' four stops and two tackles for loss – a game high.
Â
Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert showed why he's earned All-America nods in the past as well, leading the Maroon with five stops and 1.5 sacks along with Grady Walker who posted four tackles but also had a sack-and-a-half.
Â
The back-and-forth offensive and defensive standout plays highlighted the competitiveness of the spring game with both rosters full of players trying to make a name for themselves.
Â
"They want to win. We put them in competitive scenarios all the time and we try to make it matter, whether it's lifting weights, conditioning or whatever. So, they want to win, and they should want to win. It shouldn't matter if it's October or if it's April. They should want to win whatever scenario you put them into, and I think they do. I think they're competitive," added Hauck.
Â
The game officially capped Montana's 15-practice spring season. With so many fresh faces learning the Montana way, for Hauck it also showcased the improvement his squad has made since that first morning of winter conditioning in a February blizzard.
Â
As the veteran mentor now prepares to enter his 19th overall season as a head coach and his 14th at Montana, he says he's happy with the improvement he's seen as the Grizzlies get set to chase a 20th Big Sky Championship in 2025.
Â
"The whole thing is development. We're not game planning or anything like that in the spring game. So, it's really about the individual taking it upon himself to try to get better every day. And our guys are learning to do that. The older guys know how and the younger guys are learning," said Hauck.
Â
"I think the individuals on our team got better this this spring, and when that happens collectively, your team gets better."
Â
Spring Game Scoring
QTR    Time   Scoring Play                                                                                                       S/M
1st       10:01  S - #36 T.Morrison 50 yd FG, 5-33, 03:02                                                              3-0
1st       02:05  M - #2 D.Deck 2 yd pass from #16 J.Jensen (#46 J.Silver kick), 13-65, 07:09     3-7
2nd      12:19  S - #36 T.Morrison 30 yd FG, 9-58, 03:39                                                          6-7     Â
2nd      08:57  M - #10 E.Gillman 16 yd rush (#41 B.Boyer kick), 5-69, 02:57                          6-14
2nd      00:00  S - #7 M.Fonoti 2 yd rush (#36 T.Morrison kick), 13-69, 07:35                         13-14
3rd       14:42  S - #3 B.Davis 69 yd pass from #17 L.Flowers (#36 T.Morrison kick), 1-69, 00:17    20-14
3rd       02:09  M - #87 J.Olson 6 yd pass from #16 J.Jensen (#46 J.Silver kick), 10-66, 06:16          20-21
4th       02:07  M - #41 B.Boyer 20 yd FG, 3-5, 03:58                                                            20-24
Â
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
KP
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballMontana vs Indiana St. Highlights
Sunday, September 21
Griz Football Weekly Press Conference - 9/15/25
Saturday, September 20
Griz Football vs. North Dakota Highlights - 9/13/25
Saturday, September 20
Griz Football vs. North Dakota Postgame Press Conference - 9/13/25
Saturday, September 20
