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Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont.
Griz break loose late in win over Trailblazers
- Story byDaily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Mont.
- Griz break loose late in win over Trailblazers
MISSOULA — The explosive plays came late in the day, but Montana got the job done Saturday against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Eli Gillman ran for 147 yards and set the Montana record for career touchdowns in a 35-14 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 25,418.
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"The only thing we can ask for right now is to be 3-0," Grizzlies coach Bobby Kennedy said. "Our team is a continual work in progress, but I am pleased with the way they prepare every week."
Gillman got the offense started on Montana's first drive of the game, working his way out of a roadblock by the Trailblazers defense and reversing course to get down to the 1-yard line. Next play he punched it in for the 60th touchdown of his Montana career, breaking a tie with Chase Reynolds for most in school history.
The records didn't stop there: with his 75-yard score in the fourth quarter, Gillman tied the Big Sky Conference record for rushing touchdowns with Sacramento State's Charles Roberts, at 56. He ended the day with three touchdowns.
His 147 yards on the ground put him at 4,005 yards for his career. He is just the fourth Montana running back to go over 4,000 yards and is just 65 yards behind Yohance Humphrey's record of 4,070.
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Brooks Davis went over 100 yards receiving for the second straight week, hauling in 12 catches for 151 yards, both career highs for the junior.
Griz quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat was 25-for-35 through the air with 246 yards and one touchdown.
"I thought there were good moment and bad moments, just like every game," Ah Yat said of Montana's offense. "I was really proud of the O-line and the receivers. I think they did a great job today."
Montana's defensive depth took a couple of hits Saturday as Solomon Tuliaupupu — who was an announced starter for the game — has stepped away from the program for personal reasons.
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"(Tuliaupupu) is taking a personal leave and we really hope that he comes back," Kennedy said. "I hope he rejoins us, but that is going to be his decision."
The Griz defensive front also took a hit as defensive lineman Jake Mason went down with an injury to his right leg. Medical staff put his leg into an air cast before he was helped down the tunnel.
Montana's defense still found pressure on the day, sacking Trailblazer quarterback Bronson Barben twice.
"I think we executed well (on defense), we communicated well on the back half and there is stuff that we have to clean up, but that is the best part of football is that we get to go and do it again next week," Griz linebacker Tanner Williams said.
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The Grizzlies also cleaned up the penalties that plagued the team over the first two weeks. Montana had seven penalties Saturday for 64 yards, while Utah Tech had 11 for 96 yards.
"Our guys don't want to have penalties and we talked all week ... we want our guys to be aggressive," Kennedy said. "We want them to understand the situation. We obviously don't want to give up first downs on those penalties."
Gillman added his second touchdown at the start of the second quarter to extend Montana's advantage to 14-0.
Utah Tech looked poised to cut the deficit in half, but Justin Buhler had the ball jarred loose by Chris Johnson II and it went out of bounds in the end zone for a touchback.
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Montana found the end zone one more time in the first half as Ah Yat found Lekeldrick Bridges on a quick pass. Bridges circled between two defenders and scampered in for the score from 15 yards out.
Neither team found any momentum in a scoreless third quarter as Montana kept its 21-0 advantage until Gillman's 75-yard run in the fourth.
The Trailblazers finally found their first touchdown against an FCS opponent with a 1-yard sneak from Barben that cut the lead to 28-7.
Montana had a quick answer with Dylan Paine racing for a 57-yard touchdown run on the first play of the next drive.
Barben found Michael Williams for a 60-yard pitch-and-catch on the next drive to make it 35-14, but the Trailblazers got no closer.
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Montana now heads on the road to battle FBS Oregon State in Corvallis next week with kickoff set for 9 p.m. The game can be seen on USA Network nationally.
Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support .
Grizzlies wide receiver Brooks Davis (3) picks up yardage on a 33-yard reception in the first quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Grizzlies wide receiver Landon Ransom-Goelz (2) looks for an opening on an 8-yard reception in the third quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Casey Kreider
Grizzlies wide receiver Lekeldrick Bridges (13) scores on a 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Grizzlies wide receiver Brooks Davis (3) holds on to a reception in the second quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Grizzlies defensive lineman Manase Tupou (95) celebrates after a sack in the third quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Casey Kreider
Grizzlies quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat (8) drops back to pass in the second quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Grizzlies running back Dylan Paine (23) scores on a 57-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Grizzlies wide receiver Brooks Davis (3) catches a 42-yard reception in the second quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
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Casey Kreider
Grizzlies running back Eli Gillman (10) fights for extra yards on a run near the goal line in the first quarter against Utah Tech at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
