October 27th 2024.
Saturday afternoon was not a good day for Northern Colorado as they faced off against nationally ranked Montana. The Bears' quarterback, Kia'i Keone, struggled with three interceptions, including two in Montana's red zone. It was a tough battle at Nottingham Field in Greeley, but ultimately the Grizzlies came out on top with a final score of 24-0.
This was the third consecutive victory for No. 9 Montana over UNC, and the third consecutive shutout against the Bears. Last year, Montana defeated UNC 40-0 in Missoula, and in 2021, they won 35-0 in Greeley. In fact, the Grizzlies have dominated this series for quite some time, winning 17 out of the last 19 games dating back to 1976 and 12 of the last 13 since November 2006.
Montana's record now stands at 3-1 in the Big Sky Conference and 6-2 overall, while UNC drops to 1-3 in the conference and 1-7 overall. The Grizzlies came into the game with one of the highest-scoring offenses in the Football Championship Subdivision, averaging 41.29 points per game. Although they missed a field goal early on, UNC's defense put up a good fight. However, the Bears struggled to generate enough offense to keep up with Montana.
After the game, UNC coach Ed Lamb shared his thoughts on the outcome. He acknowledged that the Bears' passing game had improved with Keone's third start, but he also emphasized the need for improvement in the running game. UNC only managed 65 rushing yards, while Montana had 395 total yards. Nick Ostmo led the Grizzlies with an impressive 107 yards on 13 carries, averaging 8.2 yards per rush.
This game marked the first time in two weeks that UNC had played, as they had a week off following their win against nationally ranked Weber State on October 12. However, the Bears were missing some key starters and performers, including offensive lineman Aidan Moe, who was out with a leg injury. Defensive lineman Marcus Howard and defensive back Noah Mangham were also unable to play. Moe, who is a redshirt sophomore from Parker, was seen on the sidelines with crutches and a leg brace.
Keone's third interception came late in the third quarter, and the Grizzlies took advantage of the opportunity. They put together a 16-play, 87-yard drive that lasted nearly 9 minutes. Montana's quarterback, Keali'i Ah Yat, connected with running back Eli Gillman for a 10-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 24-0 with only 1:38 left in the quarter.
Keone had thrown two interceptions earlier in the game, both of which came off tipped passes. His second interception was particularly costly, as it happened with 8:50 left in the second quarter and the Bears trailing 7-0. They had a first down at the Montana 13-yard line and were in position to tie the game, but the interception halted their progress.
The Bears had some big plays that put them in scoring position, including a 23-yard pass from Keone to linebacker Tama Tuitele and a 29-yard pass to running back David Afari. However, they struggled to capitalize on these opportunities. On the first-down rush attempt, running back Caden Meis lost four yards, and Keone threw two incomplete passes. On the third down, Caleb Otlewski intercepted Keone's pass at the 3-yard line, ending the 11-play, 66-yard drive that took 5 minutes.
Coach Lamb commented on the interceptions after the game, acknowledging that they were a big difference-maker. He noted that the passes were overthrown and that Montana's defense did a good job of disrupting the Bears' coverage. He also recognized that taking risks is a part of the game, and the Bears need to be prepared to take those risks and come out on top.
In their previous game against Weber State, UNC had benefitted from six fumbles by the Wildcats, recovering four of them. Montana coach Bobby Hauck addressed this aspect of the game, stating that every defense in the country is trying to take the ball away. In this game, the Grizzlies did just that, with three interceptions.
Aside from the interceptions, Montana's offense remained consistent throughout the game. Eli Gillman scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter and also had 89 yards from scrimmage. Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat had a solid performance, going 14 for 22 with 149 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with receiver Ian Finch for a 2-yard pass with only 31 seconds left in the second quarter, increasing the Grizzlies' lead to 14-0. This was Finch's first career reception.
In the end, Montana came out on top with a final score of 24-0. They had a strong showing on both sides of the ball, and their defense played a major role in securing the victory. Next up for the Grizzlies is a game against Northern Iowa, while UNC will take on Idaho State.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
