Montana Edges Southern Utah in Thrilling Big Sky Opener
In a season opener that lived up to the hype, Montana secured a hard-fought 28-21 victory over Southern Utah on Saturday night at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The game, which also marked the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams, was a back-and-forth affair that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
The decisive moment came with just over three minutes remaining when Keali’i Ah Yat connected with Lekeldrick Bridges for a 53-yard touchdown, putting the Grizzlies ahead for good. Ah Yat finished the night with 265 passing yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his poise under pressure. Southern Utah, however, refused to go quietly. The Thunderbirds tied the game at 21 earlier in the fourth quarter when Will Burns threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Acord with 11:41 left on the clock.
In the final moments, Burns drove Southern Utah deep into Montana territory, but the Grizzly defense rose to the occasion. From the 24-yard line with just 16 seconds remaining, the UM defense applied instant pressure on Burns, forcing an incomplete pass and sealing the win. The statistics told the story of a closely contested battle: Montana held the ball for 43:34 and amassed 510 total yards, while Southern Utah managed 338 yards on 46 plays.
For Southern Utah, the game highlighted the return of quarterback Will Burns, who showed his ability to lead the offense. Redshirt junior Niko Alailefaleula and sophomore Ran Sawyer also saw significant reps, indicating a quarterback competition that could develop as the season progresses. The Thunderbirds also boast a trio of experienced receivers, which bodes well for their passing attack moving forward. Despite the loss, Southern Utah proved they can compete with the conference’s best, while Montana demonstrated the resilience needed to win close games.
Shimanta Das 
