On Oct. 6, 2024, the Weber State University Wildcats traveled to Missoula, Montana and defeated the eighth-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies 55–48 in overtime, winning just their second game in Missoula since 1987.
On Nov. 1, Montana came down to Ogden and got their revenge, winning 38–17 to remain undefeated on the year.
The Wildcats started the game with possession. On the first play, senior running back Zach Hrbacek ran the ball for nine yards, but Montana stripped and recovered it. The Grizzlies then capitalized with a 16-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Michael Wortham to give them the 7–0 lead early.
On their next drive, Weber State was helped by many Montana penalties, including three offside penalties and a pass interference. They drove down to the Montana 11-yard line but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Sloan Calder to make it 7–3.
On their third play of the next drive, Montana quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat found Blake Bohannon wide open for a 62-yard touchdown, making the score 14–3.
After a Weber State three-and-out, Montana took the ball and drove down the field, finishing the drive off with a two-yard touchdown run by Ah Yat to make the score 21–3, ending the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, the Wildcats got the ball, but after a sack, they couldn’t get a first down and had to punt the ball away again.
On their next drive, Ah Yat found Brooks Dav o make it 28–3.
On their next drive, the Wildcats drove down the field, finishing with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Weber State quarterback Dijon Jennings to senior wide receiver Jayleen Record to make it 28–10.
Montana then drove down to the Weber State 13-yard line but was stopped on fourth down. They went for a 30-yard field goal, but kicker Ty Morrison missed it, keeping it 28–10 with less than two minutes left in the half.
The Wildcats, however, went three-and-out and gave Montana the ball back with a minute left in the half. The Grizzlies drove down to the Weber State 16-yard line but had to settle for a 33-yard field goal as time expired, making it 31–10 at the end of the half.
At the start of the third quarter, the Grizzlies started with the ball, but the Wildcats forced a three-and-out. Weber got the ball back but was stopped on fourth down.
The Grizzlies then drove down to the Weber State 22-yard line but were stopped on fourth down.
Weber got the ball back, but Jennings’ pass was intercepted by Montana safety Kade Boyd to give Montana the ball at the Weber State 15-yard line, but had a three-and-out.
On their next drive, Jennings was replaced by freshman quarterback Kingston Tisdell. The Wildcats drove down to the Weber State 18-yard line but were stopped on third down. They went for it on fourth down, and Tisdell found Record for an 18-yard touchdown pass, Tisdell’s first career touchdown pass, to make it 31–17.
Montana then drove down the field, finishing with an Ah Yat pass to Evan Shafer to give the Grizzlies a 38–17 lead to end the third quarter.
The teams then traded punts to start the fourth quarter, then the Wildcats drove to the Montana 10-yard line but turned the ball over on downs with nine minutes remaining.
The teams traded punts again, followed by a Weber State turnover on downs with two and a half minutes remaining. The Grizzlies then ran the clock out to win the game 38–17.
Tisdell led the Wildcats in passing yards with 116 and one touchdown, while Jennings threw for 97 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Senior running back Colter May ran for 74 yards, a career high for him. Record had eight receptions for 107 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
“Loved how our team competed in the second half,” Head Coach Mickey Mental said. “Can’t spot a really good team or any team at that point … with what we did in the first half, but credit to, obviously, Montana for their game”.
This marks the first time the Grizzlies have defeated the Wildcats since Nov. 16, 2019, and the first time they have won in Ogden since Nov. 3, 2012. The Wildcats were 5–1 against the Grizzlies in their last six meetings.
The Wildcats will now travel to Bozeman, Montana, to take on the Grizzlies’ rival, the Montana State University Bobcats, on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.
