Montana Grizzlies visit Eastern Washington Week 5 live

CHENEY, Wash. – The No. 8 Grizzlies begin league play against Eastern Washington on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. MT at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington. They enter the game with a 3-1 non-conference record, while the Eagles come into the game with a 1-3 mark.

This is the second year in a row the Griz have opened their Big Sky Tournament with an away game. They lost their opener at Northern Arizona last year but have been tested more this season with a tougher non-conference schedule.

The Griz are 0-1 on the road this season and are losing at ranked North Dakota. The Eagles are 1-1 at home, beating Monmouth, which defeated FBS Florida International, and losing to non-student Drake. UM opened as the betting favorite at 13.5 points.

Montana has never won on Eastern's red turf, going 0-6 since its introduction in 2010. The Grizzlies' last win in Cheney came in 2008. It is their longest losing streak in away games against current Big Sky teams.

Quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat, safety Ryder Meyer, defensive end Noah Kaschmitter and safety Jace Klucewich not seen during warmups. This would be the third straight game Meyer has missed and the second straight for Kashmitter.

Montana will be without linebacker Riley Wilson in the first half. He was sent off last week for targeting in the second half.

Eastern Washington wins the coin toss and heads into the second half. Montana will receive the opening kickoff.

Logan Fife starts at QB for Montana. Aaron Fontes starts again at WR. Griz has done it three times with Eli Gillman. On the three-and-out, he goes for 2, 6 and minus 1 yard. A shanked punt from 26 yards puts Eastern Washington at its own 41-yard line.

TJ Rausch starts his first career at safety after Ryder Meyer left. Hayden Harris got a sack on first down, but Montana called for roughing the passer on third-and-6. Griz holds Eastern Washington to a 40-yard FG from Soren McKee, who misses the ball wide right. It's his first missed shot this year.

Montana's second drive begins with Logan Fife hitting Junior Bergen for a 55-yard catch-and-run. Fife misses Keelan White on first-and-goal, is sacked on the second, and is incomplete on the third. Griz settles for a 29-yard FG from Ty Morrison, who strikes from the right hand. 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:14.

SCORE: Griz 3, EWU 0, 8:44 left in 1st quarter

Montana sends the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. Eastern starts at its own 35-yard line. True freshman CB Kyon Loud is here for the first time today. Tirrell, Kaho and Otlewski at LB, Wilson missing in the first half. Griz is offside on the third and fourth plays. TJ Rausch scored late out of bounds.

Montana trailed for the first time today after giving up a 2-yard TD run from QB Kekoa Visperas. 9 plays, 65 yards in 3:43. Griz punished this drive twice for 16 yards, three times for 31 yards in the first 10 minutes of the game.

SCORE: EWU 7, Griz 3, 5:01 left in 1st quarter

Logan Fife hit TE Evan Shafer for 20 yards on third-and-six, followed by 17 yards to Junior Bergen.

Fife finds TE Erik Barker for a 29-yard TD. Second career touchdown catch for Barker, first since September 11, 2021. Drive lasts 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:38.

SCORE: Griz 10, EWU 7, 2:23 left in 1st quarter

End of first quarter: Montana 10, Eastern Washington 7

Jared Taylor, one of Eastern Washington's three QBs so far, hits Efton Chism III for a 23-yard pass on third-and-3 on his first pass attempt of the game. Two plays later, Kekoa found Vispera's Chism for a 7-yard TD pass. 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:02.

SCORE: EWU 14, Griz 10, 14:15 remaining in 2nd quarter

Nick Ostmo with a 16-yard run on the second play of the drive and ended it with an 8-yard TD run.

After an illegal man-down field penalty, the Griz had a 13-yard pass to Bergen, 11 yards to White and 11 yards to Barker. 8 plays, 75 yards in 4:19.

SCORE: Griz 17, EWU 14, 9:56 left in 2nd quarter

Eastern Washington takes the ball out of the end zone and Michael Wortham only gets 12 yards. The Eagles run the ball into Montana territory, but the Griz holds on, forcing EWU to punt for the first time in four drives. True freshman CB Kyon Loud breaks up a deep shot on third down.

Logan Fife hits Keelan White on third-and-3 for 7 yards. Eli Gillman makes his first run since the third play and scores 10 yards. On fourth-and-1 at the EWU 47-yard line, Fife throws deep to Junior Bergen for the 47-yard TD. 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:45.

SCORE: Griz 24, EWU 14, 3:13 left in 2nd quarter

Montana forces Eastern Washington to back-to-back punts. Jaxon Lee rushes the QB on third down and Trevin Gradney provides the pass breakup. Griz had the ball at their own 11-yard line with 1:47 left in the half and all three timeouts.

Lucas Freitas at RG, Journey Grimsrud at LG. 13-yard pass to White on 3rd-and-5. 27-yard catch by Ostmo. 11-yard pass to White on 3rd-and-7. Fife runs 15 yards. Griz skips timeout and Fife hits Barker for a 5-yard TD. 11 plays 89 yards, 1:35

SCORE: Griz 31, EWU 14, 0:12 left, 2Q

End of second quarter: Montana 31, Eastern Washington 14

Montana LB Riley Wilson is back on the field after a break in the first half. Griz forces Eastern Washington into a three-pointer and a punt. The Eagles' final four drives were punt, punt, half, punt as the Grizzlies' lead grew from 17-14 to 31-14.

Logan Fife hits Keelan White for 17 yards on third-and-7. Fife were then incomplete under pressure in the next third. Griz Punt. They are 5 of 9 on third down today and 1 of 1 on fourth down.

Eastern Washington running QB Jared Taylor with an outstanding 48-yard TD run on third-and-10. He breaks off several tackles, briefly appears to fumble the ball, but gets it back and keeps running. 8 plays 70 yards, 2:21.

SCORE: Griz 31, EWU 21, 8:42 left in 3rd quarter

Montana answers right back as Eli Gillman shows off his speed by ripping off a 69-yard touchdown. He now has 99 yards on eight carries, increasing his FCS-leading 10.13 yards per carry this season. 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:55.

SCORE: Griz 38, Eastern Washington 21, 7:42 left, 3Q

Eastern Washington's Michael Wortham returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards. The Eagles run well and get the ball into the red zone. They try fourth-and-2 from Montana's 18-yard line and Kekoa Visperas throws a low pass that goes incomplete.

After Logan Fife was sacked on third-and-six, Ty Morrison missed a 46-yard field goal. Montana remains ahead 38-21 late in the third quarter. That was the first sack of the game given by the Griz.

End of third quarter: Montana 38, Eastern Washington 21

It's a two-point game again, as Eastern Washington only scores three points in the quarter. Kekoa Vispera's 24-yard pass to Michael Wortham, 41-yard pass to Austin York and 6-yard TD pass to Efton Chism III. 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:22

SCORE: Griz 38, EWU 28, 13:57 remaining in 4th quarter

Eastern Washington makes the surprising onside kick and Eagles kicker Jackson Cleaver recovers it himself. EWU took over at its own 47-yard line trailing Montana 38-28 with 13:54 to play.

This story will be updated.