No. 8 Montana survives the track and field meet in the second half, winning 52-49 at Eastern Washington

CHENEY, Wash. – Logan Fife has spent the first part of this season either playing behind or spending time with Keali'i Ah Yat, a quarterback from Montana.

But on Saturday, the job was Fife's, and he made a big impact in the Grizzlies' 52-49 Big Sky season-opening (and long-awaited) win at the helm of “The Inferno” at Roos Field in Eastern Washington – despite the best comeback -Eagles performance in a grueling second half.

Tommy Martino/Montana Athletics

With Ah Yat sidelined due to injury, Fife, a transfer from Fresno State, threw five touchdown passes in his first start at UM, and the Grizzlies needed every one of them as the Eagles put plenty of pressure on the visitors.

Fife found tight end Erik Barker for two first-half scoring throws, a 29-yarder down the sideline that gave the Grizzlies a 10-7 first-half lead and a 5-yarder over the top of the defense at the 12 Throws Seconds left until halftime.

Fife also connected with Junior Bergen on a 47-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Bergen had a great first half, catching six passes for 140 yards before halftime alone.

Nick Ostmo added an 8-yard TD run in the Grizzlies' big second quarter.

UM's Ty Morrison opened the scoring with a 29-yard field goal. But the Grizzlies trailed 7-3 in the first quarter after EWU quarterback Kekoa Visperas ran a one-in from 2 yards, and trailed again 14-10 when Visperas productively threw a 7-yard touchdown pass Wideout Efton Chism III threw. But Fife and Montana took control in the first half.

The Eagles extended UM's lead in the third quarter when QB Jared Taylor broke tackles and completed a 48-yard TD run, making the score 31-21. Taylor came in after Visperas was caught.

This began a hectic second half period in which the team traded touchdowns in a high-scoring affair.

Eli Gillman countered first for the Grizzlies, storming down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown run to give Montana another three-point lead.

EWU later responded on another Chism TD catch to make the score 38-28 early in the fourth quarter, then the Eagles recovered a surprise onside kick and turned it into a 7-yard touchdown rush by Visperas , and suddenly Eastern Washington was just three points away, 38-35, with 10:59 left.

However, the Grizzlies managed a huge fourth-and-2 conversion with a 40-yard run by Xavier Harris to the EWU 1-yard line. That led to a short TD pass from Fife to Ostmo just inside the near pylon with 5:11 left, giving Montana a 45-35 lead.

Tommy Martino/Montana Athletics

Still, the back-and-forth continued as Chism caught another touchdown pass from Visperas, this time a 50-yarder, to bring the Eagles back to within 45-42.

But the Griz went up by 10 again after a long Ostmo run and another Fife TD pass, this time to Jake Olson in the back of the end zone, to take a 52-42 lead with 2:34 left.

It wasn't all. Visperas threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Cole Pruett with 52 seconds left. The Eagles tried to recover their second onside kick in the second half, but this time the attempt went out of bounds and Montana was able to kneel down to the end.

It was Montana's first road win over Eastern Washington since 2008 and first win ever on EWU's signature red turf, nicknamed “The Inferno,” since its installation in 2010.

Turning point: After Eastmo's touchdown run in the first half, Montana's defense managed to get off the field with a crucial stop, setting up Fife's pretty 47-yard TD throw – after double-play action – over the top to Bergen.

That gave the Grizzlies breathing room with a 24-14 lead. This cushion, which later grew and then shrank and then grew and then shrank, became crucial to the final result.

Statistics of the game: Fife and the Griz offense scored five consecutive scoring drives in the first half – including four straight touchdowns – to take a 31-14 lead into the break. Fife's halftime numbers were staggering: 21 of 28 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns.

Grizzly game balls: QB Logan Fife (Attack). When the Griz started in place of the injured Ah Yat for the first time, Fife put up huge numbers: 364 passing yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. On offense, Montana totaled 701 yards.

LB Ryan Tirrell (defense). Montana's defense (and special teams) gave up its share of big plays and the Eagles totaled 551 yards. But Tirrell was fully engaged and made 14 tackles, a team-high.

What's next?: Montana (4-1, 1-0 Big Sky) returns to the friendly arena of Washington-Grizzly Stadium next week, where it hosts longtime Big Sky rival Weber State at 1 p.m.

Despite losing four of their last five games, the Grizzlies lead the all-time series 40-16, including 15-2 at home.