Revamped Griz defense ices season opener against Missouri State in fourth quarter (2024)

MISSOULA— As the fourth quarter drew to a close Saturday night at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, the Montana Grizzlies found themselves desperately needing a stop.

A field goal on the previous Griz possession gave Montana a five-point lead, 29-24, over the Missouri State Bears. The visitors took over with a minute and 38 seconds on the clock— more than enough time for a game-winning touchdown.

Bears quarterback Jacob Clark completed a 5-yard pass on first down. On the remaining three plays of the possession, Montana's defensive front took the game over.

"We needed a stop," Montana defensive lineman Hayden Harris said. "If they went down and scored we would've lost the game, so we really pinned our ears back and really got after 'em."

Two sacks and a game-clinching stop in the backfield iced a Week 1 victory for the Grizzlies, concluding a four-sack second half for the hosts. The Griz allowed 24 points, but the defense met the moment in multiple pivotal situations.

Two of the three starting defensive linemen Montana deployed against Missouri State were playing their first games in the maroon and silver. Nose tackle Pat Hayden transferred from Monmouth in the offseason, as did former Youngstown State Penguin Andres Lehrmann.

Linebacker Vai Kaho, a transfer from San Diego State, was also making his debut as a Grizzly. The former Aztec made his presence known during his first snap from scrimmage, generating a tackle for loss.

"The coverage did a really good job of giving us the ability to go after them," Harris said. "Andres, Vai, all the guys up front, Pat Hayden, did a really good job. The outcome was what we wanted."

Harris delivered the first sack on the final drive, setting up a third-and-12 play. Lehrmann then sent the crowd into a frenzy with the second-straight sack to push Missouri State back to fourth-and-15.

By the time the final play was snapped, the fans at Wa-Griz had turned the stadium into a madhouse. Kaho wrangled Clark down one last time, sending his offense onto the field for a quick kneel-down.

A redshirt senior who transferred from UCLA before the 2023 season, Harris was pleased with how the defense performed in its first taste of live action as a unit.

"As the game progressed, I thought guys did a really good job of adapting and overcoming adversity and that was really key for us," he said.

The defense had a sense for the moment, also rising to the occasion on a crucial fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter. Trailing 19-17 at the time, the Bears found themselves at the Montana 42-yard line, needing 7 more yards on fourth down. Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard opted to go for the first down, but senior corner Trevin Gradney broke up the play.

The Griz scored off of the quality field position, a touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.

"Montana flies around," Beard said. "They play a great defense, they bring pressure from everywhere. They're physical, they're tough."

Montana allowed 24 or more points in just one 2023 regular season game, the 28-14 loss to Northern Arizona. Still, head coach Bobby Hauck was proud of his team's effort to overcome obstacles to secure the victory.

"Things aren't always smooth, and they don't go your way," Hauck said. "Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way, sometimes it's self-imposed, sometimes it's the other team, but I was proud of our guys for fighting their tails off and getting a great win tonight."