Ah Yat, Wortham go big for Griz

LUKE SCHMIT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 months, 1 week AGO

Grizzlies wide receiver Michael Wortham (6) celebrates after a 43-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grizzlies quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat (8) runs for a 3-yard touchdown in the second quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier wide receiver Drew Deck (2) celebrates after a 4-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grizzlies wide receiver Korbin Hendrix (14) catches a 49-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grizzlies wide receiver Michael Wortham (6) catches a 43-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grizzlies wide receiver Brooks Davis (3) celebrates after a two-point conversion after a touchdown in the first quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grizzlies running back Eli Gillman (10) picks up yardage on a run in the first quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grizzlies wide receiver Jordan Dever (9) picks up yardage on a 30-yard reception in the third quarter against Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Grizzlies defensive end Hunter Peck (56) sacks Sacred Heart quarterback Jack Snyder (14) in the fourth quarter at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

MISSOULA — Keali’i Ah Yat put together his best performance wearing the Maroon and Silver, and Montana defeated non-conference opponent Sacred Heart at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday.

The sophomore quarterback had a hand in six touchdowns and set a career high in passing touchdowns with five. He finished with 349 yards on 27 of 33 passing

Griz standout receiver Michael Wortham had an impressive performance as well, catching seven passes for 132 yards and two scores.

“We had a great week of preparation. Our guys executed well, and we started out fast,” Ah Yat said.

Montana (7-0 overall) certainly did start fast, jumping out to a 22-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

On the opening drive of the game, Ah Yat looked in control and comfortable. He connected with five different players to lead Montana down the field in a 15-play drive that lasted over six minutes. After scrambling for over 10 seconds, Ah Yat found an open Eli Gillman for a 4-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead.

The Montana defense forced a three-and-out and Glacier product Drew Deck returned a punt 44 yards to set up the Griz offense with a favorable field position.

Ah Yat, Gillman, and Stevie Rocker Jr. marched down to the field with multiple rushing attempts, making it down to the 4-yard line. Ah Yat threw his second TD to Deck to finish a 10-play drive that lasted four minutes.

Another successful defensive series from the Griz led to Montana’s third touchdown. Ah Yat connected with Wortham for a 43-yard TD, and a PAT pass to Brooks Davis made it 22-0.

Sacred Heart (5-3) was held to six first downs in the first half but turned a corner in the second quarter. Jack Snyder connected with Dean Hangey on a 3-yard touchdown with 4:01 remaining in the first half to cut the Montana lead to 22-7.

Montana responded on their last drive before the break. Ah Yat capped off a 12-play 77-yard drive with his only rushing touchdown of the day, from 3 yards.

The Pioneers came out of the third quarter with more energy. Snyder, who threw for 214 yards on 20 of 26 passing, found Payton Rhoades four times in the air on their first drive, and Mitchell Summers scored a 3-yard touchdown to make the score 29-14. Summers finished with 87 yards on 18 carries.

The Pioneers struck again early in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game. On the longest drive of the day, over nine minutes, Snyder connected with Hangey for his second touchdown. It covered 14 yards on fourth down.

Just when momentum was swinging, Montana put away the game with their last two drives. Ah Yat found Wortham for a 51-yard score, and he connected with Korbin Hendrix for a 49-yard passing touchdown on the Grizzlies' last drive.

Montana outgained Sacred Heart 484-340.

“It’s a good win. Getting a win by a convincing score against a good team that has a lot of fight is a good thing for us,” Montana coach Bobby Hauck said.

Montana now travels to face Sacramento State for a Friday night, nationally televised game with the Hornets.

Montana 22 7 0 14 - 43

Sacred Heart 0 7 7 7 - 21

UM — Eli Gillman 4 pass from Keali’i Ah Yat (Ty Morrison kick), 8:45 1Q

UM — Drew Deck 4 pass from Ah Yat (Morrison kick), 3:49 1Q

UM — Michael Wortham 43 pass from Ah Yat (Brooks Davis 2pt), 1:20 1Q

SHU — Dean Hagney 3 pass from Jack Snyder (Matt Kling kick), 4:01 2Q

UM — Ah Yat 3 run (Morrison kick), 0:13 2Q

SHU — Mitchell Summers 3 run (Kling kick), 9:43 3Q

SHU — Hagney 14 pass from Snyder (Kling kick), 6:46 3Q

UM — Wortham 51 pass from Ah Yat (Morrison kick), 5:42 4Q

UM — Korbin Hendrix 49 pass from Ah Yat (Morrison kick), 2:52 4Q

Individual Statistics

RUSHING: Sacred Heart (38-126) — Mitchell Summers 18-87, Trey Eberhart 9-25, Curtis Whiting 2-12, Jack Snyder 2. Montana (51-303) — Eli Gillman 17-63, Stevie Rocker Jr. 4-38, Keali’i Ah Yat 5-19 Malae Fonoti 10-58, , Michael Wortham 1-0.

PASSING: Sacred Heart — Snyder 20-26-0 for 214 yards. Montana — Ah Yat 27-33-0 for 349 yards.

RECEIVING: Sacred Heart — Payton Rhoades 6-2, Teagan Brown 4-54, Dean Hangey 5-51, Jason Palmieri 4-26, Jimmy Casey 1-11. Montana — Wortham 7-132, Korbin Hendrix 1-49, Fonoti 3-33, Jordan Dever 1-30, Blake Bohannon 2-25, Evan Shafer 3-23, Brooks Davis 2-20, Drew Deck 2-17, Josh Gale 3-17, Gillman 2-9, Rocker Jr. 1-minus 6.