Despite gaining over 400 yards of total offense, Utah Tech remained winless on the young season after dropping a 35-14 non-conference road decision at No. 2/3 Montana on Saturday afternoon at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
The Trailblazers (0-3/0-1 Big Sky) found themselves in an early 7-0 hole after Montana turned a miscue on Utah Tech's opening possession into the game's first touchdown, a 1-yard Eli Gillman dive with just five minutes gone in the first quarter.
Montana (3-0/1-0 Big Sky) extended a 14-0 advantage with another Gillman 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
Utah Tech had a great chance to answer on its ensuing possession, thanks in large part to a big
Bronson Barben-to-
Will Greene 51-yard completion on 3
rd and 7 down to the Montana 11-yard line.
Unfortunately the Trailblazers were not able to capitalize as the Grizzlies' defense forced its second turnover of the half. On 2
nd and 5 at the Montana 6, Barben hit
Justin Buhler with a quick dump off on the far sideline, but the ball was jarred away from the Blazer receiver and bounded in and out of the end zone for a Montana touchback.
Utah Tech's defense held Montana's explosive offense to two three-and-outs following the turnover. However the Grizzlies were able to find the end zone one more time just before halftime and took a 21-0 lead into the intermission.
After both teams battled through a scoreless third quarter, Montana extended to a 28-0 lead thanks to a Gillman 75-yard scamper with 8:37 remaining in the game.
The Trailblazers managed to answer with their first score of the day on their next time with the football when Barben snuck across the goal line from 1-yard out. The touchdown capped a quick six-play, 75-yard drive that took 1:59 off the clock.
Montana dashed any hopes of a late Blazer rally on its first play from scrimmage after the Barben score when Dylan Paine busted through the line and raced 57 yards to the end zone to push the Grizzlies' lead to 35-7.
Utah Tech had one more big play up its sleeve late in the fourth when after a Grizzly three-and-out with under four minutes to play, Barben faked a handoff and found a wide open
Mike Williams for a 60-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
Utah Tech finished with a season-high 405 yards of total offense on the afternoon, with Barben accounting for a career-high 301 of those yards in the air on 21-for-35 passing.
Barben completed passes to 11 different receivers on the day. Williams wound up with a collegiate career-best 80 yards receiving on three catches, including his first collegiate touchdown.
Meanwhile, junior running back
Ace Chatman just missed recording his second career 100-yard game as he ran for 95 yards on a career-high 21 carries.
On defense,
Jeremiah Jimoh racked up a team-high seven tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, along with a career-best two pass break-ups. In all, the Utah Tech defense notched a season-high seven total TFLs, one came on a 13-yard loss and forced fumble by
Quincy Lejay, while
Fasitootai Sagapolu recorded his first sack of the season.
Montana tallied 462 yards of total offense in the win, with Gillman rushing for 147 yards to go with his three touchdowns. Grizzly quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat completed 25-of-35 of his passes for 246 yards and one touchdown.
Utah Tech returns home for its 2026 non-conference finale vs. Northern Arizona next Saturday night, Sept. 19. Kick-off inside Greater Zion Stadium is set for 6 p.m. (MT).
