MISSOULA, Mont. — History was made on the gridiron in Missoula this Saturday as Eli Gilman etched his name into the record books, powering the third-ranked Montana Grizzlies to a dominant 45-10 victory over the Drake Bulldogs.
Gilman was the undisputed star of the afternoon, turning in a historic performance that cemented his status as a Montana legend. The senior running back rushed 19 times for 105 yards, but it was his work in the red zone that stole the show. Gilman opened the scoring with two short touchdown runs in the first quarter, giving the Grizzlies an early 14-3 lead.
He didn’t stop there. With 21-3 on the scoreboard in the second quarter, Gilman punched the ball in from less than a yard out on a crucial fourth-and-goal. That score marked the 53rd rushing touchdown of his career, officially surpassing the school record of 52 set by Chase Reynolds between 2007 and 2010.
The record-breaking performance continued into the second half. Quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat connected with Gilman for a 1-yard touchdown strike with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter. That catch brought Gilman’s total career touchdowns to 59, tying Reynolds for the overall program record for total touchdowns scored.
“It’s a special day, but this is a team victory first and foremost,” said the Montana coaching staff following the lopsided win.
The Grizzlies’ offense proved to be a multi-dimensional force throughout the contest. Ah Yat, who efficiently managed the game, completed 27 of 40 passes for 282 yards. Beyond his scoring connection with Gilman, Ah Yat found Brooks Davis for a 26-yard touchdown pass late in the third, extending the Montana lead to 35-3. Landon Ransom-Goelz also provided a significant spark in the passing game, hauling in five receptions for 105 yards to keep the chains moving.
While the Montana offense surged, the defense remained stout against the three-time defending Pioneer League champions. Drake managed an early 22-yard field goal from Griffin Kollhoff, and a late 10-yard touchdown pass from Riley Warzynski to Marquis Monroe, but the Bulldogs struggled to find a rhythm against the Grizzlies’ defensive front. Warzynski finished the game with 252 yards through the air, completing 31 of 60 attempts.
Montana added a late 50-yard field goal from Jo Silver and a one-yard rushing touchdown from Dylan Paine to round out the scoring.
The win improves Montana to a perfect 2-0 record on the season. The Grizzlies will look to maintain their momentum when they host Utah Tech next Saturday. Meanwhile, Drake (0-2) will look to get back on track as they travel to face Northern Iowa.
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