Eli Gillman rushed for a program-record 275 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Montana Grizzlies to a 62-22 rout over UC Davis on Saturday night in Davis, California. The victory lifts Montana to a 4-1 overall record and a 3-0 mark in the Big Sky Conference, cementing the team’s standing as the fifth-ranked squad in the Stats Perform poll.
Record-Breaking Performance by Eli Gillman
Eli Gillman established a new program single-game rushing record with his 275-yard performance on 26 carries. Gillman surpassed the previous record held by Yohance Humphrey, who rushed for 265 yards for the Grizzlies against Weber State on Nov. 10, 2001.
Offensive Execution and Passing Game
Keali’i Ah Yat orchestrated the Montana offense efficiently, completing 21 of 31 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Ah Yat also contributed two rushing touchdowns. His passing scores included a 2-yard strike to Landon Ransom-Goelz midway through the second quarter, capping a 99-yard, six-play drive.
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UC Davis Response and Statistics
Tenth-ranked UC Davis dropped to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Big Sky play following the loss. Treynor Cleeland completed 18 of 33 passes for 194 yards, connecting with Zach Jones on a 27-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds of the second quarter to narrow Montana’s lead to 31-8 at halftime. Jordan Fisher contributed 102 rushing yards on 19 carries, including a touchdown for the Aggies.
Upcoming Schedule
Following this conference victory, Montana returns home to host Northern Colorado on Saturday. UC Davis will remain at home to face Eastern Washington on Saturday.