The University of Montana football team came up short in one of the wilder games of the Big Sky Conference season, losing 49-44 to No. 13 Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on Saturday. The loss knocked the second-ranked Grizzlies down a notch in what had been a strong start to the year.
Northern Arizona quarterback Ty Pennington was the story of the afternoon, accounting for six touchdowns — one passing, four rushing, and one receiving — in a performance that gave the Lumberjacks enough cushion to hold off Montana's offense at altitude. Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff sits at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level, a factor that has historically given the Lumberjacks a home-field edge against visiting teams from lower elevations.
Montana's 44-point output was not a quiet performance — the Grizzlies clearly moved the ball — but Pennington's versatility gave Northern Arizona answers every time Montana threatened to take control. The 49-44 final was the kind of game that comes down to a handful of plays, and on Saturday those plays went to the Lumberjacks.
The loss is the kind of result that shakes up the Big Sky standings and will likely affect Montana's national ranking when the next poll is released. Griz fans in Helena will be watching closely as the team heads into the back half of the conference schedule.