No. 23/20 North Dakota vs. No. 4 Montana
Grand Forks, N.D. (Alerus Center)
Montana holds a 15-9-1 series lead
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
TV: Midco Sports/ESPN+
Radio: Fighting Hawks Radio Network (Pregame Show @ 5 p.m.)
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - No. 23/20 North Dakota will host No. 4 Montana inside the Alerus Center on Saturday. Kickoff between the Fighting Hawks and Grizzles is slated for 6 p.m. The game will be televised on Midco Sports. It will also be carried on the Fighting Hawks Radio Network with a pregame show starting at 5 p.m.
Last week, North Dakota outgained Iowa State on the ground by a 174-86 margin but fell 21-3 at Jack Trice Stadium. In his first collegiate start, quarterback
Simon Romfo went 17-for-30 passing for 121 yards and accumulated 165 yards of total offense. Romfo was one of the top rushers for UND, picking up 44 yards on 11 attempts.
Bo Belquist was his favorite target with six grabs for 43 yards.
Isaiah Smith had the longest play of the game for NoDak, hauling in a 34-yard reception while also rushing for 50 yards.
Montana enters the weekend with a 1-0 record after defeating Missouri State 29-24 at home. The Griz had a balanced attack, racking up 347 yards of offense with 180 yards passing and 167 yards rushing. Eli Gillman, the 2023 FCS Freshman of the Year, ran for 89 yards and two scores in the win. Both Keali'i Ah Yat and Logan Fife saw action at quarterback. Ah Yat was 9-for-19 for 90 yards, while Fife was 5-for-7 for 90 yards and a score. Xavier Harris led the team with three grabs for 69 yards and a score, followed by Aaron Fontes with five catches for 68 yards.
This will be the 26th meeting between the two squads, with Montana holding a 15-9-1 series lead. Saturday will be the first meeting between the two teams since Oct. 13, 2018, when UND ran away with a 41-14 victory inside the Alerus Center. The contest will also be the first Saturday night game in the Alerus Center for UND since Sept. 20, 2014, when NoDak kicked off against Stony Brook in a 6 p.m. game and won the contest, 13-3.
FULL GAME NOTES ARE HERE.
