[Music] the third ranked Montana Grizzlies opened up the season with a 29-24 victory over Missouri State on Saturday night in Missoula in a grind out Affair between the two opponents the rust needed to be knocked off for Montana because it wasn't pretty but in their eyes a win is a win it was a really great hardfought win by our guys we just battled to the end and found a way to win it things aren't always uh smooth and they don't go your way uh sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way sometimes it's self-imposed sometimes it's the other team but I was proud of our team for fighting their tails off and getting a getting a great win tonight there's plenty that can be cleaned up for the Grizzlies with Miss cues including a fumbled punt in the first quarter that led to a score dropped key passes late in the second quarter and the defensive unit struggling with tackling and getting off the field on third down when opportunities were presented resulting in the Bears dominating time of possession even when it wasn't always going our way and part of part of that the Missouri State team who coach beard really had well prepared they were ready to go they fought it out I was impressed with them going in the game I leave the game really impressed with them they're a good football team and I'm proud of my guys and and uh their effort tonight but the team's resiliency was on display as well the Grizz found a way to take a lead before halftime as new kicker Ty Morrison bounced back from a missed Pat earlier and showed his Moxy going three for three on field goal attempts then um was punched in the mouth again to start the the third quarter as the Bears once again took the lead yeah a lot of new guys a lot of guys who had to you know learn what we what we're all about on game day and as the game progressed I thought guys did a really good job of adapting and overcoming adversity and that was really key for us even Aaron font who struggled with drops came up with a big catch down the stretch to set up a score and Drew deck who fumbled the earlier punt recovered with two strong returns to set the offense up well so the team showed their composure even as all three phases battled through Rocky moments I noticed the the veteran guys keeping their composure and knowing when to keep driving forward cuz the more we keep wearing on the defense you can start to feel them get tired out and that's when we start to really drive the ball down their throat it all culminated in the final stretch as um's Final Stand was enough to seal the win on the offensive side of the ball Hal said he liked what he saw from both K iot and Logan F at quarterback as both had their up and down moments the Grizz are 1 and0 at the end of the day and Saturday's game left plenty to build on and also correct with the season underway probably just one team made a few more plays at the end both teams were trying pretty hard it was hard fought you know it comes down to getting in the right call and guys executing it on both sides of the ball and then the other side not doing that as well and that's that's football and one team's going to win one isn't and I'm glad it was us reporting in Missoula Kyle Hansen MTN Sports