MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) – Joey Counts scored on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal with 2 seconds left to give Montana a 38-35 victory over four-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State on Saturday.
Playing their first game under coach Bob Stitt, the Grizzlies rallied to stun the Bison in hazy conditions at jam-packed Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Counts’ touchdown capped a 15-play, 80-yard drive that started with 1:39 left.
Brady Gustafson threw for 434 yards and three touchdowns in his first start for Montana. He completed passes of 15 yards to Jamaal Jones and 31 yards to Reese Carlson on the winning drive.
Despite smoke from forest fires filling Hellgate Canyon, a stadium-record 26,472 fans showed up for the Football Championship Subdivision showdown.