MISSOULA, Mont. (Interstat) — Keali’i Ah Yat threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another, and Montana’s defense stopped Southern Utah at the goal line in the final seconds to secure a 28-21 victory Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The Grizzlies (1-0) scored in every quarter but needed a late response after the Thunderbirds (0-1) erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit. Ah Yat connected with Lekeldrick Bridges on a 53-yard touchdown with 3:14 remaining, and Brock Beaner intercepted Will Burns at the 3-yard line with four seconds left to seal the outcome.

Southern Utah had taken possession at its own 25 with 2:36 to play and drove to the Montana 9. Burns scrambled for 8 yards to set up first-and-goal, but the Thunderbirds lost 8 yards on a third-down scramble, and on the final play, Beaner stepped in front of a pass intended for Devin Downing in the end zone.

Ah Yat, a 6-1, 181-pound quarterback from Kaneohe, Hawaii, completed 15 of 28 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. His 85-yard touchdown pass to Eli Gillman on Montana’s second offensive snap gave the Grizzlies an early 7-0 lead and set the tone for a back-and-forth afternoon.

Gillman, a 6-0, 200-pound running back from Dassel, Minnesota, was a matchup problem all day. He finished with 76 yards on 13 carries and caught two passes for 93 yards, including the game’s first score. He also ran 29 yards off left tackle for a touchdown in the second quarter that stretched Montana’s lead to 14-0.

Southern Utah’s offense kept pace statistically but could not cash in on its early chances. After Vance intercepted Ah Yat at the Southern Utah 40 on Montana’s opening possession, the Thunderbirds moved into Montana territory before stalling. A 50-yard field goal by J. Rogers in the second quarter put Southern Utah on the board, cutting the lead to 14-3.

The Thunderbirds had a chance to make it a one-score game before halftime, but Rogers’ 50-yard attempt was blocked by Cooper Buffington. Montana’s Jo Silver also missed a 54-yard field goal as the half expired, leaving the score 14-3.

Montana extended its lead in the third quarter with a 10-play drive capped by Ah Yat’s 3-yard scramble for a touchdown. The Grizzlies led 21-3, but Southern Utah answered immediately.

Floyd Chalk capped a 13-play possession with a 6-yard touchdown run, and the Thunderbirds attempted a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 10. The try failed, leaving Montana ahead 21-9.

The same pattern repeated in the fourth quarter. Southern Utah’s defense forced a punt, and Burns went to work. He found Joshua Acord for a 13-yard touchdown with 14:56 remaining, but the two-point pass failed, keeping Montana in front 21-15.

After another Montana punt, Burns and Acord connected again. Acord caught a short pass over the middle, broke a tackle at the Southern Utah 42 and outran the secondary for a 58-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, tying the game at 21 with 11:41 to play.

Montana responded on the very next possession. Ah Yat hit Bridges in stride on a crossing route, and Bridges turned it into a 53-yard touchdown. The Grizzlies led 28-21, and their defense then made the decisive stand.

Burns, a 6-2, 215-pound quarterback from Mission Viejo, California, finished 24 of 34 for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He added 119 rushing yards on 15 carries. Acord, a 6-2, 215-pound tight end from North Salt Lake, Utah, caught six passes for 86 yards, with his two fourth-quarter scores bookending Southern Utah’s comeback.

Chalk, a 5-9, 185-pound running back from Mission Hills, California, ran for 100 yards on 25 carries and caught three passes for 24 yards. Camury Reid added 29 yards on four carries, and Niko Alailefaleula contributed 11 yards on five carries. Downing caught five passes for 61 yards, and David Spjut added three catches for 29 yards.

Montana’s receiving corps spread the ball effectively. Bridges, a 5-11, 162-pound wide receiver from Cedar Hill, Texas, led the Grizzlies with five catches for 91 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Brooks Davis, a 6-0, 168-pound receiver from Brentwood, California, caught four passes for 59 yards. Landon Ransom-Goelz added two receptions for 14 yards, and Mariano Birdno had one catch for 13 yards.

Gillman’s contributions were not limited to the ground game. His 85-yard catch-and-run on the opening drive was the longest play of the game, and he helped Montana sustain drives throughout the first half with tough inside runs.

Defensively, Montana was led by Braeden Orlandi with eight tackles. Sage Salopek, Kade Cutler, Tyler King and Tanner Huff each added seven, while Chris Johnson II, Jake Mason and Brock Beaner each recorded six. Beaner’s interception was Montana’s only takeaway, and Peyton Wing contributed a quarterback hurry.

Southern Utah’s defense was sparked by Parker Vance, who finished with eight tackles and intercepted Ah Yat in the first quarter. Christian Sampson recorded five tackles, and Logalima Lesa added four. Aiden Hall and Myles Amey combined for a sack. Jakobi Spence returned a punt for 2 yards and added two tackles.

Montana won its season opener for the second consecutive year and will host Drake next Saturday. Southern Utah dropped to 0-1 and will open Big Sky Conference play at home against Weber State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected Montana with a 40-32 victory and a 90.20 percent win probability. Southern Utah entered as a 15.5-point underdog, and the combined 49 points went over the posted total of 59.5.