Brian Ah Yat passed for 510 yards and four touchdowns and ran for two more scores Saturday as Montana outlasted Northern Arizona 48-32 in a Big Sky showdown.
Second-ranked Montana (7-0 overall, 4-0 Big Sky) extended its home winning streak to 23 games, best in NCAA Divison I-AA. No. 6 Northern Arizona (7-2, 4-1) saw its six-game winning streak ended.The turning point came in the third quarter, after NAU had taken a 26-20 lead on a 12-yard TD pass from Travis Brown to Gibbons St. Paul with 5:24 left.
Montana's Josh Remington blocked the extra point, and the Grizzlies scored on a 5-yard pass from Ah Yat to Joe Douglass to take a 27-26 advantage.
NAU's Kino Carson fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, and Montana's Travis Walker recovered on the 12-yard line. Three plays and 36 seconds later, Montana led 34-26 on a 20-yard pass from Ah Yat to Douglass.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Big Sky standings
Conf. Overall
Team W L W L
Montana 4 0 7 0
N. Arizona 4 1 7 2
E. Wash. 2 2 6 2
CS-North. 2 2 5 3
Montana St. 2 2 4 3
Weber St. 1 2 4 3
Idaho St. 1 3 3 4
CS-Sacra. 0 5 2 6
Portland St.* - - 2 6
*Doesn't count in league standings.
Saturday's games
E. Washington 31, Idaho St. 17
Montana 48, Northern Ariz. 32
Montana St. 24, Portland St. 6
CS-Northridge 52, CS-Sacramento 17