MISSOULA, Mont. – The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to get within one point of #14 Montana, but the Griz would hold off the charge to find the win column on opening weekend by the final score of 35-20. Butler played at Washingon-Grizzly Stadium in front of 25,430 fans. The game went down as the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
 
Bret Bushka completed 24 of his 35 pass attempts to throw for 263 yards and two touchdowns. The 2022 PFL Offensive Player of the Year connected with 11 different receivers on Saturday. Ethan Loss was his top target with four receptions for 45 yards. William Enneking had a remarkable one-handed catch in the game to end the day with three grabs for 44 yards and touchdown receptions would go to Jyran Mitchell and Ryan Lezon.
 
Butler's offense posted 304 yards of total offense against a stout Montana defense. The Griz only allowed 41 rushing yards and got the Bulldogs off the field on third down (2-13). Defensively, Butler saw Nick Bafia make a team-high 12 tackles at Montana. Devaon Holman and Lucas Kozlowski each had interceptions in the setback and the first BU sack of the season would belong to defensive end Jacob Cain.
 
Montana used a 54-yard touchdown pass from Vidlak to Bergen to find the end zone on just their third play of the game. The Griz defense then followed that effort by forcing a fumble on Butler's third play of their opening drive. The Butler defense held strong after the change of possession and limited Montana to a 23-yard field goal, moving the scoreboard to 10-0.
 
Butler's defense created a turnover to help the Bulldogs score their first points of the 2023 campaign. Freshman Devaon Holman picked off a pass in Montana territory that led to a 29-yard made field goal from Luka Zurak. The two teams would end the first quarter with the Griz on top 10-3.
 
A fake punt in the early stages of the second quarter would lead to a 49-yard field goal for Montana increasing their lead to 13-3 with 9:43 to play the in first half. Butler would get those three points back moments later as Zurak connected on his second field goal of the game from 39 yards out.
 
The final points of the opening half came from the home team. A 26-yard pass setup a three-yard rushing TD for Montana giving the Griz a 21-6 advantage after two quarters.
 
The 15-point deficit was erased in the third quarter with Bushka throwing two touchdowns. The first was a 32-yard pass down the sideline to Jyran Mitchell and the second was a 26-yard score on fourth down and two to Ryan Lezon. The Bulldogs used a timeout to come up with the perfect play call against the Griz defense and a monster effort from Lezon allowed him to touch the pylon for six.
 
Montana's offense answered on their next drive using just three plays to cover 50 yards for a touchdown. A 24-yard TD run from Eli Gillman moved the score to 28-20 and that eight-point spread would hold going into the final 15 minutes.
 
The only points of the fourth quarter went to Montana after a one-yard TD run by backup quarterback Clifton McDowell. The plunge into the end zone capped off a nine-play, 63-yard drive for the Grizz.
 
The Bulldogs will return to action next Saturday by hosting Taylor in the 2023 home opener. The Trojans will face the Bulldogs at the Sellick Bowl for a 1 PM kick-off. Fans will be able to stream the game on FloSports.com.