North Dakota State Bison 29–31 Montana Grizzlies: Final Score & Recap | Week 1, 2023

Quick answer

Montana Grizzlies defeated North Dakota State Bison 31–29 in Week 1, 2023. Final score: North Dakota State Bison 29, Montana Grizzlies 31.

Game summary

Montana Grizzlies edged North Dakota State Bison 31–29 in Week 1 of the 2023 season.

Scoring: 6 touchdowns, 4 field goals across 10 plays.
Passing leader: TEAM (North Dakota State) — 0.0 pass yds, -0.37 EPA/play.
Rushing leader: Eli Gillman — 49.0 yds, 2 TD.
Receiving leader: Eli Green — 5 rec, 98.0 yds.
EPA edge: North Dakota State (-0.010/play) vs Montana (-0.136/play).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	OT	Final
North Dakota State Bison	3	3	3	12	6	29
Montana Grizzlies	0	9	0	0	12	31

Scoring Map

Each pin marks a score on the field — TDs in the end zone, field goals near the kick line.

NDSUNorth Dakota State Bison

+3OPP 13

+3OPP 29

+3OPP 18

+3OPP 21

MONTMontana Grizzlies

FantasyHQ CFB Analytics

Scoring timeline

10 scores

Chronological scoring plays — scroll to follow the game.

North Dakota State
Q1FG
Points+3
Yard line
OPP 13
Score
3-0
Field goal good from 30 yards
Montana
Q2TD
EGEli Gillman
Points+6
Yard line
OPP EZ
Score
3-6
Eli Gillman rushes 3 yards for a touchdown
Montana
Q2FG
Points+3
Yard line
OPP 29
Score
3-9
Field goal good from 46 yards
North Dakota State
Q2FG
Points+3
Yard line
OPP 18
Score
6-9
Field goal good from 35 yards
North Dakota State
Q3FG
Points+3
Yard line
OPP 21
Score
9-9
Field goal good from 38 yards
North Dakota State
Q4TD
Points+6
Yard line
OPP EZ
Score
15-9
Punt return touchdown
North Dakota State
Q4TD
EGEli Green
Points+6
Yard line
OPP EZ
Score
21-9
Cam Miller pass to Eli Green for a touchdown (9 yards)
North Dakota State
OTTD
CPCole Payton
Points+6
Yard line
OPP EZ
Score
27-9
Cole Payton rushes 25 yards for a touchdown
Montana
OTTD
JBJunior Bergen
Points+6
Yard line
OPP EZ
Score
27-15
Clifton McDowell pass to Junior Bergen for a touchdown (22 yards)
Montana
OT2TD
EGEli Gillman
Points+6
Yard line
OPP EZ
Score
27-21
Eli Gillman rushes 13 yards for a touchdown

Stars of the game

Top passers, rushers, and receivers from cfbfastR play-by-play.

Passing

TEAM (North Dakota State) — 0.0 yds · -0.37 EPA/play -0.37 EPA
Cam Miller (North Dakota State) — 139.0 yds · 1 TD · -0.11 EPA/play -2.74 EPA
Clifton McDowell (Montana) — 132.0 yds · 1 TD · -0.32 EPA/play -10.20 EPA

Rushing

Eli Gillman (Montana) — 49.0 yds · 2 TD -0.10 EPA
Nick Ostmo (Montana) — 43.0 yds -0.11 EPA
TaMerik Williams (North Dakota State) — 52.0 yds +0.13 EPA

Receiving

Eli Green (North Dakota State) — 5 rec · 98.0 yds +0.55 EPA
Aaron Fontes (Montana) — 3 rec · 24.0 yds -0.39 EPA
Junior Bergen (Montana) — 6 rec · 59.0 yds -0.26 EPA

Quarterback report card

Attempts, efficiency, and EPA.

Player	Team	Att	Cmp%	Yds	TD	EPA/play	Total EPA
TEAM	North Dakota State	1	0.0%	0	0	-0.37	-0.37
Cam Miller	North Dakota State	25	36.0%	139	1	-0.11	-2.74
Clifton McDowell	Montana	33	48.5%	132	1	-0.32	-10.20

Team EPA comparison

Stat	North Dakota State	Montana
Plays	61	69
EPA / play	-0.010	-0.136
Total EPA	-0.59	-8.73
Success rate	42.6%	43.5%
Pass EPA / play	-0.120	-0.319
Rush EPA / play	+0.076	+0.046
Yards	330	284

Drive chart

Key possessions and results.

Qtr	Offense	Plays	Yards	EPA	Result
Q1	North Dakota State	6	63	+1.28	Field goal
Q1	Montana	5	20	-1.51	Punt
Q1	North Dakota State	8	43	+0.73	Punt
Q1	Montana	16	87	+7.17	Rush TD
Q2	North Dakota State	6	29	-0.51	Punt
Q2	Montana	7	44	+0.04	Field goal
Q2	North Dakota State	12	58	-0.54	Field goal
Q3	Montana	6	7	-5.86	Punt
Q3	North Dakota State	3	8	-0.85	Punt
Q3	Montana	4	8	-5.48	Ended
Q3	North Dakota State	8	36	-0.74	Field goal
Q3	Montana	15	47	-0.04	Ended
Q4	North Dakota State	3	-13	-3.99	Touchdown
Q4	North Dakota State	3	8	-0.98	Punt
Q4	Montana	6	8	-2.46	Punt
Q4	North Dakota State	9	66	+5.71	Pass TD

Biggest EPA swings

Q4 · North Dakota State Bison · Punt return touchdown (-4.45 EPA)
Q4 · North Dakota State Bison · Cam Miller pass to Eli Green for a touchdown (9 yards) (+4.26 EPA)
Q3 · Montana Grizzlies · Penalty (4th & 3) (+4.08 EPA)
Q1 · Montana Grizzlies · Clifton McDowell pass to Keelan White for 31 yards (3rd & 12) (+3.78 EPA)
Q3 · Montana Grizzlies · Clifton McDowell to Junior Bergen — Pass Incompletion (no gain) (-3.24 EPA)
Q4 · North Dakota State Bison · Kaedin Steindorf rushes for 33 yards (4th & 5) (+3.23 EPA)
Q2 · Montana Grizzlies · Clifton McDowell rushes for 9 yards (3rd & 7) (+2.77 EPA)
Q4 · Montana Grizzlies · Clifton McDowell pass to Evan Shafer for 6 yards (4th & 1) (+2.44 EPA)

Key takeaways

Montana Grizzlies controlled the final (31–29) in Week 1.
Passing edge: TEAM (North Dakota State) — yds.
EPA edge: North Dakota State at -0.01 EPA/play.
Full EPA, scoring map, and play-by-play live in CFB Analytics Box & Scores.

Frequently asked questions

What was the final score of North Dakota State Bison vs Montana Grizzlies?

North Dakota State Bison 29, Montana Grizzlies 31 in Week 1 of the 2023 college football season.

Who won North Dakota State Bison vs Montana Grizzlies?

Montana Grizzlies won with a final score of 29–31.

Where can I find the North Dakota State Bison vs Montana Grizzlies box score?

See EPA, scoring timeline, and full play-by-play on FantasyHQ CFB Analytics: /cfb-analytics?game=401618099.

Who led North Dakota State Bison vs Montana Grizzlies in passing?

TEAM (North Dakota State) led passers with 0.0 yards.

Full analytics box score

Explore every snap, drive chart, and the interactive scoring map for North Dakota State Bison at Montana Grizzlies in FantasyHQ CFB Analytics Box & Scores.