MISSOULA — The early reviews are in on Montana’s 42-17 season-opening win over Central Washington Saturday night.

Short middle passes: Not great. Off-tackle runs and shots up the seam: Fantastic.

While Eli Gillman rushed for a career-best 198 yards and three touchdowns, it was Drew Deck’s 50-yard catch and run for a touchdown that put the Grizzlies up for good, 21-17, with 2:29 left in the first half.

The Wildcats, the 18th-ranked team in NCAA Division II, caused concern right up until Jalen Webber picked off a Keali’i Ah Yat pass that caromed off the hands of his Michael Wortham.

Set up at Montana 36-yard line early in the third quarter, the Wildcats tried a third-down double-pass. Kennedy McGill’s heave toward Mason Juergens was picked off by UM’s Harper Mason in the end zone.

That

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