MISSOULA, Mont. – The 13th-ranked UNI Panther football team rallied back after No. 24 Montana built a 26-0 halftime lead, eventually falling 26-23 in a season-opening loss on the road in front of a raucous crowd at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana.
The Montana defense stifled the UNI early, holding the Panthers to 47 yards in the first half. The Montana offense capitalized on Panther mistakes and racked up 283 yards and 26 points in the first half, capped off by a 31-yard field goal as time expired.
The second half was all UNI. Colton Howell sparked the comeback starting with his feet.