Chad Chalich leads Montana past Northern Arizona, 23-14

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) Chad Chalich found Chase Naccarato with a 3-yard touchdown pass with 4:05 remaining and Montana held off Northern Arizona, 23-14 in the

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) Chad Chalich found Chase Naccarato with a 3-yard touchdown pass with 4:05 remaining and Montana held off Northern Arizona, 23-14 in the Big Sky Conference opener for both schools Saturday.

Chalich was 29 of 45 for 276 yards passing to lead the Grizzlies (2-2, 1-0). Jamaal Jones caught seven passes for 113 yards and Ellis Henderson grabbed six for 95 yards. John Nguyen had seven carries for 71 yards, and ran 22 yards for a touchdown barely a minute into the game.

The Grizzlies took a 16-0 lead at halftime on the strength of three Daniel Sullivan field goals - two from 27 yards and another from 25.

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Northern Arizona (2-2, 0-1) rallied behind a pair of Case Cookus-to-Emmanuel Butler touchdown passes - a 57-yard strike followed by a 34-yard connection less than a minute later.

Cookus finished 13 for 22 for 187 yards and two scores.

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AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org