On Friday April 7, 2023, the University of Montana hosted its annual spring game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Coming off an 8-5 season that ended with a 49-26 second-round playoff loss at North Dakota State, the Griz enter the upcoming season with plenty of question marks.
UM scrimmaged for about an hour and 18 minutes, running 95 total plays. The Maroon team, led by quarterbacks Sam Vidlak and Kris Brown, ran 59 plays for 347 yards and 17 first downs on the way to a 31-3 “win” over a Silver team led by quarterbacks Kaden Huot, A.J. Abbott and walk-on John Kohler. The Silver ran 39 plays for 132 yards and four first downs.
The Grizzlies officially open the 2023 season at home on September 2, hosting the Butler Bulldogs in a first-ever meeting in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Montana junior Xavier Harris rushed for 87 yards on Friday/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Former Sentinel Spartans Jace Klucewich & T.J. Rausch/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Timm Rosenbach has been Montana’s offensive coordinator the last four seasons. Now he’s UM’s offensive analyst/by Brooks Nuanez 
Sam Vidlak transfered to Montana from Boise State. He threw for 152 yards and two scores/by Brooks Nuanez 
Junior Ryder Meyer dives at junior running back Isaiah Childs 
Rob Phenice was Montana’s OC from 2003-2009. The former Idaho State head coach was an offensive analyst last season. He will serve as the TE & OT coach this season/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Kris Brown threw for 79 yards and a touchdown on Friday/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Redshirt freshman Kaden Huot, out of Helena High, completed 3-of-9 passes for 43 yards/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Junior Jaxon Lee weights 200 pounds this spring, which is down 15 pounds from his highest as a Griz/ by Brooks Nuanez 
In the scrum/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Declan McCabe is up to 279 pounds and worked as A.J. Forbes’ backup at center on Friday/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Montana head coach Bobby Hauck has won 116 games in his 11 seasons leading Montana/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Junior Aaron Fontes caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown on Friday/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Former Montana cornerback Justin Ford
THE QUARTERBACKS
Redshirt freshman Kaden Huot/ by Blake Hempstead 
Sophomore A.J. Abbott/ by Blake Hempstead 
Junior Kris Brown/ by Brooks Nuanez 
Sophomore Sam Vidlak/ by Blake Hempstead 
Sophomore Sam Vidlak/ by Blake Hempstead
Montana Griz Hall of Fame player Tim Hauck is back to work for his brother, Bobby Hauck, as Montana’s defensive analyst this upcoming season/ by Blake Hempstead 
Brent Pease was a record-setting quarterback at Montana in the late 1980s and the QBs coach at his alma mater during UM’s run to the 1995 national championship. He’s coached wide receivers the last four seasons and is now the Griz offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach/ by Blake Hempstead
