Bobcats quarterback Justin Lamson threw for a touchdown and ran for another with 175 passing yards and 80 rushing yards, leading Montana State to a 31-28 victory on Saturday afternoon in Missoula.

A third quarter pick six by MSU’s Caden Dowler was perhaps the biggest difference on Saturday, marking the only turnover of the entire game, as No. 3 Montana State (10-2, 8-0)  handed the Grizzlies (11-1, 7-1) their first loss of the season and wins the outright 2025 Big Sky Conference title.

It was a terrific back and forth battle on Saturday featuring multiple lead changes. The Bobcats led by 10 points twice but Montana also held a second half advantage.

This weekend’s contest marked the 124th overall meeting but the first time in rivalry history that both teams entered action ranked inside the top three of the national poll. 

Montana State has now won ten straight games since opening the season with losses to Oregon and South Dakota State.

With the victory, the Bobcats should be locked in as the No. 2 seed for the FCS playoffs, meaning the all-important home field advantage all the way to Nashville.

Despite the loss Montana still leads the overall series 74-44-5 since the first meeting in 1897. The Grizzlies are 33-19-1 during games played in Missoula with a 14-6 mark inside of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

GAME SCORING SUMMARY

After receiving the opening kickoff on Saturday afternoon, the Bobcats drove down the field 51 yards with their drive culminating in a successful 39 yard field goal from Myles Sansted.

Montana immediately got themselves in great field position to start their day with Michael Wortham returning the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to the UM 46 yard line. Wortham added another explosive play moments later, taking the direct snap and rushing for 35 yard and a first down. The drive ended with a 14 yard touchdown pass from Keali’i Ah Yat to Brooks Davis, putting Montana on top 7-3 midway through the opening quarter.

Montana State responded with a touchdown of their own, putting together a 7 play drive spanning 77 yards with Adam Jones scoring on a one yard rush.

The Grizzlies were forced to punt on their second possession of the day, the first non-scoring drive of the day by either side. That would start a stretch of three consecutive punts between the two sides, a streak that ended on Montana State’s fourth possession of the day when QB Justin Lamson hit Dane Steel for a 27 yard touchdown pass, upping the Bobcats’ advantage to 17-7 with five minutes left in the opening half.

Montana answered in kind on their next drive, eating up 72 yards on 10 plays with Ah Yat’s 18 yard rushing touchdown cutting the deficit to 17-14 with just 75 seconds left in the first half.

The Grizzlies carried that momentum into the second half, taking their first possession down the field for an 89 yard drive on 16 plays, ending with a five yard rushing TD from Wortham to give Montana a 21-17 lead.

However Montana State took back that momentum late in the third quarter on the defensive side, as a tipped pass off the fingertips of Michael Wortham ended up in the hands of Caden Dowler for the interception which he promptly returned 34 yards to the endzone for a Bobcats touchdown, putting MSU back on top 24-21.

Montana’s next drive stalled out after a touchdown was called back to holding and Ty Morrison’s 44 yard field goal attempt was blocked by MSU’s Zac Crews.

The Bobcats turned the ensuing drive into seven more points courtesy of a 23 yard rushing touchdown by Lamson, extending MSU’s lead to 31-21 with nine minutes left to play.

But the Grizzlies struck right back with a 52 yard rushing touchdown from Eli Gillman, pulling Montana within three points of the Cats with 7 minutes left to play.

However Montana State was able to drain the clock on their next possession, driving 72 yards on 14 plays and bleeding out the final 6:53 of the game clock.