Montana State University
6-2 , 4-0
Cal Poly
3-5 , 1-3
Julius Davis Leads Bobcats to 34-17 Win at Cal Poly
10/25/2025 11:18:00 PM | Football
MSU controls much of the action in earning big road win
"We had stretches that were dominant and stretches that were methodical," Vigen said. "We also had stretches that were sloppy. Methodical is good, you can win games playing methodical. We need to clean up the sloppy play."
The Bobcats dominated much of the night. MSU piled up 466 total yards, 290 on the ground, and 26 first downs. Montana State limited the Mustangs to 241 total yards and 12 first downs. On the first play of the fourth quarter Justin Lamson dashed into the end zone from four yards out to stake the Cats to a 27-3 lead.
"When we went up 27-3, that should have been the knockout blow," Vigen said.
Instead, Cal Poly answered with a six-play, 77-yard scoring drive that took just 2:33, and MSU's lead was 27-10. On the next drive, Julius Davis fumbled, and the Mustangs recovered. Seven plays later, Bo Kelly found Logan Bocher on a six-yard scoring pass, and Cal Poly suddenly trailed by just 10.
On the ensuing kickoff, MSU's Jabez Woods took the edge off the situation. His 58-yard return gave MSU the ball in Mustangs territory, and when Adam Jones plunged in from one yard the Bobcats had secured the final margin of victory.
Senior running back Julius Davis did much of the heavy lefting for the Bobcats. He battered the Cal Poly defense for 175 yards on 19 carries, with one touchdown.
Montana State controlled the first half, rolling up 234 yards and 15 first downs, to the Mustangs' 80 total yards and three first downs. Of those 80 yards, 36 came on one pass completion. The Cats battered Cal Poly's defense with 122 rushing yards on 25 carries, with Julius Davis gaining 74 and Adam Jones 42.
On MSU's second possession, the Bobcats marched from their own 36 to the deep red zone, but the drive stalled at the Cal Poly eight-yard line. Myles Sansted drilled a 25-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. After forcing a three-and-out, Montana State moved the ball again from its own 23 to the Mustangs' eight. Going for it on fourth down, Jones was stopped and the Cats turned the ball over on downs.
The Bobcats defense bowed up, forcing CP to punt from its own five, on the next possession. Taking over at the Mustangs' 45-yard line, Davis took over. He rushed for seven yards, then 13 yards, then six more. Facing a second-and-four from the Cal Poly 19, Lamson found Jared White at the one, and the junior running back scored to give MSU a 10-0 lead after the PAT.
Cal Poly used the first half's longest play, a 36-yard pass from Bo Kelly to Michael Otterstedt, to set up a 21-yard field goal. The Mustangs had the opportunity to cut further into MSU's 10-3 lead after taking over with 1:19 remaining before halftime, but Cole Taylor stepped in front of a Kelly pass near midfield. Sansted hit a 31-yard field goal as the half ended for a 13-3 Bobcat lead.
#GoCatsGo
Team Stats
MSU 3, CPM 0
MSU - Sansted,Myles 25 yd field goal 15 plays, 56 yards, TOP 07:23
MSU 10, CPM 0
MSU - White,Jared 19 yd pass from Lamson,Justin (Sansted,Myles kick) 4 plays, 45 yards, TOP 01:50
MSU 10, CPM 3
CPM - Serna,Noah 21 yd field goal 12 plays, 72 yards, TOP 05:19
MSU 13, CPM 3
MSU - Sansted,Myles 31 yd field goal 8 plays, 30 yards, TOP 00:52
MSU 20, CPM 3
MSU - Davis,Julius 10 yd run (Sansted,Myles kick), 7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 03:56
MSU 27, CPM 3
MSU - Lamson,Justin 4 yd run (Sansted,Myles kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:33
MSU 27, CPM 10
CPM - Pitts,Fidel 16 yd pass from Kelly,Bo (Dimauro,Gianluca kick) 6 plays, 77 yards, TOP 02:23
MSU 27, CPM 17
CPM - Booher,Logan 6 yd pass from Kelly,Bo (Serna,Noah kick) 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 03:22
MSU 34, CPM 17
MSU - Jones,Adam 1 yd run (Sansted,Myles kick), 8 plays, 40 yards, TOP 04:31
