Caden Dowler's two interception lifted the Bobcats Saturday night.
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Bobcat defense sparks MSU win over Davis
11/16/2025 12:20:00 AM | Football
In a game where the opponents posted better offensive numbers, Montana State's Caden Dowler made sure the only numbers that mattered were the final ones on the scoreboard, which showed MSU with a win over Cal-Davis, 38-17 on Saturday night.
Dowler led MSU's defense with 12 tackles and a pair of interceptions. His first pickoff came midway through the third quarter, and he took the football back 83 yards to extend the Bobcats' lead to 24-7. Dowler, a junior from Billings, got key blocks from Taden Grey and Alex Eckert as he sprinted down the left sideline with the third longest interception in Bobcat Stadium history.
UCD scored first in the game's opening quarter on a 29-yard pass from freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick to Ian Simpson. But Bobcat quarterback Justin Lamson tied the score on a 3-yard burst up the middle behind the blocking of Cedric Jefferson, Titan Fleischmann and Hunter Provience. It was a pair of long passes from Lamson, one to Jabez Woods for 26 yards and one to Taco Dowler for 36 yards, that set up the game-tying score.
Before the first half was over, Lamson connected with Chris Long on an 18-yard score that saw Long, a senior transfer from Rutgers, hurdle his way into the end zone for his first Bobcat score.
Myles Sansted's 28-yard field goal made it 17-7 before Caden Dowler's long interception return gave the third-ranked Bobcats (9-2 overall, 7-0 in the Big Sky Conference) a 24-7 edge.
As it has done all season, the MSU defense held its opponent scoreless in the third quarter. The Aggies (7-3, 5-2) got a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 24-10 but in the fourth quarter Caden Dowler stepped in front of another Pinnick pass for his third interception in the past two games. That set up Julius Davis who scored from 1-yard out as Burke Mastel and JT Reed opened a hole for Davis to power through and gave MSU a 31-10 lead.
A touchdown pass from Pinnick to Samuel Gbatu made it 31-17 before Lamson ended the scoring with an 18-yard sprint into the end zone.
Overall, the Aggies totaled 424 yards on 83 plays and held the ball for over 37 minutes while the Bobcats gained 377 yards on 50 plays and had the ball for under 23 minutes.
On a warm night in front of 21,777 fans, Lamson led all rushers with 97 yards and Davis added 70. Lamson also hit on 10 of 18 passes for 144 yards through the air. Taco Dowler topped MSU with five catches for 78 yards.
MSU received additional defensive support from Kenneth Eiden who had two quarterback sacks and Neil Daily and Cole Taylor who collected eight tackles each.
The Bobcats close out the regular season this week in Missoula where they face second-ranked Montana (11-0, 7-0). The winner claims the Big Sky Conference regular season title.
Dowler led MSU's defense with 12 tackles and a pair of interceptions. His first pickoff came midway through the third quarter, and he took the football back 83 yards to extend the Bobcats' lead to 24-7. Dowler, a junior from Billings, got key blocks from Taden Grey and Alex Eckert as he sprinted down the left sideline with the third longest interception in Bobcat Stadium history.
UCD scored first in the game's opening quarter on a 29-yard pass from freshman quarterback Caden Pinnick to Ian Simpson. But Bobcat quarterback Justin Lamson tied the score on a 3-yard burst up the middle behind the blocking of Cedric Jefferson, Titan Fleischmann and Hunter Provience. It was a pair of long passes from Lamson, one to Jabez Woods for 26 yards and one to Taco Dowler for 36 yards, that set up the game-tying score.
Before the first half was over, Lamson connected with Chris Long on an 18-yard score that saw Long, a senior transfer from Rutgers, hurdle his way into the end zone for his first Bobcat score.
Myles Sansted's 28-yard field goal made it 17-7 before Caden Dowler's long interception return gave the third-ranked Bobcats (9-2 overall, 7-0 in the Big Sky Conference) a 24-7 edge.
As it has done all season, the MSU defense held its opponent scoreless in the third quarter. The Aggies (7-3, 5-2) got a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 24-10 but in the fourth quarter Caden Dowler stepped in front of another Pinnick pass for his third interception in the past two games. That set up Julius Davis who scored from 1-yard out as Burke Mastel and JT Reed opened a hole for Davis to power through and gave MSU a 31-10 lead.
A touchdown pass from Pinnick to Samuel Gbatu made it 31-17 before Lamson ended the scoring with an 18-yard sprint into the end zone.
Overall, the Aggies totaled 424 yards on 83 plays and held the ball for over 37 minutes while the Bobcats gained 377 yards on 50 plays and had the ball for under 23 minutes.
On a warm night in front of 21,777 fans, Lamson led all rushers with 97 yards and Davis added 70. Lamson also hit on 10 of 18 passes for 144 yards through the air. Taco Dowler topped MSU with five catches for 78 yards.
MSU received additional defensive support from Kenneth Eiden who had two quarterback sacks and Neil Daily and Cole Taylor who collected eight tackles each.
The Bobcats close out the regular season this week in Missoula where they face second-ranked Montana (11-0, 7-0). The winner claims the Big Sky Conference regular season title.
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