Bobcats Ride Big Plays, Stifling Defense to Race Past Northern Colorado

Saturday, November 1

Greeley, CO

12 noon

Montana State University

7-2 , 5-0

Northern Colorado

3-6 , 1-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana St.

Northern Colo.

Taco Dowler

Photo by: Brian Morse

Bobcats Ride Big Plays, Stifling Defense to Race Past Northern Colorado

11/1/2025 10:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Talon Marsh's long interception return caps big Bobcat victory

By: Bill Lamberty

GREELEY, Colo. (Nov. 1, 2025) – By the time Talon Marsh rambled nearly 90 yards with an interception that teammate Dom Solano created by batting the ball into the air, Montana State's 55-7 win against Northern Colorado had been decided.

Still, "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen in sports," Bobcat quarterback Justin Lamson exuded after the 6-1, 280 lb nose tackle's first collegiate touchdown. That play stands as the highlight of a game that MSU head coach Brent Vigen called a "true team win."

The Bobcats rolled up 532 total yards, with Lamson registering his first career 300-yard passing day (331) and Taco Dowler setting a career receiving high for the third time this season (138). MSU gained 8.3 yards a play and gained 23 first downs.

On the other side of the ball, MSU's defense stifled Northern Colorado for most of the afternoon. The Bears gained 160 yards with nine first downs through the first three quarters.

It all added up to Montana State's seventh straight win. "Ultimately, I'm really pleased with the overall effort," Vigen said. "(UNC is) a good team that fought hard."

For the sixth time in nine games, Montana State suffocated its opponent in the first half. Northern Colorado became the third Bobcat opponent to enter the locker room without scoring, and the sixth to head to intermission with one score or less. Since the Oregon game, the Cats have allowed just 17 first quarter points and 37 total before halftime.

The Bears gained just three first downs in the first half, one in the first quarter. By the time the Bears reached the line-to-gain for the second time, MSU led 10-0 and had accumulated 216 total yards. Much of that came with the Cats playing uphill, with an average first quarter starting field position of the Bobcat 14. UNC's average drive start in the first quarter was its own 39.

The Bobcats struck early. After forcing a UNC three-and-out, MSU drove 69 yards with Justin Lamson's pop pass to Rocky Lencioni and Myles Sansted's PAT giving the Cats a 7-0 lead. After a pair of Montana State punts, Sansted converted on a pair of short field goals to expand the lead to 13-0.

Then with 1:24 to play, MSU forced a Northern Colorado punt and took possession at its own 15 with 1:24 to play in the half. Lamson found Taco Dowler on a 34-yard pass, and benefited from roughing the quarterback, to move to the UNC 36. Lamson scrambled for eight yards, found Dane Steel for 14, and hit Chris Long for seven. Adam Jones punched it in from the two to give MSU a 20-0 lead at halftime.

"I thought the score before the half was big," Vigen said. "Then we come out after halftime and score on a couple plays to jump the lead from 13-0 to 27-0 pretty quick."

The third quarter was one of separation for the Bobcats. MSU gained 194 yards in that period, scoring 14 points. Lamson threw for 114 yards on three-for-three passing, and even caught a 12-yard pass from Dane Steel. Taco Dowler caught two passes for 85 yards in the third quarter, and both catches went for touchdowns.

And while the MSU offense accelerated, Vigen was pleased that the defense did too. "The defense kept coming," he said. "The defense made it hard on them all day."

Montana State registered seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage on Saturday, one each by seven players. The team also broke up seven Northern Colorado passes, limiting the Bears to 24-40 through the air for 157 yards.

But the hot topic after Saturday's win was Marsh's long interception return. It was the seventh of at least 80 yards in Bobcat history. Marsh said after the game that Solano always promised that if Marsh was on his way to score Solano planned to "hawk me down and trip me. But he actually blocked the best for me, so I guess he didn't follow through," he laughed.

For Marsh, though, it was simple. "I caught it, and I turned, and I was like, I'd better just turn on the jets the best I can."

Montana State raised its record to 7-2 with the win, 5-0 in Big Sky play. Northern Colorado falls to 3-6 overall, 1-4 in the league. The Cats host Weber State on Saturday at 1 pm in Bobcat Stadium.

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