Caden Dowler's third-quarter pick gave the Bobcats the boost it needed to dispatch Montana in the annual Cat-Griz clash on Saturday afternoon in Missoula.
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
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11/22/2025 9:26:00 PM | Football
Montana State Returns to the Top of the Big Sky
MISSOULA, Mont. (Nov. 22, 2025) – Caden Dowler had a simple thought when the ball hit his hands with just over one minute to play in the third quarter.
"I thought," Montana State's junior defensive back said with a smile, "how does this keep happening?"
Dowler snared a Keali'i Ah Yat pass that bounced off Michael Wortham's hands and dashed 34 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bobcats a 24-21 lead. Each team scored another touchdown, but that play boosted the third-ranked Bobcats to a 31-28 win over No. 2 Montana in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The play marked Dowler's third straight game with an interception, and his second straight with a pick-six.
"I'm obviously really excited for the win," said Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen, "but probably more excited for just how we got there. I think that game today really exemplified who we are."
On a sunny Saturday in Missoula, the Bobcats were many things. The Cats showed offensive efficiency, with quarterback Justin Lamson completing 18 of his 20 passes and also rushed for 80 yards. Montana State's defense also showed out, holding the Grizzlies to 50 yards and 14 points below their average. And MSU's special teams turned in several big plays, none bigger than a blocked field goal by Missoula Sentinel's Zac Crews.
"We play complimentary football," Vigen said. "We're a group that's going to keep moving forward, so offense, defense and special teams all had hands in it today."
An epic Cat-Griz game ended with a wild fourth quarter. UM opened the period with an opportunity to tie the score, but Crews' blocked kick on a 44-yard attempt helped MSU retain its 24-21 lead. Lamson then capped a 65-yard scoring drive with a 23-yard touchdown run to expand the lead to 31-21.
One of Montana's all-time greats made a big play on the next drive. Eli Gillman turned the corner and ran 52 yards for a touchdown to pull Montana to within 31-28. Gillman finished with 132 yards rushing.
That set the stage for a dramatic game-clinching Bobcat drive, which began at the UM nine after a penalty on the kick return. Lamson threw to Missoula native Adam Jones for nine, then Julius Davis carried for 14 and then for 11 to push the Cats out to the Bobcat 32.
On 1st and 10, Lamson was sacked for a four-yard loss. He then threw complete to Chris Long for six, and scrambled for seven more to set up one of the game's biggest plays. On fourth-and-one, avis rammed his way for two yards and a crucial first down. After a nine-yard run by Davis, the Cats were flagged for a false start. Jones gained two yards to take the clock to two minutes.
On third-and-four after the two minute time out, Lamson ran for five yards and a first down. Jones then gained three, and after a UM time out put the game away with a 15-yard run to the Grizzly 17. Two kneel downs by Lamson ended the game.
The Bobcats rushed for 241 yards on the day, including 106 by Davis and 38 by Jones.
The first half featured efficient offenses and combative defenses. The Bobcats recorded 13 first downs and 257 yards, with Julius Davis (60) and Justin Lamson (46) combining for 106 yards. Lamson also threw for 138 yards on 12-for-14 passing before the intermission.
The game's opening drive foreshadowed what was to come. The Cats marched down the field, gaining second-and-goal at the Grizzly four, but a falst start penalty and two UM sacks pushed the Bobcats to the 18. Myles Sansted converted a 39-yard field goal.
Grizzly superstar Michael Wortham returned the ensuing kickoff to the 46, giving Montana a short field, and the offense converted. Keali'i Ah Yat found Brooks Davis from 14 yards out, and Montana had a 7-3 lead. That was the first of Davis' six first-half catches.
The Bobcats answered, marching 77 yards. Lamson rushed for 29 yards, and Missoula product Adam Jones scored from one yard out. Late in the second quarter, the Cats used a big third-down sack by Hunter Parsons to set up a UM punt from its own 12, and MSU used two plays to drive 52 yards for a touchdown. Davis scampere 25 yards, then Lamson found Dane Steel for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
The Grizzlies capped the first half by scoring on an eight-yard Ah Yat scramble. He finished the first half with 87 yards pas on 13-for 17.
The win gives Montana State its third Big Sky title in four years, and its first win in Missoula since 2018. MSU finishes the regular season 10-2, having won 10 straight games, while UM is 11-1. MSU wins the league with an 8-0 mark, while UM finishes 7-1.
#GoCatsGo
"I thought," Montana State's junior defensive back said with a smile, "how does this keep happening?"
Dowler snared a Keali'i Ah Yat pass that bounced off Michael Wortham's hands and dashed 34 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bobcats a 24-21 lead. Each team scored another touchdown, but that play boosted the third-ranked Bobcats to a 31-28 win over No. 2 Montana in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The play marked Dowler's third straight game with an interception, and his second straight with a pick-six.
"I'm obviously really excited for the win," said Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen, "but probably more excited for just how we got there. I think that game today really exemplified who we are."
On a sunny Saturday in Missoula, the Bobcats were many things. The Cats showed offensive efficiency, with quarterback Justin Lamson completing 18 of his 20 passes and also rushed for 80 yards. Montana State's defense also showed out, holding the Grizzlies to 50 yards and 14 points below their average. And MSU's special teams turned in several big plays, none bigger than a blocked field goal by Missoula Sentinel's Zac Crews.
"We play complimentary football," Vigen said. "We're a group that's going to keep moving forward, so offense, defense and special teams all had hands in it today."
An epic Cat-Griz game ended with a wild fourth quarter. UM opened the period with an opportunity to tie the score, but Crews' blocked kick on a 44-yard attempt helped MSU retain its 24-21 lead. Lamson then capped a 65-yard scoring drive with a 23-yard touchdown run to expand the lead to 31-21.
One of Montana's all-time greats made a big play on the next drive. Eli Gillman turned the corner and ran 52 yards for a touchdown to pull Montana to within 31-28. Gillman finished with 132 yards rushing.
That set the stage for a dramatic game-clinching Bobcat drive, which began at the UM nine after a penalty on the kick return. Lamson threw to Missoula native Adam Jones for nine, then Julius Davis carried for 14 and then for 11 to push the Cats out to the Bobcat 32.
On 1st and 10, Lamson was sacked for a four-yard loss. He then threw complete to Chris Long for six, and scrambled for seven more to set up one of the game's biggest plays. On fourth-and-one, avis rammed his way for two yards and a crucial first down. After a nine-yard run by Davis, the Cats were flagged for a false start. Jones gained two yards to take the clock to two minutes.
On third-and-four after the two minute time out, Lamson ran for five yards and a first down. Jones then gained three, and after a UM time out put the game away with a 15-yard run to the Grizzly 17. Two kneel downs by Lamson ended the game.
The Bobcats rushed for 241 yards on the day, including 106 by Davis and 38 by Jones.
The first half featured efficient offenses and combative defenses. The Bobcats recorded 13 first downs and 257 yards, with Julius Davis (60) and Justin Lamson (46) combining for 106 yards. Lamson also threw for 138 yards on 12-for-14 passing before the intermission.
The game's opening drive foreshadowed what was to come. The Cats marched down the field, gaining second-and-goal at the Grizzly four, but a falst start penalty and two UM sacks pushed the Bobcats to the 18. Myles Sansted converted a 39-yard field goal.
Grizzly superstar Michael Wortham returned the ensuing kickoff to the 46, giving Montana a short field, and the offense converted. Keali'i Ah Yat found Brooks Davis from 14 yards out, and Montana had a 7-3 lead. That was the first of Davis' six first-half catches.
The Bobcats answered, marching 77 yards. Lamson rushed for 29 yards, and Missoula product Adam Jones scored from one yard out. Late in the second quarter, the Cats used a big third-down sack by Hunter Parsons to set up a UM punt from its own 12, and MSU used two plays to drive 52 yards for a touchdown. Davis scampere 25 yards, then Lamson found Dane Steel for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
The Grizzlies capped the first half by scoring on an eight-yard Ah Yat scramble. He finished the first half with 87 yards pas on 13-for 17.
The win gives Montana State its third Big Sky title in four years, and its first win in Missoula since 2018. MSU finishes the regular season 10-2, having won 10 straight games, while UM is 11-1. MSU wins the league with an 8-0 mark, while UM finishes 7-1.
#GoCatsGo
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