Bobcats Hold Off Yale for Playoff Win, Advance to FCS Quarterfinals

Saturday, December 6

Bozeman, MT

12 noon

Montana State University

11-2 , 8-0

Yale

9-3 , 6-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Yale

Montana St.

Adam Jones

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

Bobcats Hold Off Yale for Playoff Win, Advance to FCS Quarterfinals

12/6/2025 6:53:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Montana State moves on with 21-13 win

By: Bill Lamberty

BOZEMAN, Mont. (Dec 6, 2025) – Montana State forced four Yale turnovers and scored two touchdowns in the game's final 17 minutes, beating Yale 21-13 in a Second Round FCS Playoff game in Bozeman on Saturday.

Adam Jones rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown, and Caden Dowler intercepted a pass in the fourth consecutive game to lead the Bobcats defense. The win propels Montana State into the FCS Quarterfinals against Stephen F. Austin in Bozeman next weekend.

"It was a hard-fought game," said MSU coach Brent Vigen. "Give Yale a bunch of credit for coming in here and competing. I think ultimately that wasn't our best performance, but credit goes their way."

A week after pulling off a wild come-from-behind win at Youngstown State by scoring 29 straight points late in the game, the Bulldogs kept Saturday's game close. The Bobcats led 7-0 at halftime and 14-0 entering the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs scored twice in the final quarter, but in between Adam Jones scampered 33 yards for what proved the decisive score.

"We knew we had to score on that drive," Jones said, "and I was happy they got it blocked up. I saw a little crease and I was just happy we got into the end zone."

Jones' run gave the Bobcats a 21-6 lead with 10:20 to play. The Bobcats got a stop on Yale's next possession when Tayden Gray logged MSU's third interception of the day. But MSU quarterback Justin Lamson fumbled on MSU's next drive, and Yale marched 54 yards to draw to within 21-13.

After recovering the on-side kick with 2:08 to play the Bobcats punted back to Yale with 59 seconds remaining. Montana State's defense closed the game with a sack and then a fumble recovery.

"Throughout we made enough plays," Vigen said. "We turned them over, and we found a way to win."

Yale out-gained the Bobcats 351 total yards to 341, and rolled up 24 first downs to MSU's 20. On the other hand, the Cats averaged 5.9 yards per play to Yale's 4.7 and out-rushed the Bulldogs 249 yards to 153.

After spending much of the season among the nation's top 10 in third down offense and defense, Yale proved more potent in those situations on Saturday. The Bulldogs converted six of their 13 third downs into first downs, while the Cats managed just four of 11. "Our ability to win on third down on both sides of the ball is what immediately comes to mind," Vigen said when asked about key factors. "They converted too many times, and ultimately we didn't convert enough."

Montana State scored the game's first points late in the first quarter on a sequence and play emblematic of the day. After Caden Dowler picked off his fifth pass in the last four games, returning it to the Bulldogs 40, the Bobcats marched 40 yards for a score. Lamson was about to cross the goal line when Abu Kamara stripped him and the ball bounded into the end zone. MSU receiver Chris Long pounced on it for a score.

Those were the only points of the first half. Late in the third quarter, with the Bobcat defense backed up, linebacker Cole Taylor snared an interception and returned it to the MSU 30. The Cats marched 70 yards, with Julius Davis plunging in from three yards out for the score and a 14-0 lead.

Yale took advantage of a long return on the ensuing kickoff to the 39-yard line to set up a 61-yard touchdown drive. The team attempted a two-point conversion, but it failed.

In addition to the lost fumble, MSU committed six penalties for 40 yards, and many seemed to come at inopportune moments. Midway through the second quarter the Bobcats appeared to convert a fake field goal into a first down that would have set the team up at the Yale 20, but a holding call negated the play and forced a punt.

The win boosted Montana State's record to 11-2 on the season, one of just eight campaigns in school history with that many victories. Yale's season ends with a 9-3 record.

#GoCatsGo