Bobcats Toss Shutout at Utah Tech in Season Opener

Saturday, August 29

St. George, UT

8:00 pm MT

Montana State University

1-0 , 1-0

Utah Tech

0-1 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Montana State	10	16	14	14	54
Utah Tech	0	0	0	0	0

MSU Game Notes Utah Tech Game Notes

Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services

8/29/2026 11:57:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Bill Lamberty

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Aug. 29, 2026) – Montana State turned in big plays in every phase, romping to a 54-0 season-opening win over Utah Tech in St. George, Utah on Saturday.

The Bobcats returned a blocked punt and interception for touchdowns, and benefited from balance in the ground game, efficient passing by Justin Lamson and a career day by junior receiver Dane Steel. Montana State's shutout was its first in a season opener since beating Adams State 19-0 at home in 2004, and its first when opening the season on the road since a 27-0 win at South Dakota State in 1959.

"Defensively to keep them off the board is always a great accomplishment," Montana State coach Brent Vigen said. "I thought our guys went after it, scored in all three phases. I was really pleased with the effort."

Montana State's 54 points marked the most by any Bobcat team when opening a season on the road. It was the team's fourth-most points in any season opener (after 63 vs. Utah Tech in 2023 and 59 against both Fort Lewis in 2010 and Adams State in 2008).

"I thought our guys went after it," said Vigen, whose Bobcat teams have now registered three shutouts in his five-plus seasons. In the Big Sky era, Sonny Holland's and Jim Sweeney's teams shut out the opponent six times each to set the standard.

Montana State rushed for 140 yards and threw for 307, gaining 24 first downs. Justin Lamson was 22-30-0 through the air for 260 yards and two scoring strikes, while Patrick Duchien was 5-5-0 for 47 yards and a touchdown. Dane Steel caught eight passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. "I never had that many yards in a game even in high school," Steel said.

"I think people will soon start talking about Dane as one of the best receivers in our league," said MSU head coach Brent Vigen. "If they aren't already."

The first half was dominated by the MSU defense and punctuated by big offensive and special teams plays. Utah Tech gained just 85 yards in the first half, with four first downs. The Cats also blocked a punt for a touchdown, Taco Dowler returned a pair of punts for 51 total yards, and Myles Sansted nailed a pair of field goals.

Neither team scored on their first possession. Tayden Gray intercepted a Bronson Barben pass to give the Bobcats the game's first turnover, but MSU was stopped on fourth-and-three on the ensuing possession. The Cats forced a three-and-out on UT's second drive, then Dane Steel scored on a weaving 50-yard touchdown from Lamson to give the Cats a 7-0 lead. Sansted's 47-yard field goal ended the first quarter with the Cats on top 10-0.

Montana State changed the game on the Trailblazers' first second quarter drive. Colter Petre blocked a punt and Xavier Ahrens returned it 16 yards for a touchdown. "That punt block really broke it open," Vigen said.

The temperature at kickoff was 97 degrees, the second-hottest for the start of a Bobcat football game. Two others kicked off at 98 degrees, most recently against McNeese at home in 2022.

The Cats won a season opener on the road for the second time in the past three seasons, and beat Utah Tech in the opener for the second time in the last four years, to raise begin the season 1-0. The Trailblazers made their debut as a Big Sky member on Saturday night, falling to 0-1. MSU hosts Butler on Saturday for the annual Gold Rush game, kicking off at 6:30 pm.

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