Taco Dowler caught five passes in Saturday's Bobcat win over Butler
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
9/5/2026 9:52:00 PM | Football, General
Justin Lamson tossed a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another to key Montana State's 51-24 win over Butler on Saturday night in Bozeman.
Â
In front of a sold-out Gold Rush crowd of 22,277, the Bobcats rolled to their program record 16th straight win dating back to last season's national championship campaign.
Â
The two teams exchanged field goals in the first quarter before MSU scored four unanswered touchdowns. The rally started when Jabez Woods returned a kickoff 100 yards, getting a key block downfield from Jared White. The return for a touchdown was MSU's first since 2022 at Oregon State by Marqui Johnson and put MSU ahead 10-3. Adam Jones then scored from the 1-yard line. Lamson later added a 1-yard score of his own. Before the first half ended, Lamson found Dane Steel on a 29-yard scoring pass to make it 30-3 at halftime.
Â
To open the third quarter, Lamson found Taco Dowler on three straight completions, the final one covering 20 yards to give the top-ranked Bobcats (2-0) a 37-3 lead. Dowler finished with five receptions to move up to No. 5 on the all-time receiving list for MSU with 142.
Â
For the night, Lamson completed 15 of 20 passes for 239 yards. The Bobcats totaled 498 yards as Jones led all rushers with 77 yards on 13 carries.
Â
Butler (1-1) of the Pioneer League scored a pair of touchdowns to make the score 37-17 after three quarters, but the Bobcats continued to roll in the fourth quarter. A short run by White bumped the advantage to 44-17. Backup quarterback Patrick Duchien then found Woods in the right flank and the speedy junior raced 35 yards into the endzone for his second score of the night.
Â
A late touchdown by Butler before the game clock hit 0:00 accounted for the final score. The Bobcats were able to corral Butler quarterback Gabe Passini who rushed for 176 yards in the Bulldogs season-opening win. Against MSU, Passini was held to just 22 yards and the Bulldogs totaled 83 on the ground and 190 through the air.
Â
The Bobcats travel to FBS Nevada next week to play the Wolfpack. MSU's next home game is Sept. 19 against Central Connecticut State. Butler plays host to Franklin next week.
Â
Â
Â
Â
In front of a sold-out Gold Rush crowd of 22,277, the Bobcats rolled to their program record 16th straight win dating back to last season's national championship campaign.
Â
The two teams exchanged field goals in the first quarter before MSU scored four unanswered touchdowns. The rally started when Jabez Woods returned a kickoff 100 yards, getting a key block downfield from Jared White. The return for a touchdown was MSU's first since 2022 at Oregon State by Marqui Johnson and put MSU ahead 10-3. Adam Jones then scored from the 1-yard line. Lamson later added a 1-yard score of his own. Before the first half ended, Lamson found Dane Steel on a 29-yard scoring pass to make it 30-3 at halftime.
Â
To open the third quarter, Lamson found Taco Dowler on three straight completions, the final one covering 20 yards to give the top-ranked Bobcats (2-0) a 37-3 lead. Dowler finished with five receptions to move up to No. 5 on the all-time receiving list for MSU with 142.
Â
For the night, Lamson completed 15 of 20 passes for 239 yards. The Bobcats totaled 498 yards as Jones led all rushers with 77 yards on 13 carries.
Â
Butler (1-1) of the Pioneer League scored a pair of touchdowns to make the score 37-17 after three quarters, but the Bobcats continued to roll in the fourth quarter. A short run by White bumped the advantage to 44-17. Backup quarterback Patrick Duchien then found Woods in the right flank and the speedy junior raced 35 yards into the endzone for his second score of the night.
Â
A late touchdown by Butler before the game clock hit 0:00 accounted for the final score. The Bobcats were able to corral Butler quarterback Gabe Passini who rushed for 176 yards in the Bulldogs season-opening win. Against MSU, Passini was held to just 22 yards and the Bulldogs totaled 83 on the ground and 190 through the air.
Â
The Bobcats travel to FBS Nevada next week to play the Wolfpack. MSU's next home game is Sept. 19 against Central Connecticut State. Butler plays host to Franklin next week.
Â
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballThursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
