Photo Gallery – Skyline Sports https://skylinesportsmt.com Covering the Big Sky Conference with more depth, breadth and passion than anyone in the West. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:07:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://skylinesportsmt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cropped-Skyline_Sports_Logo_v2-1-150x150.jpg Photo Gallery – Skyline Sports https://skylinesportsmt.com 32 32 A SPRING GAME IN PHOTOS – Sonny Holland Spring Classic by Jason Bacaj https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-spring-game-in-photos-sonny-holland-spring-classic-by-jason-bacaj/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-spring-game-in-photos-sonny-holland-spring-classic-by-jason-bacaj/#respond Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:07:06 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=86467 Montana State conducted a roughly two-hour spring football game on Saturday, drawing more than 1,000 fans to Bobcat Stadium to take in the first public showing for the 2026 Bobcats.

MSU captured its first national championship since 1984 with a 35-34 OT win over Illinois State in Nashville in January. Montana State graduates just eight seniors from that squad.

On Saturday, the Bobcats received their national championship rings. Then they partook in the annual Sonny Holland Spring Classic.

Senior photographer Jason Bacaj was on the scene for Skyline Sports.

Montana State senior quarterback Justin Lamson completed 19 of 22 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score in helping his team to four TD drives
Senior Jared White was the leading rusher during MSU’s spring game
Josiah Asuega is an up and coming interior defensive tackle for Montana State

Freshman Parker Mady stood out at wide receiver and also threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Nick Seymour for the White team on Saturday

Senior defensive tackle Zack Black is expected to be an anchor in 2026 for Montana State

Freshmen Tim ThomaII, Gianni Edwards & Marcus Coleman are all part of a rebuilding MSU cornerbacks room that lost three players who transferred to Power 4 programs the last off-season
Jordan Reed is a converted quarterback who showed flashes at WR this spring

Sophomore safety Mason Dethman made several plays in the MSU secondary

Hayden Gunlock had one of two interceptions by the Bobcat defense on Saturday

Everett Carr, a Bozeman native, is battling Dylan Rollins for the starting position at let guard
Colson Coon is expected to have an elevated role behind star RB Adam Jones this season
Burke Mastel looks primed for an all-conference season at left guard for Montana State

Aiden Kaplan appears to be the front-runner to be MSU’s starting center this fall

Carter Dahlke graduated early from Bozeman Gallatin to participate in spring ball. He was a standout in the spring game and should threaten for a spot in the WR rotation next season.
Ryan Bowles (12) made multiple plays at or behind the line of scrimmage on Saturday

Montana State defensive coordinator Bobby Daly
Montana State first-year wide receivers coach James Price
Montana State cornerbacks coach Jordan Lee
Special teams coordinator Marcus Monaco

Nick Jean-Baptiste has coached DTs for several years at Montana State. After the departure of Shawn Howe to the NFL, Coach Bap is workign with the entire DL

]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-spring-game-in-photos-sonny-holland-spring-classic-by-jason-bacaj/feed/ 0 Griz Pro-Day Photo Gallery https://skylinesportsmt.com/griz-pro-day-photo-gallery/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/griz-pro-day-photo-gallery/#respond Sat, 04 Apr 2026 01:48:15 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=86310
Hunter Peck stare down the barrel before 40
Michael Wortham running 40
Kenzel Lawler running 40
Cole Grossman running 40
Cannon Panfiloff running 40
Bobby Kennedy with Dalton Sneed
Aaron Fontes running 40
Aaron Fontes catch on sideline
Elijawah Tolbert short shuttle
Kellen Derrick with Steven Pfahler
Kellen Derrick running 40
Hunter Peck turns the corner in L Drill
Hunter Peck running 40
Grayson Pibal running 40
Kenzel Lawler running 40
Kenzel Lawler running second 40
Kenzel Lawler turns the corner on L Drill
Liam Brown running 40
Liam Brown hand touch on short shuttle
Bobby Kennedy laughing with Marty Mornhinweg and Dalton Sneed
Michael Wortham over the shoulder catch
Michael Wortham line touch in short shuttle
Michael Wortham turns the corner in L Drill
Michael Wortham deep corner catch
Michael Wortham short slot catch
Michael Wortham pre run 40 prep
Michael Wortham squares up a route in drill
Michael Wortham stances pre 40
Michael Worth deep turn on L Drill
Michael Wortham sprints it out in the 40
NFL Scout shows Griz players the short shuttle drill
Vai Kaho running the 40
Stevie Rocker III running 40
Prince Ford pre 40 jump
NFL Scouts compare numbers and stop watches
NFL & CFL Scouts compare numbers and stop watches
NFL Scouts look on during drills
]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/griz-pro-day-photo-gallery/feed/ 0 TITLE GAME IN PHOTOS: Blake Hempstead on Montana State’s first natty in 41 years https://skylinesportsmt.com/title-game-in-photos-blake-hempstead-on-montana-states-first-natty-in-41-years/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/title-game-in-photos-blake-hempstead-on-montana-states-first-natty-in-41-years/#respond Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:49:23 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=85325 NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Montana State jolted to two-touchdown leads on two occasions in Monday night’s FCS title game here on Monday night.

But 20 unanswered points had MSU trailing 34-28 in overtime against Illinois State. A Hunter Parsons blocked PAT led to Justin Lamson hitting Taco Dowler on a 4th down and 11 yards to go for a 14-yard touchdown. Myles Sansted’s PAT lifted Montana State to a 35-34 victory and its first national title since 1984.

Blake Hempstead was on hand to cover the first national title by a team from the Big Sky Conference since 2010 and the first title for a team from the Treasure State since 2001.

Montana State special teams coach Marcus Monaco (right) along with Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Flint Rasmussen before the 2026 national championship/ by Blake Hempstead

Taco Dowler went over 1,000 yards receiving for his junior year with 111 yards receiving Monday
Montana State RB Adam Jones battled through two different injuries during Monday’s game
Paul Brott had a season-high 7 tackles from his nose guard position/ by Blake Hempstead
Justin Lamson had 311 yards of total offense, four total touchdowns against Illinois State
Illinois State senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse evades Zac Crews is held by Jake Pope
Tayden Gray gets his head across the bow against Dylan Lord
Takhari Carr takes down Daniel Sobkowicz from behind
Bryant Merideth had 9 tackles against Illinois State
Montana State defensive end Seth Brock runs into Illinois State punter Hayden Futch
Cincinatti transfer Vic Dawson rushed for 126 yards on 29 carries/ by Blake Hempstead
Dylan Lord breaks through the Bobcat defense. But Tommy Rittenhouse over threw him. Caden Dowler hurt his shoulder on this same play/ by Blake Hempstead
Brent Vigen looks on with quarterbacks Patrick Duchien (15), Chance Wilson (13) and Grant Vigen (17) watching the game.
Shadwel Nkuba II nearly had a game-winning interception/ by Blake Hempstead

]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/title-game-in-photos-blake-hempstead-on-montana-states-first-natty-in-41-years/feed/ 0 A TITLE GAME IN PHOTOS: Best of from Bacaj on Montana State’s natty win https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-title-game-in-photos-best-of-from-jason-bacaj-on-montana-states-natty-win/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-title-game-in-photos-best-of-from-jason-bacaj-on-montana-states-natty-win/#respond Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:21:05 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=85261 NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Montana State jolted to two-touchdown leads on two occasions in Monday night’s FCS title game here on Monday night.

But 20 unanswered points had MSU trailing 34-28 in overtime against Illinois State. A Hunter Parsons blocked PAT led to Justin Lamson hitting Taco Dowler on a 4th down and 11 yards to go for a 14-yard touchdown. Myles Sansted’s PAT lifted Montana State to a 35-34 victory and its first national title since 1984.

Jason Bacaj was on hand to cover the first national title by a team from the Big Sky Conference since 2010 and the first title for a team from the Treasure State since 2001.

Montana State junior Taco Dowler scores on a crazy, winding 22-yard reverse to put MSU up 28-14/ by Jason Bacaj
Montana State captain Paul Brott earned All-American honors this season/ by Jason Bacaj
Montana State sophomore Cole Taylor had 16 tackles. He squares up with Tommy Rittenhouse/ by Jason Bacaj
Julius Davis played his final game as a Bobcat on Monday/ By Jason Bacaj
Hunter Parsons
Myles Sansted drilled the game-winning extra point on Monday/ by Jason Bacaj

Bozeman native Rocky Lencioni had one catch for 16 yards Monday/ by Jason Bacaj
Montana Statate head coach Brent Vigen and Illinois State head coach Brock Spack
Seth Johnson recovers Jhase McMillan’s blocked extra point/ by Jason Bacaj
Justin Lamson had 310 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns
Jhase McMillan after blocking Illinois State’s game-winning field goal attempt

Seth Brock celebrates a big tackle on kickoff/ by Jason Bacaj

]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-title-game-in-photos-best-of-from-jason-bacaj-on-montana-states-natty-win/feed/ 0 A TITLE GAME IN PHOTOS – Brooks Nuanez on Montana State’s victory https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-title-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-montana-states-victory/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-title-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-montana-states-victory/#respond Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:43:15 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=85247 NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Montana State jolted to two-touchdown leads on two occasions in Monday night’s FCS title game here on Monday night.

But 20 unanswered points had MSU trailing 34-28 in overtime against Illinois State. A Hunter Parsons blocked PAT led to Justin Lamson hitting Taco Dowler on a 4th down and 11 yards to go for a 14-yard touchdown. Myles Sansted’s PAT lifted Montana State to a 35-34 victory and its first national title since 1984.

Brooks Nuanez was on hand to cover the first national title by a team from the Big Sky Conference since 2010 and the first title for a team from the Treasure State since 2001.

PHOTOS: FCS National Championship pre-game photo gallery from Brooks Nuanez

Brent Vigen was a part of three FCS national championships as an assistant at North Dakota State. Monday, he led Montana State to his first FCS title as a head coach/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State quarterback Justin Lamson threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns while rushing in two more scores to lift MSU to its first national title win in 41 years/ by Brooks Nuanez
Justin Lamson & Julius Davis
Freshman cornerback Jhase McMillan blocked a kick with 1:03 in regulation to help force overtime/ by Brooks Nuanez.

Illinois State senior running back Victor Dawson rushed 29 times for 126 yards and a touchdown on Monday night in Nashville, Tennessee/ by Brooks Nuanez
Illinois State 16th-year head coach Brock Spack stands with senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse during the 2025 national championship game/ by Brooks Nuanez

Tommy Rittenhouse threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns against Montana State/ by Brooks Nuanez

Cole Taylor chases down Tommy Rittenhouse
MSU linebacker Cole Taylor (34) had 16 tackles, including this one of Dylan Lord/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State linebackers Bryce Grebe and Cole Taylor celebrate/ by Brooks Nuanez
MSU linebacker coach Jody Owens
Bryce Grebe pre game
Taco Dowler gets loose against the Redbirds/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State junior Taco Dowler jukes during an evening he had 133 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State senior captain Paul Brott after winning the national title/ by Brooks Nuanez
Captain Kenny Eiden
Montana State junior captain Caden Dowler, the Big Sky Defensive MVP/ By Brooks Nuanez

Montana State sophomore corner Carson Williams/ by Brooks Nuanez
Kory Boyd
Despite getting banged up, Adam Jones had 62 yards from scrimmage/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State LT Braden Zimmer was a freshman All-American this year/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State senior captain JT Reed with Brent Vigen/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State captain Titan Fleishmann/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State redshirt freshman TE Rocky Lencioni/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State’s Bryant Merideth celebrates one of his six tackles/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State’s Taki Uluilakepa had six tackles against Illinois State/ By Brooks Nuanez
Montana State’s Taki Uluilakepa and Zach Black tackle Eddie Kasper/ by Brooks Nuanez

Illinois State freshman Dylan Lord had 13 catches for 161 yards and two TDs/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State limited ISU senior Daniel Sobkowicz to five catches for 52 yards/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana State freshman Jabez Woods had two catches for 41 yards/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana Stae’s Julius Davis finished his senior year with 1,123 yards and 8 TDs/ by Brooks Nuanez
Brock Osweiler & Justin Lamson
]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-title-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-montana-states-victory/feed/ 0 PHOTOS: FCS National Championship pre-game photo gallery from Brooks Nuanez https://skylinesportsmt.com/photos-fcs-national-championship-pre-game-photo-gallery-from-brooks-nuanez/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/photos-fcs-national-championship-pre-game-photo-gallery-from-brooks-nuanez/#respond Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:10:07 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=84995

]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/photos-fcs-national-championship-pre-game-photo-gallery-from-brooks-nuanez/feed/ 0 A GAME IN PHOTOS – Blake Hempstead on the Super Brawl in Bozeman https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-blake-hempstead-on-the-super-brawl-in-bozeman/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-blake-hempstead-on-the-super-brawl-in-bozeman/#respond Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:32:08 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=84670 For the first time in the 128-year history of the fiercest rivalry in the Treasure State, Montana and Montana State squared off in the FCS Playoffs.

The 125th matchup was a back-and-forth between No. 2 MSU and No. 3 Montana. The Griz led 23-20 midway through the third quarter while the Bobcats retook the lead in the 4th quarter. But Taco Dowler’s 87-yard touchdown on a third and long broke the game open and MSU raced to a 48-23 victory, the second win over the Griz for the Bobcats in 28 days.

Blake Hempstead was on the sideline to capture all the action as Montana State won for the 8th time in the last 10 rivalry games.

Montana State sophomore Adam Jones surpassed 1,000 yards for the second season in a row by rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Montana. The Missoula native rushed for 179 yards and 3 TDs in MSU’s two victories over UM this season/ by Blake Hempstead
Jones reacts to a diving 34-yard catch by freshman tight end Rocky Lencioni that set up a touchdown/ by Blake Hempstead

Caden Dowler, the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year, left the game in the first quarter with an arm/shoulder injury. He is questionable for the national championship game/ by Blake Hempstead

Justin Lamson completed 31-39 passes for 384 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 123 yards and three more touchdowns in MSU’s two wins over the Griz in 2025/ by Blake Hempstead

Montana State senior Julius Davis rushed for 162 yards and averaged in two wins over the Griz this season. He has 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns this season/ by Blake Hempstead
Montana State junior Taco Dowler had 5 catches for 125 yards, including the game-breaking 87-yard score in MSU’s win over the Griz. He has 69 catches for 914 yards and six TDs this season/by Blake Hempstead

Montana State junior Zac Crews, a Missoula product, carries the flag onto the field before the rivalry game. Crews had a sack against Montana, giving him six sacks this season and 11 in his career.

]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-blake-hempstead-on-the-super-brawl-in-bozeman/feed/ 0 A GAME IN PHOTOS: Brooks Nuanez on the “Super Brawl” in FCS semifinals https://skylinesportsmt.com/super-brawl-cat-griz-semifinals-in-photos/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/super-brawl-cat-griz-semifinals-in-photos/#respond Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:26:42 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=84665 For the first time in the 128-year history of the fiercest rivalry in the Treasure State, Montana and Montana State squared off in the FCS Playoffs.

The 125th matchup was a back-and-forth between No. 2 MSU and No. 3 Montana. The Griz led 23-20 midway through the third quarter while the Bobcats retook the lead in the 4th quarter. But Taco Dowler’s 87-yard touchdown on a third and long broke the game open and MSU raced to a 48-23 victory, the second win over the Griz for the Bobcats in 28 days.

Brooks Nuanez was on the sideline to capture all the action as Montana State won for the 8th time in the last 10 rivalry games.

Missoula natives Adam Jones and Zac Crews lead Montana State onto the field/ by Brooks Nuanez

Justin Lamson has 407 total yards and six total touchdowns against Montana this season

Montana head coach Bobby Hauck is 2-6 against Montana State since returning to UM ahead of the 2018 season, and is 7-8 in his 14 seasons at the helm leading the Griz/ by Brooks Nuanez

Brent Vigen is 4-2 against Bobby Hauck in his career/ by Brooks Nuanez
Peyton Wing, a first-team All-Big Sky selection for Montana, finished with a team-high 11 tackles

Adam Jones rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 1,047 yards and 15 touchdowns during his sophomore season. He’s a Missoula Sentinel product/ by Brooks Nuanez
Rocky Lencioni’s 34-yard catch was one of the big momentum swinging plays in Saturday’s game. The Bozeman High product also scored a touchdown, giving him six this season/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana running back Eli Gillman finished with 16 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, giving him 1,540 yards and 21 touchdowns during his junior season and 3,667 yards along with 49 TDs in his stellar career. Gillman needs 394 yards, four rushing touchdowns and six total touchdowns to become Montana’s all-time leader in each category/ by Brooks Nuanez
Taco Dowler out-runs TJ Rausch on his 87-yard touchown catch
Bryce Grebe had a 40-yard pick-six to cap the scoring for the Bobcats/ by Brooks Nuanez
Chris Long had two catches for 25 yards on Saturday/ by Brooks Nuanez

]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/super-brawl-cat-griz-semifinals-in-photos/feed/ 0 A GAME IN PHOTOS: Brooks Nuanez on Griz playoff win over South Dakota https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-griz-playoff-win-over-south-dakota/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-griz-playoff-win-over-south-dakota/#respond Mon, 15 Dec 2025 02:19:48 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=84373 Montana is into the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs for the second time in three seasons and the 12th time in school history following a 52-22 win over No. 11 South Dakota on Saturday afternoon in MIssoula.

The Griz are now 13-1 with the lone loss coming in the regular-season finale to Montana State. Now Montana gets a shot at revenge with a semifinal game against the No. 2 Bobcats in Bozeman on Saturday afternoon.

Skyline Sports senior photographer Brooks Nuanez was on the scene.

Montana head coach Bobby Hauck won his 151st playoff game on Saturday/ by Brooks Nuanez\

Drew Deck’s 93-yard punt return was the longest in the history of the FCS Playoffs/ by Brooks Nuanez
Peyton Wing scooped a fumble and scored it but it was called back due to a flag on the play/ by Brooks Nuanez
Griz senior TE Evan Shafer has made a habit of trucking defenders this season/ by Brooks Nuanez

Griz senior DE Hunter Peck continued his All-Big Sky senior season on Saturday/ by Brooks Nuanez

Malae Fonoti gets loose against South Dakota/ by Brooks Nuanez

Michael Wortham had 269 all-purpose yards on Saturday to break Marc Mariani’s single-season record
Peyton Wing smacks South Dakota running back Keondray Jones-Logan/ by Brooks Nuanez

]]> https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-griz-playoff-win-over-south-dakota/feed/ 0 A GAME IN PHOTOS – Brooks Nuanez on Griz win over South Dakota State https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-griz-win-over-south-dakota-state/ https://skylinesportsmt.com/a-game-in-photos-brooks-nuanez-on-griz-win-over-south-dakota-state/#respond Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:04:24 +0000 https://skylinesportsmt.com/?p=84184 Montana rolled up 561 yards of total offense and 32 first downs on the way to a 50-29 win over South Dakota State in the second round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday afternoon in Missoula.

Skyline Sports senior photographer was on assignment in Missoula.

Alex Moss with a “Moss” catch over Montana cornerback Keon Loud/by Brooks Nuanez

Montana senior Blake Bohanon trying to break a tackle/ by Brooks Nuanez

Montana head coach Bobby Hauck won his 150th game at UM against South Dakota State/ By Brooks Nuanez

Montana freshman receiver Brooks Davis had 4 catches for 68 yards on Saturday/ by Brooks Nuanez
Montana senior wide receiver Drew Deck breaks off an SDSU defender/ By Brooks Nuanez
Montana sophomore safety Diezel Wilkinson pressures South Dakota State senior Chase Mason/ by Brooks Nuanez

Montana running back Eli Gillman rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 3,553 yards and 47 touchdowns in his illustrious Griz career/ by Brooks Nuanez

Montana senior wide receiver Michael Wortham caught eight passes for 113 yards and a touchdown against SDSU/ by Brooks Nuanez

Montana sophomore quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat threw for 360 yards & 4 TDs/ by Brooks Nuanez

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