Records were set, records were tied, and streaks were snapped as Montana State overwhelmed Utah Tech for a 54-0 win in the season and conference opener for both schools.
The Bobcats have two 15-game winning streaks in their history and head coach Brent Vigen has led them to both of those after Saturday’s win in St. George, Utah in the league debute for the Trailblazers.
MSU tied the school record for consecutive wins and consecutive games without a loss (2024 had 15 and 1956-57 had 14 wins and one tie), Taco Dowler broke the Big Sky Conference record for punt return yards (1,462). And Saturday’s result marked the first season opening shutout since 2004 (DII Adams State 19-0) and first over a current FCS team since 1965 (South Dakota State 22-0). It was the biggest opening day shutout in school history.
The win earned the Bobcats their seventeenth consecutive conference win, which extends that school record.
That’s all to say…the defending national champions kept on rolling as Vigen moved to 62-12 as MSU’s head coach.
Despite all those exploits, the defense and wide receiver Dane Steel stole the show. Steel had eight catches for 174 yards including a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown, which he got some help from his wide receiver teammates Jordan Reed and Dowler.
“(Quarterback) Justin (Lamson) threw a great ball,” Steel said. “All I had to do was catch it and then follow the guys. Jordan (Reed) took two guys and then Taco (Dowler) was running a route to the opposite side of the field and ends up making a touchdown block and that’s what you get when you got the best receiver in the FCS on your team. Taco is going to do everything he can to get his guys in the end zone. All credit to the guys on that play.
Steel had an unlikely yet unmistakable breakout season as a redshirt freshman last season, catching 39 passes for 501 yards, including one unforgettable touchdown in MSU’s 35-34 win in OT against Illinois State in the FCS title game in January.
Vigen talked this off-season about Steel being an example of both development and grit this off-season. And Steel’s breakout performance was no surprise to MSU’s head coach.
“Our ability to block on the perimeter, our ability to give it all on every play and that shows up on offense, it shows up in our return game,” Vigen said. “I think our guys really understand if we can just give guys like Taco and Dane and Jabez (Woods), whoever it might be an opportunity in space they can do a lot with it.”
Under new/old/new defensive coordinator Bobby Daly, the Bobcat defense allowed just 12 first downs and 227 yards. Utah Tech managed to complete just 19 of 33 passes for 179 yards with two interceptions, including one returned for a TD by third string safety Brendon Ross. Most of the Trailblazers’ yards came late as they only had 85 total yards at halftime.
“Ultimately, we put together a better second half than first half,” Vigen said. “I think they kept their guys out there for the most part. We got a lot of guys in the game. You see how a lot of these first games have gone even in our league I gotta be proud of our guy for accepting the opportunity and going after it.”
“We gotta continue to extend our depth and opportunities like tonight. I think we played pretty clean and didn’t turn the ball over. We didn’t get penalized a whole lot.”
Montana State wasn’t flashy on offense but its special teams punt cover and return units filled that gap.
Safety Colter Petre blocked a punt that linebacker Xavier Ahrens scooped up and returned for a touchdown to put MSU up 17-0 early. All-America punt returner Taco Dowler had three returns for 70 yards to set his Big Sky Conference record in that
category. Myles Sansted kicked field goals of 47 and 34 yards.
“I didn’t even see the ball when (Petre) blocked the punt,” Ahrens said. “I just saw the ball on the ground and picked it up and just ran. That was my first touchdown, and it was fun celebrating with the guys.”
“We want to create an advantage in the special teams week in and week out,” Vigen said. “(Special teams coach) Marcus (Monaco) works really hard and we want to keep a more athletic bunch out there, so if we can be assignment sound – and that’s Colter Petre blocking it and it’s Caden Dowler getting blocked by two guys.”
Justin Lamson was 22 for 30 for 260 yards and two touchdowns to go along with seven carries for 26 yards and a score.
“He’s going to compete like crazy,” Vigen said. “He’s gonna keep getting better and better. It was a great place to start for him.”
The Bobcat’ defense wasn’t flashy either, but several players made plays that had to confirm the hopes of the coaching staff.
The Bobcat’s young cornerbacks, along with senior stalwart Takhari Carr, showed signs of picking up right where the previous crew left off in 2025. MSU lost three freshman cornerback to the transfer portal and had three new freshmen in Tim Thomas II, Gianni Edwards and Brian Harris in their spots.
Defensive tackle Josiah Asuega was pressed into action with the last-minute scratch of Talon Marsh. Asuega had a tackle for loss on a 4th and 1 play by the Trailblazers midway through the second quarter and two tackles for loss in the game. MSU substituted freely from midway through the third quarter to the end as it appeare everyone that made the tip played.
“Things to work on I’m sure but where we set the bar here, I’m pleased with them,”
Vigen said.
The game finally got the Bobcats past its dramatic 35-34 overtime win over Illinois State in the national title and the blowout win was a rarity on the weekend for a Big Sky team. Idaho State was the only other BSC to win by more than a touchdown other than MSU. The Bengals did so in a non- conference game, however, over Virginia Military Institute 38-10.
“It was a long wait from last year at the national championship to get here,” Ahrens said. “We were ready to play and come out and perform. It was exciting.”
The Bobcats return to Bozeman to prepare for the Butler Bulldogs, who will be their Gold Rush game opponent. Butler won its opener over Georgetown (Kentucky) 27-23.
