Football October 10, 2025 Claire Gay

#8 Montana Western Football Hosts #14 Carroll Saturday

DILLON, Mont. – The #8 Montana Western football team (4-1, 1-0 FC West) welcomes #14 Carroll (4-1, 1-0 FC West) to Bulldog Stadium Saturday afternoon. It is the third top-25 matchup of the season for Western.

GAME COVERAGE
Saturday at Southern Oregon – Watch Live, Live Stats

#ICYMI
The Bulldogs earned their fourth straight victory with a 40-20 win at Southern Oregon last week. UMW compiled 470 yards of total offense (263 passing, 207 rushing) and 21 first downs. Western scored on all five-of-six red zone chances in the contest

Individually, Michael Palandri threw for 263 yards and two passing touchdowns, while also rushing for 69 yards.

On the ground, Aidan Lammers tallied a game-best 79 rushing yards and one touchdown. Jakob Humphrey also got in on the run game, going for 64 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yard score to give the Bulldogs the 21-7 advantage.

Seth Shook caught three passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns, including another 70-yarder from Palandri. Jonathan Kirkley (65 yards) and Eli Nourse (62 yards) also caught for over 50 in the contest.

Connor Dunlea led the Bulldog defense with nine total tackles, including a team-best six solo efforts. He also snagged and interception and had two pass-breakups in the game.

Devin Crow, Tyler Walker, and Reece Stanish all earned one tackle-for-loss, combining for 17 yards lost. Crow also led the team with 1.0 sacks for a nine-yard loss.

Brady Mounts recorded his third-straight interception and Jace Fitzgerald also picked one off.

Maclain Burckley went two-for-three on field goals two-for-four on PATs. He tallied four punts for an average of 50.0 yards, including a 66-yard bomb.

Nourse led the game with 68 total return yards.

FROM THE DAWG HOUSE
Montana Western is averaging 39.0 points and 466.4 yards per game in 2025. They have amassed 2,332 total yards of offense, including 1,754 passing yards. The Bulldogs have earned 118 first downs and converted on 35 third-down tries. They have scored on 21-of-24 red-zone attempts, posting TDs in 17 of those. Defensively, they have totaled 329 tackles including 157 solos. They have recorded 35 tackles for loss for 163 yards and 17 sacks for 115 yards. UMW has forced three fumbles (two recoveries) and tallied five interceptions.

CONNOR DUNLEA EARNS FC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt freshman Connor Dunlea was named Erck Hotels/ Frontier Conference Football Offensive Player of the Week Oct. 6 after a big defensive effort at Southern Oregon.

Dunlea was a key part of the Bulldogs defensive efforts in their 40-20 victory at Southern Oregon. He posted a team-best nine tackles including a career-high six solo take downs. The Malin, Ore., native also tallied one interception and a game-high two pass-breakups. His interception was on the Raiders first pass of the second half and led directly to a Bulldogs TD that put them up 30-14.

Dunlea is currently tied for second in the Frontier in passes defended (seven) while ranking third in pass breakups (six) and tied for fifth in solo tackles (18). He is also tied for ninth in total tackles (34) and tied for 10th in tackles per game (6.8).

CONNECT FOUR
Western has picked up a conference player of the week award after each of its last four outings. Tyler Walker earned FC and NAIA Defensive Player of the Week on September 9, Maclain Burckley was named FC Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 22, Seth Shook was tabbed FC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 29, and most recently, Connor Dunlea picked up FC Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 6

BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
UMW is ranked in the top 10 nationally in multiple categories. The Bulldogs sit fourth in passing yards per game (350.8), fifth in total passing yards (1,754), and sixth in passing touchdowns (16). They also rank second in the nation in punts (44.4), third in third-down conversions (52.0 percent (35-67), and fifth in both kickoffs (62.4), and sacks (17).

Individually, six Bulldogs are putting up numbers that rank them in the top 25 in the NAIA.

Michael Palandri leads the nation in completion percentage (71.7, minimum 100 attempts) while sitting second in passing yards per game (341.6), fourth in both passing TDs (17) and total passing yards (1,708), and tied for 23rd in rushing touchdowns (five).

Eli Nourse sits first in the NAIA in receiving yards per game (140.0), total receptions (46) and all-purpose yards per game (183.6). He also sits second in both total receiving yards (700) and receptions per game (9.2) and is tied for 6th in receiving touchdowns (five).

Seth Shook is tied for third in the nation in receiving TDs (eight), 22nd in receiving yards per game (88.6) and 24th in total receiving yards (443).

Tyler Walker sits third in the nation in sacks (6.0) and tied for fourth in tackles-for-loss (10.0).

Brady Mounts is tied for 3rd in the nation with three interceptions.

Maclain Burckley is sixth in the NAIA in punting (44.4 yards/punt) and has the sixth longest punt of the season. He is also tied for 10th longest field goal this year (47 yards)

CHART TOPPERS
Western ranks first in the Frontier in 11 categories, leading in points per game (39.9), passing yards (1,754), touchdowns (26), yards per game (466.4), passing yards per game (350.8), passing TDs (17), completion percentage (70.3), third down conversions (52.2 percent), red zone offense (87.5 percent), punting (44.4) and sacks (17)

The Bulldogs also sit tied for second in total yards (2,332), and rushing touchdowns (nine), third in punt returns (11.7 yards/ return) and interceptions (five), and fourth in first downs (118).

QB CLINIC
Senior quarterback Michael Palandri ranks first in the FC in every major passing statistic, including in total passing yards (1,708), passing yards per game (341.6), completion percentage (71.7), passing touchdowns (17), and efficiency (196.0) while also topping the league in total yards (1,871) and total yards per game (374.2). Moreover, Palandri has the longest TD pass in the league this year at 75 yards.

OUR GO-TO GUY
Wide Receiver Eli Nourse sits first in the conference in total receptions (46), receiving yards (700), receptions per game (9.2), and receiving yards per game (140.0). He also ranks second in the Frontier in both all-purpose yards per game (183.6) and total all-purpose yards (918) and third in receiving TDs.

GO LONG
Receiver Seth Shook leads the conference in receiving touchdowns (eight) and yards per reception (23.3) while also ranking fifth in receiving yards (443), and sixth in receiving yards per game (88.6). Additionally, Shook has the second-longest receiving score of the year (75 yards) and has caught two touchdowns of over 70 yards.

RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
Maclain Burckley shares the conference lead for made field goals in 2025 (five) while also leading outright in punting (44.4 y/g). He also holds both the longest field goal (47 yards) and the longest punt (66 yards) this season.

RELENTLESS PURSUIT
Tyler Walker leads the Bulldogs and ranks first in the conference in both sacks (6.0, 36) and tackles for loss (10.0, 51 yards). He also ranks sixth in the FC in total tackles with 39.

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF
Jace Fitzgerald, Tyler Walker, and Connor Dunlea have all tallied 18 solo tackles for the Bulldogs while Reece Stanish and Romeo Simpson are also in double figures with 15 and 11, respectively.

HE KNOWS HOW TO PICK 'EM
Brady Mounts has snagged three interceptions in as many games for the Bulldogs, tying for second in the FC. Two takeaways came in the fourth quarter and helped seal wins for UMW.

DEPTH ON DISPLAY
UMW has showcased their depth all season. Offensively, 12 players have caught at least two passes while eight Bulldogs have at least two rushes. Defensively, 35 players have recorded a tackle, including 17 with at least one TFL and six with 1.0 or more sacks. Three players have tallied interceptions, three have forced a fumble, and 10 have pass breakups on the year.

THE OPPONENTS
Carroll is 4-1 on the year, including 1-0 in the FC West Division. The fighting Saints are averaging 27.0 points and 395.4 yards per game. They have earned 19 touchdowns and 122 first downs while converting on 47.62 percent of third downs and 42.86 percent of fourth downs. CC has scored on 16-21 red zone chances and have made two field goals and 15 PATs. Defensively Carroll has racked up 372 total tackles including 13 sacks and 34 tackles-for-loss. The Fighting Saints have also forced six fumbles and snagged four interceptions

Carroll leads the Frontier in points allowed (12.4), yards allowed (230.6), passing defense (138.2 y/g) and fumbles forced (six). The Fighting Saints also rank second in kickoff returns (25.3 y/g), third in rushing defense (92.4 y/g), passing (274.8 y/g) and sacks (13), fourth in scoring (27.0 ppg), and fifth in total offense (395.4 y/g).

Nationally, CC ranks fourth in yards allowed (230.6), eighth in points allowed (12.4), 10th in conversions (48.0 percent, 30-63), and 14th in both passing (274.8) and first downs (24.4).

Kaden Hout leads the team in passing with 261.4 yards per game and 12 TDs. Carson Ochoa paces Carroll with 81.8 receiving yards per game while Ty Wilkinson has caught a team-best three TD passes. Peter Minnaert averages 42.6 rush yards per game to lead the Fighting Saints. Connor Sullivan is averaging 7.0 yards per punt return and Brison Bailey is posting 25.6 yards per kickoff return. Spencer Berger is two-of-four on field goals with a long of 39 yards while Nick Clouse is averaging 27.5 yards per punt.

Defensively, Braeden Orlandi has tallied a team best 61 total tackles, including 24 solos. Brett Tommasini leads the team in sacks (3.5, 23 yards) and tackles-for-loss (six, 29 yards). Gunner Giulio has snagged a team-high three interceptions.

Hout ranks third in conference and 14th in the NAIA in passing. Ochoa sits seventh in the FC and 25th in the country in receiving. Bailey ranks second in the league and 20th in the nation in kickoff returns. Orlandi leads the Frontier and is second in the NAIA in total tackles (60). Giulio is tied for second in the FC and tied for 11th in the country in interceptions (three).

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 20-38 all-time against the Fighting Saints. The last face off between the two sides saw Western come away with the 27-14 win at home on 11/9/24.

LOOKING AHEAD
UMW returns to Bulldog Stadium next week when they host #17 Carroll College (10/11). First kick is set for 1 p.m. MT.

For complete coverage of UMW Football, be sure to follow us on social media at @umwbulldogfootball (Instagram), @UMWFootball (X), and @UMW Bulldog Football (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!

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Players Mentioned

#94 Devin Crow: DL; 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore

#20 Connor Dunlea: DB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#81 Jonathan Kirkley: WR; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#37 Aidan Lammers: RB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#14 Brady Mounts: DB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

#7 Eli Nourse: WR; 5' 10"; Junior

#10 Michael Palandri: QB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

#9 Seth Shook: WR; 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

#22 Reece Stanish: DB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

#98 Tyler Walker: DL; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

#18 Jace Fitzgerald: LB; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#25 Jakob Humphrey: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#94 Devin Crow
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DL

#20 Connor Dunlea
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: DB

#81 Jonathan Kirkley
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

#37 Aidan Lammers
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#14 Brady Mounts
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: DB

#7 Eli Nourse
: 5' 10"; Junior
: WR

#10 Michael Palandri
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: QB

#9 Seth Shook
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore
: WR

#22 Reece Stanish
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: DB

#98 Tyler Walker
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: DL

#18 Jace Fitzgerald
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: LB

#25 Jakob Humphrey
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: RB