Football October 17, 2025

#15 Montana Western Football Competes at #20 College of Idaho Saturday

DILLON, Mont. – The #15 Montana Western football team (4-2, 1-1 FC West) travels to #20 College of Idaho Saturday for its second Top-25 matchup in as many weeks. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT.

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

#ICYMI
The Bulldogs were upended by Carroll 42-34 on a rainy Saturday at Bulldog Stadium. UMW compiled 349 total yards and 23 first downs in the game.

Individually, Michael Palandri threw for 329 yards and three passing touchdowns. He was sacked four times and was picked off on three occasions by the Fighting Saints defense.

On the ground, Aidan Lammers ran for 16 yards and one touchdown. Eli Nourse led th e Bulldogs with two receiving TDs and 114 yards while Seth Shook caught for a team best 137 yards and also tacked on a touchdown catch.

Keegan Muffich and Jace Fitzgerald paced the defense with nine tackles apiece. Muffich recorded a game-best seven solo takedowns. Tyler Walker (2.5) and Devin Crow (2.0) led UMW in tackles-for-loss with Crow also earning a game-high 2.0 sacks.

Connor Dunlea snagged an interception and took it 26 yards to the house to close the gap to eight points in the fourth.

FROM THE DAWG HOUSE
Montana Western is averaging 38.17 points and 446.8 yards per game in 2025. They have amassed 2,681 total yards of offense, including 2,083 passing yards. The Bulldogs have earned 141 first downs and converted on 40 third-down tries. They have scored on 23-of-26 red-zone attempts, posting TDs in 19 of those. Defensively, they have totaled 395 tackles including 189 solos. They have recorded 42 tackles for loss for 185 yards and 20 sacks for 131 yards. UMW has forced three fumbles and tallied six interceptions.

BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
UMW is ranked nationally in multiple categories. The Bulldogs rank third in total passing yards (2,083), passing touchdowns (20) and kickoff average (62.5 yards). They also rank fourth in passing yards per game (347.2), fifth in both total sacks (20) and third down conversions (50.0 percent), and sixth in yards per punt (42.7), among others.

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

Michael Palandri leads the nation in total passing yards (2,037), while ranking second in passing yards per game (339.5), and third in passing touchdowns (20).

Eli Nourse sits first in the NAIA in receiving yards per game (135.7), total receptions (54), and total receiving yards (814). He also sits second in receptions per game (9.0), third in all-purpose yards per game (178.5), and tied for eighth in receiving touchdowns (seven).

Seth Shook is tied for third in the nation in receiving TDs nine), 17th in receiving yards per game (96.7) and 13th in total receiving yards (580).

Tyler Walker sits second in the nation in both sacks (7.0) and tackles-for-loss (12.5).

Devin Crow is tied for fourth in the NAIA in sacks (6.5).

Brady Mounts is tied for 12th in the country in interceptions (three).

Maclain Burckley is tied for in the NAIA in punting (42.7 yards/ punt) and has the sixth longest punt of the season (66 yards). He is also tied for 12th longest field goal this year (47 yards).

CHART TOPPERS
Western ranks first in the Frontier in seven categories, including points per game (38.2), yards per game (446.8), total passing yards (2,083), passing yards per game (347.2), passing touchdowns (20), sacks (20), and third down conversions (50.0 percent).

The Bulldogs also sit second in total touchdowns (30) and total kickoff yards (2,562), third in first down conversions (23.5 per game), interceptions (six), and yards per punt return (10.8), and fifth in field goal percentage (.625).

QB CLINIC
Senior quarterback Michael Palandri ranks first in the FC in nearly every major passing statistic, including in total passing yards (2,037), passing yards per game (339.5), and passing touchdowns (20), while also topping the league in total yards (2,193) and total yards per game (365.5). Moreover, Palandri has thrown for at least two passing touchdowns in every contest this season.

STEADY HANDS
Wide Receiver Eli Nourse sits first in the conference in total receptions (54), receiving yards (814), receptions per game (9.0), and receiving yards per game (135.8). He also ranks second in the Frontier in both all-purpose yards per game (178.5) and total all-purpose yards (1,071) and third in receiving TDs (seven).

GO LONG
Receiver Seth Shook leads the conference in receiving touchdowns (nine) and is second yards per reception (20.0) while also ranking fifth in both receiving yards (580) and receiving yards per game (96.7). Additionally, Shook has caught two touchdowns of over 70 yards and has tallied at least one TD catch in every game this season.

RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
Maclain Burckley leads the conference in yards per punt (42.7) and has both the longest punt (66 yards) and longest field goal (47 yards) in the FC this season. He ranks fourth in the Frontier in field goal percentage (62.5).

RELENTLESS PURSUIT
Tyler Walker leads the Bulldogs and ranks first in the conference in both sacks (7.0, 41) and tackles for loss (12.5, 60 yards). Walker has also earned one or more tackle-for-loss in each of the last five games.

SACK IT TO 'EM
Devin Crow ranks second in the conference in sacks (6.5, 42 yards).

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF
Jace Fitzgerald and Connor Dunlea have tallied 21 solo tackles apiece for the Bulldogs with Tyler Walker close behind at 20.

THEY KNOW HOW TO PICK 'EM
Brady Mounts has snagged three interceptions for the Bulldogs, tying for second in the FC. Connor Dunlea also has multiple takeaways on the year, recorded one in each of the last two games, including a pick-six against Carroll.

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, 37 players have recorded a tackle, including 12 with at least one TFL and five with 1.0 or more sacks. Three players have tallied interceptions, two have forced a fumble, and 12 have pass breakups on the year.

THE OPPONENTS
College of Idaho is 4-1 on the year, including 1-0 in the FC West Division. The Yotes are averaging 33.6 points and 428.0 yards of total offense (246.2 passing, 181.8 rushing) per game. They have tallied 22 touchdowns and 117 first downs. They have compiled 17 red zone scores and are 5-5 on field goals.

Caden Young paces COI with 210.2 passing yards per game and has tallied 12 touchdowns. Rylie Byington leads the team with 65.20 rush yards per game and five TDs while Travis Marieiro is the Yotes' leading receiver (81.6 yards per game, two touchdowns).

Defensively, Tanner Steeke leads the team with 34 tackles and Tucker French has registered a team-best 2.5 sacks. Willie White has a team-high 6.5 TFLs and has COI's lone interception of the year.

Josh Horn is averaging 36.2 yards per punt and has made all five field goal attempts this season. William Botch is posting 61.3 yards per kickoff. Mason Priddy is recording 61.3 yards per punt return while Trezell Patters is averaging 19.8 yards per kickoff return.

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 8-7 all-time against the Yotes. The last matchup between the two sides saw UMW take the win 42-25 in Dillon.

LOOKING AHEAD
UMW are on the road again next week when they travel to the Golden State to take on Simpson Oct. 25. Kickoff is slated for 2 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

#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

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

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

#6 Maclain Burckley: K/P; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#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

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

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

#6 Maclain Burckley
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: K/P