Football October 3, 2025 Claire Gay

#8 Montana Western Football Plays at Southern Oregon Saturday

DILLON, Mont. – The #8 Montana Western football team (3-1) travels to Ashland, Ore. Saturday to take on Southern Oregon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT/ 2 p.m. MT

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

#ICYMI
The Bulldogs earned their third straight victory with a 41-21 win over then #20 Dickinson State. UMW compiled 464 yards of total offense (376 passing, 88 rushing) and 17 first downs. Western scored on all three red-zone chances in the contest.

Individually, Michael Palandri threw for 376 passing yards and five passing touchdowns, while also accounting for the Bulldogs lone rushing score of the game. Jakob Humphrey paced the team on the ground with 44 total rush yards (5.5 yards/rush). Eli Nourse topped the team in receiving yards (199) and caught two touchdowns. Seth Shook added 124 yards and three receiving TDs.

Tyler Walker and Jace Fitzgerald paced the UMW defense with 14 and 13 tackles, respectively. Fitzgerald and Reece Stanish shared the team-lead with seven solo tackles apiece. The Bulldogs earned 7.0 tackles-for-loss with Walker, Stanish, and Devin Crow each accounting for 2.0 TFLs each. Walker, Crow, and Deegan Mattson each earned 1.0 sack in the game and Mattson also forced a fumble from the Blue Hawks. Brady Mounts' late interception helped seal the game for Western.

FROM THE DAWG HOUSE
Montana Western is averaging 38.8 points and 465.5 yards per game in 2025. They have amassed 1,862 total yards of offense, including 1,495 passing yards. The Bulldogs have earned 97 first downs and converted on 29 third-down tries. They have scored on 16 of 18 red-zone attempts, posting TDs in 14 of those. Defensively, they have totaled 265 tackles including 125 solos. They have recorded 31 tackles for loss for 140 yards and 15 sacks for 98 yards. The Bulldogs

SETH SHOOK EARNS FC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Redshirt sophomore Seth Shook was named Erck Hotels/ Frontier Conference Football Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 29 after a career outing in the Bulldogs win over then #20 Dickinson State.

Shook was the epitome of efficiency against the Blue Hawks, catching three touchdown passes on three total receptions in the contest. The sophomore wide receiver caught a career-long 75-yard touchdown reception to get things started offensively for the Bulldogs. His two other TD catches were also over 20 yards, going for 21 in the second quarter and 28 in the third.The Richland, Wash., native earned career-highs in both receiving yards (124) and single-game touchdown catches (3). It also marked the second time this season that he tallied over 100 receiving yards.

THREE IN A ROW
Western has picked up a conference player of the week award after each of its last three 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, and most recently, Seth Shook was named FC Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 29.

BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
UMW is ranked in the top 10 nationally in multiple categories. The Bulldogs lead the county in passing yards per game (372.8). They also rank second in third down conversions (56.0 percent), fourth in both total passing yards (1,491) and punting (42.8 yards/punt), fifth in passing touchdowns (15), tied for fifth in sacks (15).

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

Michael Palandri leads the nation in completion percentage (72.9, minimum 100 attempts) while sitting second in passing yards per game (361.3), fourth in passing TDs (15), fifth in total passing yards (1,445), and tied for 16th in rushing touchdowns (five).

Eli Nourse sits first in the NAIA in both receiving yards per game (159.5) and all-purpose yards per game (197.0), second in total receiving yards (638), and tied for 11th in receiving touchdowns (five).

Seth Shook is 20^th in the nation in receiving yards per game (89.3) and tied for fifth in receiving TDs (six).

Tyler Walker sits third in the nation in sacks (5.5) and fourth in tackles-for-loss (9.0).

Brady Mounts is tied for 20th in the nation with two interceptions.

Maclain Burckley is third in the nation in punting (42.7 yards/punt) and tied for 10th-longest field goal in the country this year (47 yards).

CHART TOPPERS
Western ranks first in the Frontier in 11 categories, leading in points per game (38.8), total yards (1,862), passing yards (1,491), touchdowns (21), and yards per game (465.5), passing yards per game (372.8), passing TDs (15), and completion percentage (71.7), third down conversions (55.8 percent), red zone offense (88.9 percent), and sacks (15)

The Bulldogs also sit tied for second in rushing touchdowns (six) and first downs (97), and third in punt returns (11.7 yards/ return)

QB CLINIC
Senior quarterback Michael Palandri ranks first in the FC in every major passing statistic, including in total passing yards (1,445), passing yards per game (361.3), completion percentage (72.9), and passing touchdowns (15). He has 517 more passing yards then the next qb in the rankings. Moreover, Palandri has the longest TD pass in the league this year at 75 yards.

The Maple Valley, Wash., native has thrown over 340 passing yards in every outing thus far. He has also accounted for at least three passing TDs and one rushing score in all four contests.

OUR GO-TO GUY
Wide receiver Eli Nourse leads the FC in all-purpose yards per game at 197.0 (788 total yards). He has gone for over 100 yards in ever contest this season.

He also ranks first in the Frontier in receiving yards per game with 159.5 (638 total). He is posting 15.2 yards per reception. Nourse is also second in the conference in punt returns (10.6 yards per return) and TD receptions (five).

RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
Maclain Burckley 's 47-yard field goal against Rocky Mountain is the longest by any kicker in the conference this season. He has drained 3-of-4 field goals on the year and is 18-of-19 on PATs.

Moreover, Burckley leads the conference in punting, averaging 42.8 yards per punt, with seven punts landing inside the 20-yard line.

RELENTLESS PURSUIT
Tyler Walker leads the Bulldogs and ranks first in the conference in both sacks (5.5-32 yards) and tackles for loss (9.0-46 yards). He also ranks sixth in the FC in total tackles with 33.

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF
Jace Fitzgerald leads the Bulldogs and is tied for third in the Frontier with 17 solo tackles on the year.

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

THE OPPONENTS
Southern Oregon is 1-3 on the campaign, averaging 22.5 points per game. The Raiders have amassed 1,538 yards of total offense (1,107 passing, 431 rushing. The Blue Hawks have earned 12 touchdowns and 87 first downs.

SOU is ranked third in the Frontier in passing yards per game (252) fifth in rushing defense (92 yards/game), and fifth in first downs (19/game). Nationally, the Raiders are 21st in total passing yards (1,107) and 25th in third down conversion percentage (43.0 percent).

Dom Montiel leads Southern Oregon in passing with 1,102 yards (275.5/game) and six touchdowns. Montiel also paces the team in rushing touchdowns with three. Fresh Ison is the Raiders top rusher with 178 yards (44.5/game) and one TD. Brandon Barthel tops the SOU receivers with 407 yards (101.8/game) and five touchdown receptions. Montiel ranks second in the conference in passing yards per game and fourth in total offense. Barthel ranks third in the Frontier in punt returns (33 total yards, 8.3/return) and 12th in the NAIA in receiving yards per game.

Defensively, Will Kanavalov Jr. has registered a team-high 31 total tackles (7.8/game). Gabe Foster leads the team in both sacks with 4.0 (1.0/game) and TFLs at 7.0 (1.75/game). Foster and Aukai Grace have each forced one fumble. Foster is tied for second in the FC in tackles-for-loss and tied for fifth in sacks.

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 5-12 all time against the Raiders. The most recent matchup between the two sides saw SOU pull off the 28-26 victory in Ashland on 9/28/24.

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!

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

#28 Deegan Mattson: DB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

#28 Deegan Mattson
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: DB