Football October 31, 2025

#20 Montana Western Football Hosts Eastern Oregon Saturday

DILLON, Mont. – The #20 Montana Western football team (5-3, 2-2 FC West) welcomes EOU (3-4, 2-1 FC West) to Bulldog Stadium Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT.

GAME COVERAGE
Saturday vs Eastern Oregon – Watch Live, Live Stats

#ICYMI
UMW blanked Simpson 65-0 Oct. 25 in Redding, Calif. The Bulldogs amassed 423 yards of offense (231 passing, 192 rushing) and 21 first downs on their way to eight touchdowns and three field goals.

Three Western quarterbacks saw action in the game, led by veteran Michael Palandri with 143 yards and two passing touchdowns. Kaden LaPlaunt threw for 88 yards and Jordan Jones tallied 23 yards and one rushing touchdown.

On the ground, Jakob Humphrey went off for a season-high 105 yards and two touchdowns while Aidan Lammers earned 67 yards and also ran in two TDs.

Eli Nourse led the Bulldog receivers with 70 yards and a touchdown catch. Colton Cornwell (53 yards), Seth Shook (49 yards, one TD), Rico Figueroa (35) yards, and Jonathan Kirkley (23 yards) also caught passes in the contest.

The Montana Western defense smothered Simpson's offense, allowing just 94 total yards. Tyler Schoen led the Bulldogs with eight total tackles, including a game-high five solo efforts. He also tallied 2.0 tackles-for-loss (20 yards), 1.0 sacks (eight yards), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Tyler Walker also had a big game, posting four total tackles (two solo), a game-high 2.5 TFLs (five yards), and two fumble recoveries, including a recovery in the endzone to put UMW up 41-0 just after the half.

Jace Fitzgerald had 1.5 tackles-for-loss for 20 yards, 1.0 sacks for 18 yards, and 1 forced fumble. Keegan Muffich had seven total tackles (three solo), 0.5 TFLS, and one interception while Canyon Sargent also tacked on an interception.

Devin Crow, Manuel Variz IV, Kale VanCampen, and Mason Stodtmeister recorded 1.0 TFLs apiece.

FROM THE DAWG HOUSE
Montana Western is averaging 39.4 points and 418.2 yards per game in 2025. They have amassed 3,348 total yards of offense, including 2,497 passing yards and 1,028 rushing yards. The Bulldogs have earned 178 first downs and converted on 51 third-down tries. They have scored on 31-of-34 red-zone attempts, posting TDs in 25 of those. Defensively, they have totaled 574 tackles including 246 solos. They have recorded 58 tackles for loss for 277 yards and 24 sacks for 173 yards. UMW has forced five fumbles and tallied nine interceptions.

MACLAIN BURCKLEY EARNS FC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Montana Western kicker Maclain Burckley was named Frontier Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season after a perfect outing against the Red Hawks, going 8-of-8 on PATs and 3-of-3 on field goals.

The Billings, Mont., native hit a 55-yard field goal just before half time, which is the longest by any kicker in the Frontier Conference this season (besting the previous of 47, also held by Burckley) and third-longest in the NAIA.

BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
UMW is ranked in the top 10 nationally in multiple categories. The Bulldogs sit sixth in total passing yards (2,497), seventh in passing yards per game (312.1), and tied for seventh in both passing yard per attempt (9.1) and passing touchdowns (23). They are also tied for fourth in third-down conversion percentage (49.0), seventh in punting average (40.9) and tied for sixth in both kickoff average (61.1) and red-zone percentage (91.0). On the defensive side, Western is tied for fifth in sacks (24) and tied for 10th in tackles per game (71.8)

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

Michael Palandri ranks fourth in total passing yards (2,363), tied for fourth in passing yards per game (295.4), fifth in passing touchdowns (23), and tied for seventh in total completions (164).

Eli Nourse is tied for second in receptions per game (8.3), third in total receiving yards (955), fourth in receiving yards per game (119.4), fifth in all-purpose yards (1,212), tied for ninth in receiving touchdowns (eight), and 10th in all-purpose yards per game (151.5).

Seth Shook sits tied for third in receiving touchdowns (11), 16th in total yards (667), and 21st in yards per game (83.4).

Tyler Walker is second in tackles-for-loss (15.5) and is sixth in the nation in sacks (7.5).

Devin Crow is 11th in the country in sacks (6.5).

Brady Mounts and Connor Dunlea are both tied for fourth in the NAIA in interceptions with three apiece.

Maclain Burckley is tied for third-longest field goal in the nation (55) and is tied for 11th-longest punt (66 yards) and sits 19th in punt average (40.9).

CHART TOPPERS
Western ranks first in the Frontier in a whopping 13 categories, including points per game (38.6), total yards (3,348), yards per game (418.5), total touchdowns (40), rushing touchdowns (17), passing yard (2,497), passing yards per game (312.1), passing touchdowns (23), made field goals (eight), first downs (178), third-down conversions (48.6 percent), yards per punt (40.9), and sacks (24).

They also rank second in fumbles recovered (six), interceptions (nine), yards per reception (9.1), and punt return yards (191).

DEFENSIVE MASTERCLASS
The Bulldog defense allowed Simpson just 94 total yards of offense. It marks the fewest yards allowed since the 2023 season when they held MSU-Northern to just 61 yards.

QB CLINIC
Senior quarterback Michael Palandri ranks in the top two in the FC in nearly every passing statistic, including in first total passing yards (2,363), passing yards per game (295.4), and passing touchdowns (23), while also topping the league in total yards (2,500).

OUR GO-TO GUY
Wide Receiver Eli Nourse sits first in the conference in total receptions (66), receiving yards (955), receptions per game (8.3). and all-purpose yards (1,212). He also ranks second in the Frontier in receiving yards per game (119.4) and third in receiving touchdowns (eight) and all-purpose yards per game (151.5)

GO LONG
Receiver Seth Shook leads the conference in receiving touchdowns (11) and yards per reception (20.2) while also ranking fourth in receiving yards (667), and fifth in receiving yards per game (83.4). Additionally, Shook has the third-longest receiving score of the year (75 yards) and has caught two touchdowns of over 70 yards.

RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
Maclain Burckley leads the conference in field goals made (eight) and yards per punt (40.9) and has the longest field goal in the Frontier this year (55 yards).

RELENTLESS PURSUIT
Tyler Walker leads the Bulldogs and ranks first in the conference in both sacks (7.5, 47 yards) and tackles for loss (15.5, 71 yards). He is also tied for third in the FC in total tackles with 60.

BIG TIME TAKEDOWNS
Jace Fitzgerald is tied for third in conference in total tackles (60) and ranks 15th in solo efforts. Against Simpson, he earned an 18-yard sack and forced a fumble from the quarterback on the Red Hawks first play out of halftime, which resulted in a Tyler Walker fumble recovery in the endzone for a touchdown.

IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF
Connor Dunlea (26), Tyler Walker (25), Jace Fitzgerald (23) and Reece Stanish (23) have all tallied over 20 solo tackles for the Bulldogs. Tyler Schoen (17), Keegan Muffich (17), Devin Crow (14), and Romeo Simpson (14) are also in double figures.

THEY KNOW HOW TO PICK 'EM
Both Brady Mounts and Connor Dunlea have earned three interceptions in 2025.

DEPTH ON DISPLAY
UMW has showcased their depth all season. Offensively, 11 players have caught at least two passes while 10 Bulldogs have at least two rushes. Defensively, 42 players have recorded a tackle, including 18 with 10 or more. 15 players have at least one TFL and seven have earned 1.0 or more sacks. Five players have tallied interceptions, four have forced a fumble, and 14 have pass breakups on the year.

THE OPPONENTS
The Mountaineers are 3-4 in 2025, including 2-1 in the FC West. They are posting 12.4 points and 224.6 yards per game. EOU has tallied 1,018 passing yards (145.4 y/g) and 554 rush yards (79.1 y/g) and have earned 10 touchdowns.

Eastern Oregon is tied for sixth in the nation in sacks (23) and is tied for ninth in yards per punt (39.8).

In the FC, EOU is second in yards per punt (39.8), tied for third in made field goals (five), and fourth in completion percentage (63.7).

Elia Kirisimasi leads the Mountaineers with 110.7 pass yards per game (775 total pass yards. He has thrown two passing touchdowns and also ran in six scores himself. He is tied for second in the Frontier in rushing scores.

Damian Aalona averages 60.3 passing yards per game and has one passing touchdown.

Brody Macmillan paces EOU with 36.00 rush yards per game and one rushing TD.

Tyler Creswick is averaging a team-best 44.86 receiving yards per game and has one touchdown catch. Nathan Wachs and Dalin Knighten also have one receiving touchdown apiece.

Defensively, Nehemiah Medrano has recorded a team high 71 total tackles while also leading in solos (32), and TFLs (7.0). Conner Long has earned a team-best 4.5 sacks and Jason Grant has two interceptions to lead the Mountaineers. Justin Douglas has forced a team-best two fumbles.

Ethan Cutler ranks eighth in the NAIA and fifth in the FC in total punt yards (1,706) and 22nd in the NAIA, fourth in the conference in yards per punt (39.4).

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 16-18 all-time against EOU. In the last meeting between the two sides, Western walked away with the 29-19 victory.

LOOKING AHEAD
UMW is back at Bulldog Stadium next week when it hosts Arizona Christian Nov. 8 for "Senior Day". Kickoff is set for 12 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

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

#82 Rico Figueroa: WR; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#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

#45 Tyler Schoen: LB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

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

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

#55 Manuel Variz IV: LB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

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

#82 Rico Figueroa
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: WR

#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

#45 Tyler Schoen
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LB

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

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

#55 Manuel Variz IV
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: LB