Football September 19, 2025 Claire Gay

Montana Western Football Travels to Rocky Mountain Saturday

DILLON, Mont. – The #9 Montana Western football team (1-1) travels to Billings, Mont. Saturday to take on Rocky Mountain (0-2). Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. MT.

GAME COVERAGE
Saturday at Rocky Mountain- Watch Live, Live Stats

#ICYMI
The Bulldogs bounced back from their season-opening loss with a 52-0 trouncing of MSU-Northern Sept. 6. UMW scored at least 14 points in all but one quarter, earned 30 first downs, and compiled 521 yards of total offense. Western impressed on defense as well, not only holding the Lights scoreless, but also allowing just 112 total yards of offense and forcing eight punts from the visitors. The Bulldogs scored on seven of nine red-zone chances in the contest.

Individually, Michael Palandri put on a show with six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing) and 386 total yards. Jonathan Kirkley, Eli Nourse, Seth Shook, and Landon Charlton all caught TD passes from Palandri while backup QB Kaden LaPlaunt ran in the seventh score for UMW. Kicker Maclain Burckley hit all seven PATs and went 1-2 on field goals, hitting the mark on a 37-yard attempt to give the Bulldogs the 31-0 lead going into halftime.

Montana Western's defense smothered MSU-Northern, racking up eight sacks (60 yards) and 18 tackles for loss (87 yards). Tyler Walker led the team with 10 total tackles including six solo efforts. He compiled 4.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Reece Stannish (six), Keegen Muffich (five), and Connor Dunlea (five) were also stout defensively. 20 Bulldogs recorded at least one tackle in the game with 12 tallying two or more.

FROM THE DAWG HOUSE
Montana Western is averaging 39.5 points and 450.0 yards per game to start 2025. They have amassed 900 total yards of offense, including 765 passing yards. The Bulldogs have earned 50 first downs and converted on 17 third-down tries. They have scored on nine of 11 red-zone attempts, posting TDs in eight of those. Defensively, they have totaled 127 tackles including 53 solos. They have recorded 21 tackles for loss for 97 yards and 11 sacks for 70 yards.

TYLER WALKER EARNS CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior Defensive Lineman Tyler Walker was named Frontier Conference and NAIA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6 after a record-breaking outing against MSU-Northern. Walker set a school record with 4.5 sacks in a single game. The previous record of 4.0 was set in 1980 by Dinny Bennet and matched by Greg Reynard (1984), Duane Earnon (1984), and Troy Lake (1990). He also earned a team-high 11 tackles, including a team-best six solo efforts. He recorded six tackles-for-loss totaling 33 yards.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK
UMW set a school record for most sacks in a single game with eight, besting the previous mark of seven set last season against Arizona Christian. The team now sits sixth in the NAIA in sacks with 11.

CENTURY CLUB
Three Bulldogs registered 100 or more receiving yards against MSU-Northern; Jonathan Kirkley (111), Eli Nourse (103), and Seth Shook (100). All three players also caught TD passes in the contest.

ACCOUNT OPENED
Freshman QB Kaden LaPlaunt recorded his first career touchdown against MSU-Northern, scoring on a two-yard rush to cap the Bulldogs rout over the Lights.

QB CLINIC
Senior quarterback Michael Palandri ranks first in the FC and third in the country in passing yards (359.5 per game, 719 total). He is second in both the conference and the NAIA in passing touchdowns. Palandri also leads the league completion percentage (76.5), efficiency (199.3), and total offense (370 yard per game, 740 total).

STEADY HANDS
Wide receiver Eli Nourse ranks second in the Frontier and third in the NAIA in receiving yards per game (145.5). He is averaging 14.55 yards per reception.

RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
Maclain Burckley currently sits second in the Frontier and 11^th in the nation in PATS, having converted all 10 attempts thus far.

PUTTING THE TEAM ON HIS BACK
In addition to his seven passing TDs, Palandri has rushed for three touchdowns, making him responsible for 10 of UMW's 11 touchdowns on the year.

OUR GO-TO GUY
Eli Nourse is leading the conference and is fifth in the nation in all-purpose yards with 185.51 yards per game (371 total yards). He also leads the league in punt returns, averaging 15.0 yards per return.

GOING THE DISTANCE
Maclain Burckley leads the Frontier and ranks 22nd in the nation in punting, averaging 40.9 yards per punt.

RELENTLESS PURSUIT
Tyler Walker leads the conference and ranks third in the country in sacks (4.5-25 yards). He also leads the FC and ranks seventh in the NAIA in tackles for loss 5.5-33 yards)

STOPPING 'EM IN THE BACKFIELD
Keegan Muffich sits fifth in the league in tackles for loss with 2.5.

GETTING IT DONE ON DEFENSE
Defensive Back Connor Dunlea is eighth in the FC in total tackles total tackles (16).

GO LONG
Montana Western sits second in the NAIA in passing yards with 382.5 per game.

The Bulldogs are averaging 9.68 yards per attempt. They lead the Frontier Conference in scoring offense (39.5 points per game), total yards (450), passing yards (382.5), and first downs (25.0).

BIG PLAY BRIGADE
The Bulldogs rank first in the league and second in the nation in conversions, having successfully converted 58.6 percent (17-29) third-down attempts and 50.0 percent (1-2) fourth-down attempts. The team also leads the FC in conversions allowed with opponents converting just three third downs in 21 attempts (14.3 percent).

THE OPPONENTS
Rocky Mountain is 0-2 so far in 2025. The Battlin' Bears are averaging 381.0 yards of total offense (63.0 yards rushing, 318.0 yards passing). They have tallied six touchdowns and 31 first downs, RMC has converted 41.67 percent (10-24) third downs and 50.0 percent (2-4) fourth downs.

Trent Nobach has thrown for 498 total yards (249.0/game) and five touchdowns, including a 75-yard completion. Two Battlin' Bear receivers are averaging 100 yards or more per game, Darius Haskin (165.5) and Eric Lira (100.0). Haskin leads the team with four touchdowns while Tuff Adams also has a TD catch. Brock Ping is RMC's leading rusher, averaging 53.5 yards per game with one rushing touchdown.

Defensively, Dylan Deines leads the way with 24.0 total tackles. Including 14 solo efforts. Sean Tutty paces the team in tackles-for-loss with 2.0 totaling 11 yards. Tutty also earned Rocky's only sack of the year with a takedown against Montana Tech.

SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs are 35-27 all-time against the Battlin' Bears. The last time the two sides faced off saw UMW earn the 42-24 victory on 10/19/24.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs return home next week when they play host to Dickinson State (9/27). Kickoff 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

#21 Landon Charlton: RB; 5' 10"; Junior

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

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

#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

#5 Keegen Muffich: LB; 5' 11"; Senior

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

#4 Kaden LaPlaunt: QB; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#21 Landon Charlton
: 5' 10"; Junior
: RB

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

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

#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

#5 Keegen Muffich
: 5' 11"; Senior
: LB

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

#4 Kaden LaPlaunt
: Freshman
: QB