Football October 23, 2026 Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

Bulldog Football Hosts Simpson on “Senior Day”

GAME NOTES (PDF)

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western football team (2-5, 0-3 FC) welcomes Simpson (3-4, 1-2 FC) to Bulldog Stadium Saturday for the final home game of the 2026 regular season. Prior to kickoff, UMW will honor 14 seniors from the football and cheer programs.

GAME COVERAGE
Simpson – 1 p.m. MT | Live Stats | Watch Live

LAST WEEK ON...
Montana Western fell to #1 Carroll 52-7 last week.

The Bulldogs registered 173 yards of total offense (117 passing, 56 rushing), one touchdown, and six first downs in the game.

Sam Wulff led the Bulldogs with 68 yards on eight completions. Rashard Boone put up 49 pass yards on three completions.

Santana Luna led the team with 85 rushing yards, including a 77-yard rushing touchdown.

Eli Nourse caught five passes for 85 yards including a long of 32.

The Bulldog defense posted for 83 total tackles, including 43 solo efforts, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and fumble recovery, four pass breakups, and one QB hurry.

Aedan Baker led the team in total tackles (12), solo takedowns (seven), and TFLs.

Canyon Sargent forced a fumble which was recovered by Manuel Variz IV.

FROM THE DAWG HOUSE
The Bulldogs are averaging 24.7 points, 418.4 yards of total offense, 279.7 passing yards, and 138.7 rushing yards per game on the campaign. They have put up 22 touchdowns and 139 first downs.

Western has scored on 15-of-22 red zone attempts and converted on 32.9 percent of third downs.

The defense has posted 61.0 total tackles and 2.4 TFLs per game.

SPEEDSTER
Santana Luna posted a career-best 85 rushing yards against College of Idaho. Additionally, his 77-yard touchdown carry was the longest of his career.

MR. RELIABLE
Eli Nourse has caught for at least 85 yards in every appearance this season, including four games with over 100 receiving yards.

NOT 'DUN' YET
Connor Dunlea leads Western in both total tackles (51.0) and solos (28). He is the first Bulldog to eclipse 20 solo tackles this season.

RACK 'EM UP
Western posted a season-high 83 total tackles against College of Idaho, the most single-game tackles since Oct. 18 last year when the Bulldogs earned 102 against the Yotes.

SPREADING THE WEALTH
17 Bulldogs have reached double-digits in tackles this season, with seven recording 20 or more.

BULLDOGS IN THE RANKINGS
As a team, the Bulldogs rank 14th in the nation in passing yards per game (280.0).

Individually, Kaden LaPlaunt is ranked 12th in passing touchdowns (15) and 16th in total passing yards (1,629),

Eli Nourse sits ninth in total receiving yards (710), 10th in total receptions (43), and tied for 16th in receiving touchdowns (seven).

Seth Shook is also tied for 16th in receiving touchdowns (seven).

THE OPPONENTS
The Red Hawks are putting up 37.6 points, 497.7 yards of total offense, 288.6 passing yards, and 209.1 rushing yards per game in 2026.

They have posted 37 touchdowns, 182 first downs, and have a 50.6 third down conversion percentage.

Nationally, Simpson ranks sixth in yards per game (497.7), seventh in total offense (3,484), eighth in first downs (182), 10th in third-down percentage (50.6), 12th in passing yards per game (288.6), 20th in total points (263), and 21st in both points per game (37.6) and rush yards per game (209.1).

Ya'j Vance leads the Red Hawks with 262.4 passing yards per game. He has posted 14 passing touchdowns on the year. Vance also ranks second on the team in rushing TDs with seven.

Sawyer Hokanson, Erik Cabrera, and Micah Sua have also tossed passing touchdowns for SU.

D'ante Benjamin is putting up a team-high 66.7 rush yards per game, followed by Eli Cortinas (61.4). Benjamin has ran in a team-best eight touchdowns on the year.

Ivan Huerta leads the team with in both receiving yards per game (110.7) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Talan Ramirez and Benjamin are tied for second in receiving touchdowns with two each.

Charlie Walden paces the Red Hawks defense in both total tackles (53.0) and solo efforts (29).

Dominique Ruff (41.0), James Webster (39.0), Caleb Utter (38.0), and Matthew Galvan (38.0) have also eclipsed 35.0 total tackles on the year.

Mike MacNeill leads the team in both tackles-for-loss (4.5) and sacks (3.0) while William Weathington has snagged a team-best five interceptions.

Felix Santiago has forced one fumble for the Red Hawks. He and Galvan have both recovered one.

Tyler Hinrichs is 32-of-34 in PATs this year and 2-of-4 on field goals. Travis Ross is 1-of-2 on FGs this season.

SERIES HISTORY
Western is 1-0 all-time against Simpson. Last season, the Bulldogs took home the 65-0 victory.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs are on the road next weekend to compete against Eastern Oregon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT.

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

#GOBULLDOGS!

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Players Mentioned

#17 Aedan Baker: DB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior

#18 Eli Nourse: WR; 5' 10"; Senior

#24 Canyon Sargent: LB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#9 Seth Shook: WR; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

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

#20 Connor Dunlea: DB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore

#4 Kaden LaPlaunt: QB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#23 Santana Luna: RB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#13 Sam Wulff: QB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#12 Rashard Boone: QB; 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#17 Aedan Baker
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Junior
: DB

#18 Eli Nourse
: 5' 10"; Senior
: WR

#24 Canyon Sargent
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: LB

#9 Seth Shook
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: WR

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

#20 Connor Dunlea
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DB

#4 Kaden LaPlaunt
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: QB

#23 Santana Luna
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RB

#13 Sam Wulff
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: QB

#12 Rashard Boone
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: QB