Boseman, Mont. –
The Montana State Bobcats are hitting the road for the first time in over a month.
They’re headed to Flagstaff, Arizona, to take on #13 Northern Arizona University. The Lumberjacks have a record of 4-1 this season, with their only loss coming against FBS Arizona.
NAU, fresh off a 31-17 victory against Portland State, is 1-0 in Big Sky Conference play. They’ve managed to score over 30 points in every game except for the opener against ASU.
Even though the Bobcats and Lumberjacks didn’t meet in 2024, they did compete in 2023, where MSU claimed a 45-21 victory at Bobcat Stadium.
The last time they clashed was in 2022, with the Bobcats winning a close one, 41-38, on a last-minute field goal. Historically, though, the Bobcats have struggled at the Walk-Up Skydome.
Montana recently dominated Eastern Washington, winning 57-3, showcasing one of their most impressive performances this season. Bobcats head coach Brent Bign expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance but acknowledged more work lies ahead.
“The game wasn’t flawless, but it was a step up in terms of completeness, and that’s what I really needed,” Vigen commented. “A lot of players stepped up, which is essential for us.”
Each aspect of the Bobcats’ game made a significant impact against Eastern Washington. This included a standout special teams play, where punter Colby Frogger executed a fake field goal for a touchdown that really clinched the victory for MSU.
The Bobcat defense has been impressive lately, allowing just 10 points over the last three games—markedly better than the 31 points given up against FBS Oregon and South Dakota in their first two outings.
Meanwhile, the offense is also performing well, ranking second in the FCS. Lamson threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns against EWU last Saturday.
Brent Bign highlighted that NAU is a formidable opponent, and his players need to be fully prepared.
“I’m looking forward to facing NAU,” Biegen said. “I have a lot of respect for Coach Wright and what he achieved in a short time last year, taking them to the playoffs. They have very experienced quarterbacks, and I hope it challenges us to bring our best.”
NAU’s Pennington is leading the offense, averaging 277 yards per game this season, ranking 11th in the FCS. He earned the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year award last season after transferring from Pittsburgh.
Despite last week’s victory, NAU head coach Brian Wright expressed some frustration with his team’s performance, emphasizing the need to improve to compete with the Bobcats this week.
“We’re facing tough competition. We need to play our best football to have a shot,” Wright said. “Montana has a lot of weapons, and their quarterback makes smart decisions, adding a difficult dynamic to defend against.”
