Montana

FCS Week 13 Game of the Week – Montana State Bobcats @ Montana Grizzlies: How to Watch, Preview, Predictions

Published

4 months ago

November 20, 2025

FCS Week 13 Game of the Week – Montana State Bobcats @ Montana Grizzlies: How to Watch, Preview, Predictions

Date: Saturday November 22, 2025

For the 124th time, Montana and Montana State will come together on the gridiron and, as it always seems to as of late, the “Brawl of the Wild” will have some lofty implications on the line. The only two teams that have not lost a Big Sky game this year just so happen to be the #2 Grizzlies (11-0, 7-0 Big Sky) and #3 Bobcats (9-2, 7-0 Big Sky). That, of course, means whoever comes out on top in Missoula this weekend is the outright conference champion. For MSU that would be their third such title in the last four year. For the UM it would be their second in the last three. The ramifications of this game go far beyond a Big Sky championship, however.

The winner of this game will almost surely receive the #2 overall seed in the FCS playoffs and be granted homefield advantage throughout the tournament. Montana State rode such an advantage all the way to the national championship game a season ago while Montana did so a year prior. Both teams know how important those home games in December are and both have squads that are capable of making such a run again. On top of all that… just like any other rivalry… these two also really, really don’t like each other. The stakes will be high on Saturday afternoon in the Treasure State.

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 04: Head coach Brent Vigen of the Montana State Bobcats looks on during the second half of a game against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on October 04, 2025 in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Bobcats defeated the Lumberjacks 34-10. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)

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Montana State will be led by fifth-year head coach Brent Vigen. Since taking over at MSU, Vigen has compiled one of the more impressive pedigrees in the entire FCS, putting together a staggering 56-12 overall record and reaching the postseason in every year he’s been in charge. Vigen was also the winner of last year’s Eddie Robinson Award, an accolade given annually to the FCS’s best coach. The Bobcats have reached the national title game twice during his tenure but he has yet to win it. Perhaps the only Big Sky coach with a better resume will be the one he goes up against this weekend.

Bobby Hauck commands the Grizzlies and has done so for 15 total years now. With a brief four-season stint at UNLV in between, Hauck has been behind the headset for a long time in Missoula and in that time he’s led Montana to eight Big Sky crowns, 12 playoff appearances and four trips to the big game. Like his counterpart Vigen, though, Hauck has yet to win it all. With 148 total wins as UM’s head coach, though, he is the winningest coach in both Montana and Big Sky history.

Montana State Offense vs. Montana Defense

One of the most notable losses any team in the FCS suffered last year was Montana State’s loss of Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Tommy Mellott. With Mellott gone, MSU looked to the transfer portal to replace him and in came former Stanford QB Justin Lamson to take the reins. Lamson has had a great junior season for the Bobcats, throwing for 2,170 yards, 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions this season. On top of that, Lamson has run for 10 touchdowns, too. He’s added a nice passing flavor to an offense whose main goal is still to pound the rock.

While the ‘Cats did have to switch it up at signal caller they did not have to in the backfield. Two of their heavy hitters from last season in Adam Jones and Julius Davis both came back and both have been instrumental in MSU’s success this year. Davis leads the way with 779 yards on 107 carries with Jones right behind him at 647 yards and nine scores. It’s a true one-two punch that wears out opposing defenses as good as anyone and Montana will have its hands full.

Linebackers Elijawah Tolbert and Payton Wing will be the ones to watch for the Griz on that side of the ball. Tolbert currently has a team-best 62 stops while Wing has been excellent at getting through the line and into the backfield with 3.5 sacks. Tolbert and Wing make for a strong tandem in the middle of the field and fly around to the ball very well on most every play. They will be key in slowing down the likes of Lamson, Jones and Davis and that rushing offense that puts up 232.8 yards per contest.

When Lamson does throw he will have one of the speediest receivers in the nation to look to in junior Taco Dowler. Dowler, who is also a dynamo in the punt return game, is Montana State’s top wideout right now with 723 yards on 56 catches and five touchdowns. He can take it the distance on any snag if the defense is out of position. Something that UM defensive backs Kenzel Lawler and Micah Harper will have to be aware of.

Lawler is excellent at reading opposing quarterbacks and has broken up ten passes this year. Harper is also solid in that department with five of his own. The pair has teamed up for four picks as well and has a combined 64 stops between them this year. Their job will be to limit Dowler’s damage and force Lamson to look to his other targets more than he usually might.

Montana Offense vs. Montana State Defense

MISSOULA, MONTANA – SEPTEMBER 27: Michael Wortham #6 of the Montana Grizzlies celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Idaho Vandals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Missoula, Montana. (Photo by Ryan Brennecke/University of Montana/Getty Images)

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There are two names that Montana State defensive coordinator Shawn Howe must have circled in red going into this game; Eli Gillman and Michael Wortham. Gillman is one of the best running backs in the entire country at any level and Wortham will probably be the most athletic player on the field on Saturday. Gillman has rushed for 1,129 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, both of which lead the Big Sky. Wortham, meanwhile, has been Mr. Everything for the UM offense, accounting for 1,060 total yards and 11 scores. That’s not counting the 569 kick return yards he’s piled up as well. If MSU doesn’t have an answer for both of them it will be a long afternoon.

Montana State will lean on enforcers like defensive lineman Kenneth Eiden IV and linebacker Cole Taylor to keep those two in check. Eiden has been a terror off the edge this season, logging four sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Taylor has 55 stops over the middle as well. Both are major contributors for one of the best defenses out there right now and are a big reason why the Bobcats average just 16.2 points and 308.5 yards per game allowed this fall.

As far as quarterback goes, Montana will ride the arm (and legs) of sophomore Keali’i Ah Yat. Ah Yat has grown tremendously as a signal caller since his freshman season, having thrown for 2,968 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first full year as a starter. He’s also run for six scores. Ah Yat, while prone to mistakes on occasion, has done a much better job taking care of the ball this year than he did in 2024. In this game, though, he will be throwing against one of the more dangerous defensive backs in the nation in MSU safety Caden Dowler.

Dowler has been lights out for the Montana State defense as of late. Last week in the win against UC Davis, Dowler picked off two passes and took one back 83 yards for a touchdown. On the season Dowler has three interceptions, four PBUs and a team-high 71 tackles. He and fellow DB Tayden Gray will be patrolling the back end and matching up against a talented Grizzlies receiving corps.

The aforementioned Wortham is certainly part of that corps and arguably the biggest part of it. He’s hauled in 57 passes for 822 yards and seven touchdowns this season. His big play ability has been second to none this season and if he gets behind the last level of the defense, he won’t be caught. It isn’t just Wortham, though, that MSU’s secondary will have to worry about. Brooks Davis and Blake Bohannon are both threats as well with 863 yards and five TDs between them. There is a myriad of weapons Ah Yat has at his disposal and he’ll likely use them all.

This game will be won and lost in the battle between Montana’s defense and Montana State’s offense. The Griz offense will make its plays with Wortham, Gillman and Ah Yat and, likewise, the ‘Cats should be able to make plenty of their own on defense. It’s when the other two units are out on the field that things seem a lot more uncertain. Lamson and company have put up some pretty hefty numbers, especially as of late. And the UM defense, while looking dominant last week, has certainly had its moments where it didn’t look entirely up to snuff. Regardless of the game being in Missoula, if Montana has a defensive showing like it did a few weeks ago against Eastern Washington, it will be in trouble against this Bobcats offense that is firing on all cylinders right now. MSU combats the hostile environment for a show-stopping win to close out the regular season behind that offense.

Score Prediction: Montana State: 32 – Montana: 27

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Wind damage highlights insurance challenges for Montana homeowners

Published

2 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Wind damage highlights insurance challenges for Montana homeowners

It’s the talk of the town this week — powerful winds ripped the roof off Lincoln Elementary School on Sunday, leaving students, teachers, and residents in shock.

The incident has sparked concern among homeowners who are now worried about how such weather damage could impact their own homes—and what their insurance would cover.

According to Tauna Locatelli, owner of Advantage Insurance, most insurance policies have a set deductible for things like fire or theft, but wind and hail damage deductibles are often much higher, or even based on a percentage of a property’s value.

Quentin Shores reports – watch the video here:

Wind damage highlights insurance challenges for Montana homeowners

“Right now our industry is going through a really challenging time, especially when it comes to wind and hail in Montana. Several carriers are going to a standard ‘all peril’ deductible for everything other than wind and hail. So, it could be $1,000 for all but wind and hail, $2,500 wind and hail,” Locatelli explained.

A deductible is the amount homeowners must pay before insurance covers the rest. For wind and hail, that deductible can be steep.

“Some companies are going 1 or 2% of a coverage value, so that’s the building value. If it’s insured for $500,000 and you have a 1% deductible, you’re looking at a $5,000 deductible for wind and hail, which is what we get in Montana,” Locatelli said.

It’s important for homeowners to know their deductible—if repairs cost less than the deductible, insurance won’t pay anything.

Filing small claims can also impact your rates; Locatelli said, “Because if you have a $3,000 patch job claim and you have a $5,000 deductible, you really don’t want to file that because you’re not going to get anything in. That claim is going to follow your insurance record for five years.”

Age of property factors in as well. If you have an older roof, insurance may not fully cover its replacement.

“You’ve now lived half the roof life. Well, insurance is about indemnity and putting you back in the same condition you were in before the loss. You can’t put a 16-year-old roof on a home, so at 16 years, they’ll now pay 50% of that roof instead of 100% because it’s already lived half of its life. And then it drops each year as it goes by,” Locatelli added.

The bottom line: Keep your property maintained, review your insurance policy, and think carefully before filing a claim—especially as Montana faces more intense weather.

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Montana

Missoula and Western Montana neighbors: Obituaries for March 11

Published

14 hours ago

March 11, 2026

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Missoula and Western Montana neighbors: Obituaries for March 11

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Montana

Montana AG letter alleges Helena violates law banning ‘sanctuary cities’

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Montana AG letter alleges Helena violates law banning ‘sanctuary cities’

HELENA — On Monday, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen sent a letter to the City of Helena claiming the municipality is not in compliance with the state’s law banning “sanctuary cities.” The letter comes just under a month after the State of Montana launched an investigation into a city resolution on Helena Police policy and Helena’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

In the letter, Knudsen laid out the ways he believes the city’s resolution violated state law. The attorney general gave Helena 15 days to respond or reverse the policy. If the city does not comply, his office will pursue legal action.

“Helena’s resolution appears to contain blatant violations of this law,” wrote Knudsen.

MTN News

On January 26, 2026, the City of Helena adopted a resolution clarifying when and how the Helena Police Department will cooperate with federal immigration officials. The vote was 4 to 1. The Helena commission seats and the mayor are elected in non-partisan races.

In the letter, Knudsen alleges the resolution established “a broad sanctuary city policy” that seeks to protect every illegal immigrant, regardless of whether the individual had committed a serious crime or not. The state further claims the resolution gives illegal immigrants “special privileges” in plea deals and establishes a “free-for-all policy” where a police officer can request the unmasking of Department of Homeland Security and ICE officers.

Knudsen has requested that the City of Helena, in their response, specifically describe in detail how the resolution complies with Montana law, provide emails and correspondence from city staff and the commission regarding the resolution.

Helena City manager Alana Lake told MTN in a statement: “The City of Helena is aware of the issues being raised by the Attorney General’s Office and is reviewing the matter. While we cannot discuss the details of a potential legal issue, the City is committed to transparency and compliance with the law. The City takes these matters seriously and will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities while remaining focused on serving our community.”

Passed in 2021, Montana House Bill 200 prohibits a state agency or local government from implementing any policy that prevents employees or departments from communicating with federal agencies regarding immigration or citizenship status for lawful purposes. It also states governments must comply with immigration detainer requests if they are lawfully made.

HB 200 was backed by Republicans and passed with only Republican votes. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the legislation into law on March 31, 2021.

Passage of the resolution by the Helena City Commission has drawn ire from conservative voices in Montana politics and on the national level.

The resolution said the commission supported the Helena Police Department avoiding “committing its resources to federal action for which it has no authority,” such as entering into an agreement with the federal government to directly enforce immigration laws. Under federal law, immigration enforcement is conducted by federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. However, under the Immigration and Nationality Act, state and local governments can voluntarily enter into 287 (g) agreements with the federal government that allow them to enforce immigration laws.

The commission further supported HPD’s policy not to stop, detain, or arrest a person solely on suspected violations of immigration law, including assisting other agencies in an arrest based solely on immigration law.

DEEPER LOOK: Helena has seen a growing debate over ICE and local police involvement

In the resolution, the commission also supported an HPD officer, using their own discretion, requesting the identification and unmasking of a Department of Homeland Security Officer if the HPD officer “feels it will not be interfering with the actions of federal officers exercising their jurisdiction.”

“This adversarial relationship by local law enforcement toward federal officers itself undermines public safety and forces immigration officers to fear for their safety when they are simply carrying out their lawful duties,” wrote Knudsen.

The resolution further supports the City of Helena’s policy not to consider immigration consequences in a plea agreement with a defendant.

The commission also supports the City of Helena not disclosing any sensitive information about any person – including immigration status, sexual orientation, or social security number – except as required by law.

“This is a restriction that directly conflicts with Montana’s prohibition on sanctuary jurisdictions, specifically ‘sending to, receiving from, exchanging with, or maintaining for a federal, state, or local government entity information regarding a person’s citizenship or immigration status for a lawful purpose,’” the attorney general wrote.

If a government is found to be violating Montana’s law banning “sanctuary cities”, the state could fine them $10,000 every five days, prevent them from receiving new grants from the state, and have their projects with the state re-prioritized. A government in violation can avoid penalties by becoming compliant with the law within 14 days of being notified of the violation.

Read the full letter from the Montana Attorney General to the City of Helena:

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