Cats, Griz capsules for Oct. 17

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No. 5/5 Montana St. at E. Washington

When: Saturday, 5 p.m.; TV — Scripps/ESPN+. Web — Varsity App; Radio — Bobcat Radio Network. Where: Roos Field (10,000, FieldTurf). Records: MSU is 5-1, 2-1 in the Big Sky. EWU is 2-5, 1-3.

When the Bobcats have the ball: QB Justin Lamson (923 yards, seven TDs against one interception) and RB Adam Jones (324 yards and 5 touchdowns rushing) are back at the No. 1 spots on the two-deep, though receiver Taco Dowler is not. Freshman WR Carter Dahlke (23 catches, 371 yards, 3 TDs) has made a big impact, and Dane Steel ()25 catches, 430 yards, 5 scores) is one of the league’s best. Colson Coon has the team rushing lead at 359 yards; Lamson had two rushing TDs before his injury.

When the Eagles have the ball: QB Nate Bell missed the latter half of 2025 but has become a legit throwing threat, with three 300-yard games — including 339 in EWU’s 31-22 win over Northern Colorado last week. He also is the top rusher with 339 yards. The running backs are Kevin Allen III (147 yards) and Jaxon Bell (159), Nate’s brother. Wesley Garrett (34 catches, 473 yards, 3 TDs) is the top receiver.

Notable: Eastern leads the series 32-15, but MSU has won the last five. … Caden Dowler, Taco’s twin and the reigning Big Sky Defensive MVP, is listed as starter at strong safety. He’s missed four games. … Patrick Duchien acquired a higher passing efficiency rating than Lamson in his two starts, 173.9 to 171.2, and ran for four TDs. … D-tackle Isaiah Perez has blocked five kicks in his EWU career. … EWU kicker Soren McKee has a school-record 41 career field goals. … Former UM O-line coach Chad Germer coaches Eastern’s line.

Pick: Cats, 52-49.

Idaho at No. 7/7 Montana

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.; TV — KPAX/The Spot. Web — ESPN+; Radio — Grizzly Radio Network. Where: Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217, FieldTurf). Records: UM is 5-2, 3-1 in the Big Sky; UI is 1-5, 1-2.

When the Vandals have the ball: Joshua Wood makes the Vandals go, throwing for 1,703 yards and nine scores and rushing for another 263 yards — tops on the team — and seven touchdowns. Ryan Jezioro and Marquawn McCraney, mainstays in 2025, and tight end Tony Harste are his main targets. Harste has 30 catches for 546 yards and five scores. It was Jezioro that caught Wood’s 25-yard scoring pass with no time left in UI’s 35-34 win over MSU on Oct. 3.

When the Grizzlies have the ball: Keali’i Ah Yat is coming off a 349-yard game, with 128 of those yards going to Landon Ramson-Goelz in last week’s 49-44 loss to NAU. Brooks Davis had three catches at NAU and still leads the team by far with 56 for 810 yards (Ransom-Goelz has 28 receptions). Eli Gillman (888 yards; 7.0 a carry) continues to pile up TDs at running back; 13 rushing and 4 receiving this season, 70 combined for his career.

Notable: UM is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Washington-Grizzly Stadium; the venue opened with a 35-31 Griz victory over Idaho State on Oct. 18, 1986. … 3 players that figured heavily in the Griz pass rush, Solo Tuliaupupu, Jake Mason and Hayden Schwartz, are off the two-deep, as is safety Kade Cutler and nickel Brock Beaner. Tuliaupupu has left the team. … Thomas Ford, Jr., is 5-13 in his second season leading the Vandals. … Idaho leads the Little Brown Stein series 56-32-2.

Pick: Griz, 47-27.

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