#20 Montana Western Football Routs Simpson 65-0 Saturday

REDDING, Calif. – The #20 Montana Western football team (5-3, 2-2 FC West) dismantled Simpson (0-8, 0-4 FC West) 65-0 Saturday afternoon in Redding.

"It was awesome to see the guys respond positively to the adversity that hit them during travel and with the rainstorm in the first quarter of the game," head coach Ryan Nourse said. "It shows growth and strong competitive character. Guys really came to win this weekend, and it showed in the outcome."

Western tallied 423 total yards (231 passing, 192 rushing), scored eight touchdowns, made three field goals, and earned 21 first downs in the contest while holding Simpson under 100 yards of total offense (94 yards). They scored on six-of-seven red zone chances and converted on four third down tries.

Three Bulldog quarterbacks saw action in the contest, led by Michael Palandri with a game-high 143 yards and two passing touchdowns. Kaden LaPlaunt passed for 88 yards, including a long of 39, and Jordan Jones registered 21 rush yards and ran in a touchdown as well.

Jakob Humphrey posted his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, putting up a game-best 105 yards and two touchdowns on 14 attempts.

Aidan Lammers also had a strong showing on the ground with 67 yards and two touchdowns while Gavin Vetter tallied 14 rushing yards.

Five different UMW receivers tallied over 20 yards each in the game. Eli Nourse caught a game-high 70 yards and one TD, including a long of 41 yards.

Seth Shook once again made the most of his game time, with a 49-yard touchdown catch on his lone reception of the game. It marks his 11th receiving touchdown of the season.

Colton Cornwell posted two receptions for 53 yards while Rico Figuroa (35 yards) and Jonathan Kirkley (23 yards) caught one pass each.

Defensively, UMW forced five turnovers from Simpson and quickly shutdown any attempt to get the Red Hawk offense going.

Tyler Schoen showed out with team bests in total tackles (eight) and solo takedowns (five) while also posting 2.0 TFLs (20 yards), 1.0 sacks (eight yards), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Tyler Walker led the game in tackles-for-loss with 2.5 for five yards as well as two fumble recoveries, including one of the Red Hawks' first play after the half, which he recovered in the endzone to put the Bulldogs up 41-0.

Jace Fitzgerald (1.5), Devin Crow (1.0), Manuel Variz IV (1.0), Kale VanCampen (1.0), Mason Stodtmeister (1.0), Tristan Bloomquist (0.5), Keegan Muffich (0.5), Reece Stanish (0.5), and Brady Mounts (0.5) also earned takedowns behind the line of scrimmage.

Fitzgerald tied with Schoen for a game-high 1.0 sacks (18 yards) and forced the fumble that Walker recovered just after the half.

Muffich ranked second on the team in both total tackles (seven) and solos (three) and snagged an interception. Canyon Sargent also registered one interception in the contest.

Maclain Burckley was perfect on the night, making all eight PATs and draining all three field goal attempts, including an incredible 55-yarder, breaking his own stat for longest field goal in the Frontier this season and tying for third-longest in the NAIA in 2025.

 Burckley also averaged 64.0 yards over five kickoffs and 31.7 yards over three punts in the game.

 Edward Deward took on the bulk of kickoff duties for Western, totaling 407 yards (58.1 yards/kick) on seven attempts.

 As a team, the Bulldogs had their vest return-game of the season, racking up 100 yards on three punt returns. Shook posted one return for 44 yards while Cornwell had two attempts for 56 yards and a long of 42.

After a slower start to the game, in part due to the downpour in Redding, Western got on the board thanks to an eight-yard run from Humphrey to lead 7-0 after the first quarter.

The Bulldog offense exploded in the second frame, posting 27 points after TDs from Lammers, Shook, and Nourse, and two field goals from Burckley. They led 34-0 at the half.

Walker kept the fire going with a fumble recovery for a touchdown to start the third period, with Lammer and Humphrey adding to the onslaught with one more touchdown apiece to take the 55-0 lead into the fourth.

In the final quarter Burckley sunk his final field goal and Jordan Jones earned the final touchdown on a quarterback keeper.

LOOKING AHEAD

Montana Western is back at Bulldog stadium for its final two games of the 2025 regular season, hosting Eastern Oregon (11/1) and Arizona Christian (11/8).