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Writer's pictureJeremy Crawford

Bulldog Football Loses Heartbreaker To No. 12 College Of Idaho

UMW Sports Press Release

CALDWELL, Idaho — The (RV) Montana Western football team lost a heartbreaker this

afternoon to the No. 12 ranked College of Idaho 37-35.


“Proud of the week’s preparation and the effort all game. We did not execute well on either side of the ball and we were still there to win it at the end,” Head Coach Ryan Nourse said. “We are going to learn from a tough loss and get back to work on the details on Monday.”



How It Happened


The Bulldogs were the first to strike, capping off a 76-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass from redshirt sophomore Michael Palandri to freshman Eli Nourse. The Yotes answered with an explosive scoring drive that saw them go 75 yards in just under three minutes, tying the game seven.


The Bulldog defense forced the Yotes to a quick three and out on their next drive and the

Bulldog offense wasted no time again. Palandri connected with redshirt junior Isaiah Thomas for a 40-yard pass to the COI six-yard line. Palandri then rushed it in for a touchdown, putting the Bulldogs back on top at 14-7.


College of Idaho wasted no time at the start of the second quarter, riding behind multiple big

plays on a drive that ended in a two-yard John Schofield touchdown rush and tying the game at 14.


Following a UMW punt, the Bulldog defense forced the COI offense to their second three and

out of the game. On the following possession, redshirt freshman Raef Newbrough caught a 37-yard pass from Palandri for a touchdown to put the Bulldogs back up at 21-14.



College of Idaho scored again on a rushing touchdown with just a minute remaining in the half. The two teams would remain deadlocked at 21 heading into the second half.


The third quarter started out strong for the Bulldog defense as redshirt senior Braden Smith

recorded a key tackle for loss on third down to force the Yotes to punt.


Despite some defensive success early in the third, the Bulldog offense failed to match the

defensive level of play.


The Yotes went on to add a field goal and a touchdown to take a 31-21 lead into the final frame.


The Bulldogs opened the fourth quarter with a DJ Kirven touchdown rush that was set up with a 13 play, 82-yard possession that started late in the third quarter.


With 13:37 left in the game, the Yotes ran off more than six minutes off the clock on the next

drive. Despite their best efforts to find the end zone, the Yotes settled on a 43-yard field goal

attempt that was missed.


The two teams traded three and outs, leaving the Bulldogs to take control of the ball with 5:33

left in the game. The Bulldog offense kicked it into gear and drove down the field for another

Nourse touchdown reception, leaving College of Idaho with just :57 in the game and trailing 35-31.



College of Idaho made the most of their limited time, ending the game on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Schofield to win 37-35.


Notables


• Montana Western’s offense pieced together 425 total offensive yards, including 173

rushing yards. Palandri threw for 244 passing yards and three touchdowns.

• Nourse led the Bulldog receiving corps with six receptions for a total of 93 yards and two

touchdowns.

• Hirkley Latu added seven tackles for the Bulldog defense. Smith had six with 1.5 tackles

for loss.

• Bulldog kicker John Mears was a perfect 5-5 on PATs for the second week in a row.


Up Next

Montana Western (1-1) returns to Dillon for their home opener as they host the Lewis & Clark

(Ore.) Pioneers. The Pioneers enter the matchup with an overall record of 1-1. Kickoff is set for

1 p.m. at Vigilante Field.



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