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Montana State at Montana

Saturday, November 18, 2023. Montana took the Great Divide Trophy from Montana State

Montana beat Montana State 37–⁠7. It was their 54th meeting; after it, Montana led the series 38–⁠15–⁠1.

AwayMontana State8–⁠4 in 2023
7
HomeMontana13–⁠2 in 2023
37

Final at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, MissoulaTV: ESPN+Attendance 27,178

At kickoff
31°F, overcast, mist, calmWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Missoula International Airport (KMSO), 11 km from the stadium, seven minutes before kickoff
Official
Kelly HolmanGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Montana State00707
Montana14610737

Standouts

Player stats

Montana State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Tommy Mellott4/136711
Sean Chambers0/3000
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Tommy Mellott10108046
Julius Davis14107030
Scottre Humphrey51109
Jared White4402
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Taco Dowler130030
Ty McCullouch224119
Clevan Thomas113013

Montana

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Clifton McDowell17/2220010
Keali’i Ah Yat1/2400
Sawyer Racanelli1/12400
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Nick Ostmo785164
Clifton McDowell1269120
Eli Gillman113318
Isiah Childs61506
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Junior Bergen691138
Aaron Fontes443019
Nick Ostmo231017
Keelan White222011
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Trevin Gradney0001

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

Montana StateMontana
280Total yards430
67Passing yards228
213Rushing yards202
4.2Yards per pass9.1
6.1Yards per rush5.1
13First downs22
1–⁠10Third downs7–⁠14
0–⁠4Fourth downs0–⁠0
1Turnovers0
6–⁠38Penalties8–⁠75
25:16Possession34:44

Efficiency

Montana StateMontana
30%Success rate47%
−0.32EPA per play0.31
1.36Explosiveness1.24
0.13Rushing EPA0.34
−1.28Passing EPA0.27
11%Passing-down success38%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Montana State 52% to win. Montana won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Montana State −6.5, over/under 52.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Every drive

Montana end zoneMontana State end zoneQ1 MontanaTouchdown, 14 playsQ1 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ1 MontanaTouchdown, 7 playsQ1 Montana StateMissed FG, 6 playsQ1 MontanaField goal, 9 playsQ2 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ2 MontanaPunt, 5 playsQ2 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 MontanaPunt, 3 playsQ2 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 4 playsQ2 MontanaField goal, 1 playQ3 Montana StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ3 MontanaTouchdown, 6 playsQ3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ3 MontanaField goal, 12 playsQ3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 6 playsQ4 MontanaPunt, 3 playsQ4 Montana StateInterception, 5 playsQ4 MontanaTouchdown, 2 playsQ4 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 MontanaPunt, 3 playsQ4 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 MontanaEnd of game, 3 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Montana drives left to right, Montana State right to left.
  1. Q1 MontanaTouchdown, 14 plays, 75 yards
  2. Q1 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, 4 yards
  3. Q1 MontanaTouchdown, 7 plays, 70 yards
  4. Q1 Montana StateMissed FG, 6 plays, 50 yards
  5. Q1 MontanaField goal, 9 plays, 52 yards
  6. Q2 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 48 yards
  7. Q2 MontanaPunt, 5 plays, 30 yards
  8. Q2 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, 8 yards
  9. Q2 MontanaPunt, 3 plays, −11 yards
  10. Q2 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 4 plays, −5 yards
  11. Q2 MontanaField goal, 1 play, 15 yards
  12. Q3 Montana StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 75 yards
  13. Q3 MontanaTouchdown, 6 plays, 50 yards
  14. Q3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 27 yards
  15. Q3 MontanaField goal, 12 plays, 41 yards
  16. Q3 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 6 plays, 39 yards
  17. Q4 MontanaPunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  18. Q4 Montana StateInterception, 5 plays, 42 yards
  19. Q4 MontanaTouchdown, 2 plays, 69 yards
  20. Q4 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  21. Q4 MontanaPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  22. Q4 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
  23. Q4 MontanaEnd of game, 3 plays, 0 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Montana 14, Montana State 0
Montana Touchdown, 14 plays
15:00Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Eli Gillman run for 4 yds to the MONT 29
15:002nd & 6 at own 29Clifton McDowell pass incomplete
15:003rd & 6 at own 29Clifton McDowell pass complete to Aaron Fontes for 14 yds to the MONT 43 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at own 43Clifton McDowell pass complete to Evan Shafer for 6 yds to the MONT 49
15:002nd & 4 at own 49Clifton McDowell run for 7 yds to the MTST 44 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 44Clifton McDowell pass complete to Keelan White for 11 yds to the MTST 33 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 33Eli Gillman run for 1 yd to the MTST 32
15:002nd & 9 at opp 32Eli Gillman run for 3 yds to the MTST 29
15:003rd & 6 at opp 29Clifton McDowell run for 7 yds to the MTST 22 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 22Nick Ostmo run for 6 yds to the MTST 16
15:002nd & 4 at opp 16Nick Ostmo run for 1 yd to the MTST 15
15:003rd & 3 at opp 15Clifton McDowell run for 3 yds to the MTST 12 Clifton McDowell fumbled, recovered by MONT Nick Ostmo for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 12Eli Gillman run for 8 yds to the MTST 4
8:502nd & 2 at opp 4Eli Gillman run for 4 yds for a TD (Nico Ramos KICK)Montana 7, Montana State 0
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
8:50Grant Glasgow kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:501st & 10 at own 25Julius Davis run for 2 yds to the MTST 27
8:502nd & 8 at own 27Tommy Mellott run for 2 yds to the MTST 29
8:503rd & 6 at own 29Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
7:134th & 6 at own 29Brendan Hall punt for 41 yds, fair catch by Junior Bergen at the MONT 30
Montana Touchdown, 7 plays
7:131st & 10 at own 30Eli Gillman run for 2 yds to the MONT 32
7:132nd & 8 at own 32Clifton McDowell pass complete to Aaron Fontes for 9 yds to the MONT 41 for a 1ST down
7:131st & 10 at own 41Clifton McDowell pass incomplete
7:132nd & 10 at own 41Clifton McDowell pass complete to Keelan White for 11 yds to the MTST 48 for a 1ST down
7:131st & 10 at opp 48Clifton McDowell pass complete to Junior Bergen for 38 yds to the MTST 10 for a 1ST down
7:131st & goal at opp 10Nick Ostmo run for 6 yds to the MTST 4
4:212nd & goal at opp 4Clifton McDowell run for 4 yds for a TD (Nico Ramos KICK)Montana 14, Montana State 0
Montana State Missed FG, 6 plays
4:21Grant Glasgow kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
4:211st & 10 at own 25Julius Davis run for 15 yds to the MTST 40 for a 1ST down
4:211st & 10 at own 40Tommy Mellott run for 46 yds to the MONT 14 for a 1ST down
4:211st & 10 at opp 14Montana State Penalty, False Start (Julius Davis) to the MONT 19
4:211st & 15 at opp 19Jared White run for 1 yd to the MONT 18
4:212nd & 14 at opp 18Jared White run for no gain to the MONT 18
4:213rd & 14 at opp 18Julius Davis run for a loss of 7 yards to the MONT 25
0:234th & 21 at opp 25Casey Kautzman 42 yd FG MISSED
0:231st & 10 at own 25Timeout Montana, clock 00:23
Montana Field goal, 9 plays
0:231st & 10 at own 25Clifton McDowell pass complete to Aaron Fontes for 19 yds to the MONT 44 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 44Eli Gillman run for 2 yds to the MONT 46
Q2 15:002nd & 8 at own 46Clifton McDowell pass complete to Junior Bergen for 4 yds to the 50 yard line
Q2 15:003rd & 4 at the 50Clifton McDowell pass complete to Eli Gillman for 11 yds to the MTST 39 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 39Sawyer Racanelli pass complete to Junior Bergen for 24 yds to the MTST 15 for a 1ST down
Q2 15:001st & 10 at opp 15QB Keeper MCDOWELL, Clifton rush to the left for a gain of 5 yards to the MSU10, out of bounds. PENALTY UM Holding on CASEY, Brandon enforced 10 yards from the MSU15 to the MSU25 [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Q2 15:001st & 20 at opp 25Montana Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the MTST 30
Q2 15:001st & 25 at opp 30Montana State Penalty, Offsides (Sebastian Valdez) to the MTST 25
Q2 15:001st & 20 at opp 25Clifton McDowell sacked by Sebastian Valdez and Paul Brott for a loss of 1 yard to the MTST 26
Q2 10:193rd & 24 at opp 29Timeout Montana State, clock 10:19
Q2 10:192nd & 21 at opp 26Clifton McDowell sacked by Sebastian Valdez and Paul Brott for a loss of 3 yards to the MTST 29
Q2 10:193rd & 24 at opp 29Clifton McDowell pass complete to Eli Gillman for 6 yds to the MTST 23
Q2 9:314th & 18 at opp 23Nico Ramos 40 yd FG GOODMontana 17, Montana State 0
2nd quarter5 drives, then Montana 20, Montana State 0
Montana State Turnover on downs, 7 plays
9:31Grant Glasgow kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
9:311st & 10 at own 25Tommy Mellott run for 6 yds to the MTST 31
9:312nd & 4 at own 31Julius Davis run for 7 yds to the MTST 38 for a 1ST down
9:311st & 10 at own 38Julius Davis run for 30 yds to the MONT 32 for a 1ST down
9:311st & 10 at opp 32Scottre Humphrey run for 9 yds to the MONT 23
9:312nd & 1 at opp 23Scottre Humphrey run for a loss of 3 yards to the MONT 26
9:313rd & 4 at opp 26Scottre Humphrey run for a loss of 1 yard to the MONT 27
5:354th & 5 at opp 27Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
Montana Punt, 5 plays
5:351st & 10 at own 27Junior Bergen run for 7 yds to the MONT 34
5:352nd & 3 at own 34Clifton McDowell run for 20 yds to the MTST 46 for a 1ST down
5:351st & 10 at opp 46Nick Ostmo run for 3 yds to the MTST 43
5:352nd & 7 at opp 43Clifton McDowell pass incomplete
5:353rd & 7 at opp 43Clifton McDowell pass incomplete
3:444th & 7 at opp 43Travis Benham punt for 37 yds
3:441st & 10 at own 6Montana State Penalty, False Start (Yards) to the MTST 3
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
3:441st & 13 at own 3Tommy Mellott run for 1 yd to the MTST 4
3:442nd & 12 at own 4Julius Davis run for 8 yds to the MTST 12
3:443rd & 4 at own 12Jared White run for 2 yds to the MTST 14
1:274th & 2 at own 14Brendan Hall punt for 38 yds
Montana Punt, 3 plays
1:271st & 10 at opp 48Keali’i Ah Yat pass complete to Drew Deck for 4 yds to the MTST 44
1:272nd & 6 at opp 44Montana Penalty, Illegal Snap on FORBES, AJ enforced (-5 Yards) to the MTST 49
1:272nd & 11 at opp 49Keali’i Ah Yat pass incomplete
1:273rd & 11 at opp 49Keali’i Ah Yat sacked by Rylan Ortt for a loss of 10 yards to the MONT 41
0:394th & 21 at own 41Travis Benham punt for 23 yds, downed at the MTST 36
Montana State Turnover on downs, 4 plays
0:391st & 10 at own 36Tommy Mellott run for 8 yds to the MTST 44
0:392nd & 2 at own 44Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
0:054th & 1 at own 45Timeout Montana State, clock 00:05
0:053rd & 2 at own 44Jared White run for 1 yd to the MTST 45
0:014th & 1 at own 45Sean Chambers sacked by Kale Edwards for a loss of 14 yards to the MTST 31
0:011st & 10 at opp 31GLASGOW, Grant field goal attempt from 48 yards NO GOOD (short right) [kick was spotted at MSU38]. PENALTY MSU Roughing the Kicker on JOHNSON, Jon enforced 15 yards from the MSU31 to the MSU16 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [FG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
0:001st & 10 at opp 16Nico Ramos 33 yd FG GOODMontana 20, Montana State 0
3rd quarter5 drives, then Montana 30, Montana State 7
Montana State Touchdown, 5 plays
15:00Grant Glasgow kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
15:001st & 10 at own 25Tommy Mellott run for 2 yds to the MTST 27
15:002nd & 8 at own 27Tommy Mellott run for 30 yds to the MONT 43 for a 1ST down
15:001st & 10 at opp 43Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
15:002nd & 10 at opp 43Julius Davis run for 24 yds to the MONT 19 for a 1ST down
12:591st & 10 at opp 19Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 19 yds for a TD (Casey Kautzman KICK)Montana 20, Montana State 7
Montana Touchdown, 6 plays
12:50Brendan Hall kickoff for 64 yds
12:501st & 10 at the 50Eli Gillman run for 1 yd to the MTST 49
12:502nd & 9 at opp 49Junior Bergen run for 7 yds to the MTST 42
12:503rd & 2 at opp 42Eli Gillman run for 6 yds to the MTST 36 for a 1ST down
12:501st & 10 at opp 36Clifton McDowell pass complete to Drew Deck for 14 yds to the MTST 22 for a 1ST down
12:501st & 10 at opp 22Clifton McDowell run for 2 yds to the MTST 20
10:082nd & 8 at opp 20Clifton McDowell pass complete to Junior Bergen for 20 yds for a TD (Nico Ramos KICK)Montana 27, Montana State 7
Montana State Turnover on downs, 7 plays
10:08Grant Glasgow kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
10:081st & 10 at own 25Julius Davis run for 3 yds to the MTST 28
10:082nd & 7 at own 28Julius Davis run for 5 yds to the MTST 33
10:083rd & 2 at own 33Tommy Mellott run for 4 yds to the MTST 37 for a 1ST down
10:081st & 10 at own 37MELLOTT, Tommy pass deep up the middle incomplete intended for MCCULLOUCH, Ty thrown to the UM25. PENALTY UM Holding on HILL, Braxton enforced 10 yards from the MSU37 to the MSU47 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
10:081st & 10 at own 47Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
10:082nd & 10 at own 47Scottre Humphrey run for 4 yds to the MONT 49
10:083rd & 6 at opp 49Tommy Mellott run for 1 yd to the MONT 48
6:264th & 5 at opp 48Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
Montana Field goal, 12 plays
6:261st & 10 at own 48Nick Ostmo run for no gain to the MONT 48
6:262nd & 10 at own 48Clifton McDowell pass complete to Nick Ostmo for 17 yds to the MTST 35 for a 1ST down
6:261st & 10 at opp 35Montana Penalty, False Start (Aaron Fontes) to the MTST 40
6:261st & 15 at opp 40Clifton McDowell pass complete to Aaron Fontes for 1 yd to the MTST 39
6:262nd & 14 at opp 39Clifton McDowell pass complete to Nick Ostmo for 8 yds to the MTST 31
6:263rd & 6 at opp 31Clifton McDowell pass complete to Junior Bergen for 8 yds to the MTST 23 for a 1ST down
6:261st & 10 at opp 23Clifton McDowell pass incomplete
6:262nd & 10 at opp 23Clifton McDowell pass complete to Nick Ostmo for a loss of 3 yards to the MTST 20
6:263rd & 7 at opp 20Clifton McDowell run for 11 yds to the MTST 9 for a 1ST down
6:261st & goal at opp 9Aaron Fontes run for a loss of 14 yards to the MTST 28 Aaron Fontes fumbled, recovered by MONT Aaron Fontes [NHSG] FONTES, Aaron rush to the right for a loss of 14 yards, FONTES, Aaron fumbled at MSU15 , recovered by UM FONTES, Aaron at the MSU23, returned 10 yards to the MSU13 (ULIULAKEPA, Danny). PENALTY UM Personal Foul on OSTMO, Nick enforced 15 yards from the end of the play at the MSU13 to the MSU28. , return for 10 yds to the MTST 28
6:262nd & goal at opp 28Clifton McDowell sacked by Brody Grebe for a loss of 1 yard to the MTST 29
6:263rd & goal at opp 29Clifton McDowell run for 18 yds to the MTST 11
0:034th & goal at opp 11Nico Ramos 29 yd FG GOODMontana 30, Montana State 7
Montana State Turnover on downs, 6 plays
0:03Grant Glasgow kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
0:001st & 10 at own 25Julius Davis run for 2 yds to the MTST 27
Q4 15:002nd & 8 at own 27Montana Penalty, Roughing the Passer on HILL, Braxton enforced (Braxton Hill) to the MONT 45 for a 1ST down
Q4 15:001st & 10 at opp 45Montana State Penalty, False Start (Marcus Wehr) to the 50 yard line
Q4 15:001st & 15 at the 50Julius Davis run for 1 yd to the MONT 49
Q4 15:002nd & 14 at opp 49Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
Q4 15:003rd & 14 at opp 49Tommy Mellott run for 8 yds to the MONT 41
Q4 12:314th & 6 at opp 41Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 5 yds to the MONT 36
4th quarter7 drives, then Montana 37, Montana State 7
Montana Punt, 3 plays
12:311st & 10 at own 36Eli Gillman run for 5 yds to the MONT 41
12:312nd & 5 at own 41Eli Gillman run for a loss of 3 yards to the MONT 38
12:313rd & 8 at own 38Clifton McDowell run for 2 yds to the MONT 40
12:314th & 6 at own 40Montana State Penalty, Offsides (Julius Davis) to the MONT 45
9:594th & 1 at own 45Travis Benham punt for 38 yds , returns for no gain to the MTST 6
Montana State Interception, 5 plays
9:591st & 10 at own 6Julius Davis run for 3 yds to the MTST 9
9:592nd & 7 at own 9Julius Davis run for 9 yds to the MTST 18 for a 1ST down
9:591st & 10 at own 18Tommy Mellott pass complete to Taco Dowler for 30 yds to the MTST 48 for a 1ST down
9:591st & 10 at own 48Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
7:452nd & 10 at own 48Tommy Mellott pass intercepted Trevin Gradney return for no gain to the MONT 31
Montana Touchdown, 2 plays
7:451st & 10 at own 31Nick Ostmo run for 5 yds to the MONT 36
6:502nd & 5 at own 36Nick Ostmo run for 64 yds for a TD (Nico Ramos KICK)Montana 37, Montana State 7
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
6:43Grant Glasgow kickoff for 65 yds
6:431st & 10 at own 29Julius Davis run for 5 yds to the MTST 34
6:432nd & 5 at own 34Sean Chambers run for a loss of 3 yards to the MTST 31
6:433rd & 8 at own 31Sean Chambers pass incomplete
5:134th & 8 at own 31Brendan Hall punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Junior Bergen at the MONT 30
Montana Punt, 3 plays
5:131st & 10 at own 30Isiah Childs run for 6 yds to the MONT 36
5:132nd & 4 at own 36Isiah Childs run for a loss of 1 yard to the MONT 35
5:133rd & 5 at own 35Isiah Childs run for no gain to the MONT 35
2:504th & 5 at own 35Travis Benham punt for 48 yds
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
2:501st & 10 at own 20Scottre Humphrey run for 2 yds to the MTST 22
2:502nd & 8 at own 22Sean Chambers pass incomplete
2:503rd & 8 at own 22Sean Chambers pass incomplete
2:064th & 8 at own 22Brendan Hall punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Junior Bergen at the MONT 39
2:061st & 10 at own 39CHILDS, Isiah rush to the left for a gain of 12 yards to the MSU49 (ASKELSON, Nolan). PENALTY UM Holding on WALKER, Chris enforced 10 yards from the UM39 to the UM29 [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Montana End of game, 3 plays
2:061st & 20 at own 29Isiah Childs run for 2 yds to the MONT 31
2:062nd & 18 at own 31Isiah Childs run for 6 yds to the MONT 37
0:003rd & 12 at own 37Isiah Childs run for 2 yds to the MONT 39

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Montana State–Montana game

Montana leads 38–⁠18–⁠1 in 57 meetings, counting the three since this game.

Recent meetings
2025Montana State 48, Montana 23FCS Championship – Semifinals, CFP Semifinal
2025Montana State 31, Montana 28
2024Montana State 34, Montana 11
2023Montana 37, Montana State 7
2022Montana State 55, Montana 21
2021Montana 29, Montana State 10

Around this game

Montana State

Montana

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 12