Box Score

BOZEMAN, MT-For the second week in a row the Dixie State College (1-2) football team traveled to a Division I FCS (Football Championship Series) opponent. Similar to last week against Southern Utah University, they lost 23-20 to Montana State University (1-1). But, the Red Storm showed promise in their ability to move the ball and make key plays.

Trailing 10-0 with 5:16 left in the 2^nd quarter, Red Storm Senior QB Judd Thompson (Crystal Lake. IL, Prarie Ridge HS, Utah State) found Junior WR Nash Fowler (Orem, UT, Timpanogas HS) for a 49-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Bobcats lead to 10-7.

Moment's later the Dixie State defense held the Bobcat offense on three straight plays in the red zone and forcing them to a 25 yard Jason Cunningham's field goal, his second of the game. The defense had already collected two interceptions in the first half. One by Senior CB Wesley Beavers (Las Vegas. NV, Cheyenne, Moorpark College) on the Bobcat opening drive and the second by Senior CB Seth Mortensen (Idaho Falls. ID, Hillcrest) that led to the Thompson to Fowler touchdown.

Dixie State opened the second half with an 11 play 65-yard drive that was capped off by a 12 yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Senior TE Skyler Ence (St George. UT, Pine View). The touchdown gave the Red Storm a 14-13 lead.

The Bobcats took the lead for good on a 32-yard pass from Mark Iddins to Kyle Beggar. MSU added their final points of the game with 6:09 left in the game, when Jason Cunningham added his 3^rd field goal from 35-yards out, giving them a 23-14 lead.  The field looked as if the Bobcats weren't going to need at the time, but it proved to be the game winner due to the Red Storm's late game resilience.

Dixie State scored its final touchdown with 11 seconds on the game clock when Thompson found Junior WR Kyser Christensen (Boise. ID, Centennial) in the back of the endzone. This came after the Red Storm defense forced the Bobcats to miss a 31-yard field goal. The Red Storm took over on downs and Thompson led the team down the field on a 7-play 80-yard drive that took just 53 seconds to complete.

DSC tried the on-side kick but the kick sailed just out of bounds. MSU kneeled on the ball to escape with the victory.

Dixie State's Thompson kept the game close by throwing for a career high and school record of 417 yards on 28 of 55 passes. However, MSU's Clay Bignell and Michael Rider each had two interceptions to stop several scoring opportunities for DSC.

Fowler finished with a career high 144 yards receiving for DSC and Christensen hauled in 136 more as the duo combined for 16 receptions.

 Junior LB Keauntea Bankhead (Seattle, WA, Ballard, Arizona Western)led the Red Storm with 13 tackles.

DSC travels to Western Oregon to play its GNAC opener this week before returning home on September 26 to face Humboldt State.