Tuesday, December 30, 2025
16.0°F

PHOTOS: Bobcats bound for Frisco with 31-17 win over South Dakota

CASEY KREIDER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year AGO
by CASEY KREIDER
Casey Kreider is a photographer for the Daily Inter Lake and was awarded the 2024 Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year from the Montana Newspaper Association. He is a graduate of Penn State University and previously worked as a photographer for Lancaster Newspapers in Pennsylvania. He can be reached at [email protected]. | December 21, 2024 7:30 PM

Photos from the Montana State Bobcats 31-17 win over the South Dakota Coyotes during an FCS semifinal game at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman on Saturday, Dec. 21.




    Montana State wide receiver Taco Dowler (14) catches a 34-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) scores a touchdown on a 5-yard run in the first quarter of an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) drops back to pass in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State's Lonyatta Alexander Jr. (2), Scottre Humphrey (22) and Ryan Lonergan (87) celebrate after Humphrey's 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State fans celebrate on the field with the Bobcats after a 31-17 win over South Dakota in an FCS semifinal game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State fans celebrate on the field with the Bobcats after a 31-17 win over South Dakota in an FCS semifinal game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State defensive end Kenneth Eiden IV (11) sacks South Dakota quarterback Aiden Bouman (2) in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State fans cheer on the Bobcats during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) is tripped up hurdling South Dakota defensive back Dennis Shorter (2) on an 11-yard run in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) is upended after hurdling South Dakota defensive back Dennis Shorter (2) on an 11-yard run in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) heads to the end zone on a 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State linebacker McCade O'Reilly (43) tackles South Dakota running back Travis Theis (5) on a run in the second half during an FCS semifinal game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) scores a touchdown on a 41-yard run in the third quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State wide receiver Taco Dowler (14) catches a pass in the first quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State wide receiver Taco Dowler (14) catches a pass in the first quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State fans cheer on the Bobcats with Champ during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State's Adam Jones (23) Rohan Jones (8) and Taco Dowler (14) celebrate after Dowler's 34-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Horseback riders enter the field during the Montana State Runout before an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Horseback riders enter the field during the Montana State Runout before an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State and quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) take the field before an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State center Justus Perkins (65) blows a kiss before an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State running back Adam Jones (23) picks up yardage on a run in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State head coach Brent Vigen congratulates his team after a first-quarter touchdown during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State head coach Brent Vigen watches a replay on the video board during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    South Dakota quarterback Aidan Bouman (2) drops back to pass in the first quarter during an FCS semifinal game against Montana State at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State tight end Rohan Jones (8) can't reach a pass in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) picks up yardage on a run in the third quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 



    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) picks up yardage on a run in the third quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State head coach Brent Vigen on the sideline during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) hurdles a defender on a 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State linebacker McCade O'Reilly (43) warms up before an FCS semifinal game against North Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Montana State tight end Ryan Lonergan (87) can't hang on to a reception in the end zone in the first quarter of an FCS semifinal game against North Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State wide receiver Taco Dowler (14) can't hang on to a pass in the second quarter during an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) scores a touchdown on a 5-yard run in the first quarter of an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) warms up before an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott (4) warms up before an FCS semifinal game against South Dakota at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    South Dakota wide receiver Jack Martens (15) holds on to a reception in the fourth quarter during an FCS semifinal game against Montana State at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    South Dakota quarterback Aidan Bouman (2) drops back to pass in the first quarter during an FCS semifinal game against Montana State at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


ARTICLES BY CASEY KREIDER

PHOTOS: Montana State heads back to FCS Championship with 48-23 win over Montana
December 20, 2025 7:30 p.m.

PHOTOS: Montana State heads back to FCS Championship with 48-23 win over Montana

Photos from the Montana State Bobcats 48-23 win over the Montana Grizzlies in an FCS semifinal matchup at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman on Saturday, Dec. 20. With the win, the Bobcats advance to the FCS Championship to face Illinois State.

PHOTOS: Grizzlies surpass South Dakota, set up rematch with 'Cats
December 13, 2025 7 p.m.

PHOTOS: Grizzlies surpass South Dakota, set up rematch with 'Cats

Photos from the Montana Grizzlies 52-22 win over the South Dakota Coyotes in the FCS quarterfinals at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 13.

PHOTOS: Opening Day on Big Mountain
December 8, 2025 12:05 p.m.

PHOTOS: Opening Day on Big Mountain

Skiers and snowboarders take to the slopes of Big Mountain on opening day at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Thursday, Dec. 4.