Dowler honored again, Big Sky makes statement

FARMINGTON, Utah — Defense and special teams played big roles in No. 3 Montana State’s 38-17 win over then-No. 9 UC Davis Saturday night in Bozeman, and Bobcats won the Big Sky Conference’s weekly honors in both categories. 

Junior safety Caden Dowler, who returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown in the win, took home the honor on defense for a second straight week.  

Freshman Colby Frokjer, who handed punting and kickoff duties for the Cats, was honored on special teams. 

Idaho State quarterback and Northern Arizona receiver Kolbe Katsis shared the offensive honors. 

Dowler’s 83-yard interception return put the Bobcats up 24-7 at 4:22 of the third quarter in a game televised on ESPN2. His second pick came as UC Davis was trying to cut into a 24-14 deficit. Dowler’s best statistical game included 12 tackles — nine of them solo — plus a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. 

Frokjer, out of West Haven, Utah, averaged 51.2 yards on four punts while producing five touchbacks on seven kickoffs. Two punts went over 50 yards and one pinned the Aggies at their own 11-yard line; their average starting field position was their own 23. 

Cooke, a junior, had 428 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns in Idaho State’s 31-3 rout of Weber State. He was 24 of 39 passing for 363 yards in the Bengals’ third straight win; ISU hadn’t beat Weber back-to-back since 1983-84. 

Katsis, a senior, had six catches for 148 yards and three touchdowns in NAU’s 35-27 victory over Cal Poly. It was his second honor this season. HJe’s the first Lumberjack to catch three TDs since 2019. 

Others nominated included Keali’i Ah Yat of Montana on offense; the Griz also nominated linebacker Peyton Wing on defense and Michael Wortham on special teams. 

Controversial call 

We’ve seen this before. 

With 12 seconds left in Saturday’s game in California, the Sacramento State Hornets’ Cardell Williams fired a pass to Jordan Williams down to the Idaho 2-yard line. The18-yard gain set the Hornets up first-and-goal; Cardwell Williams ran for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown on the next play. 

One problem: the receiver’s foot clearly came down out of bounds before Idaho’s Will Cornelson took him to the turf. The play went to review and was upheld as a catch, and Sac State won 23-20. 

Griz fans may remember that on Oct. 22, 2022, Montana was trying to hold onto a 24-17 lead in Sacramento when Jared Gipson caught a 26-yard pass down to the 4-yard line, on fourth-and-4. As on Saturday, the play went to review and — despite evidence the receiver landed out of bounds — was upheld. 

Sac State eventually tied the game with 3:39 left and then won in overtime. 

The Big Sky Conference was not happy about the repeat performance and issued this statement Monday: 

“In conjunction with its coordinator of football officials, the Big Sky Conference has reviewed the play with 12 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the football game Saturday between Sacramento State and Idaho. The officials on the field called a pass attempt by Sacramento State successful, and replay did not overturn this call. 

It is evident that incorrect judgment was applied to this play. The Big Sky acknowledges and regrets this error in officiating, and as a result has suspended multiple officials who worked the contest. The conference office will have no further public comment on this year.” 

Poll Positions 

Montana and Montana State remained Nos. 2-3 in both Football Championship Subdivision polls Monday. 

UC Davis fell six spots to No. 15 in the Stats Perform Top 25, and four spots to No. 14 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. 

Montana again got a first-place vote in the coaches’ poll; the Grizzlies host Montana State this Saturday in the 125th “Brawl of the Wild,” at noon. 

UC Davis, meanwhile, plays host to Sacramento State Saturday in the annual “Causeway Classic.” Both teams are 5-2 in the Big Sky; Davis is 7-3 overall and Sac State 7-4. A postseason berth seems to be at stake. 

Northern Arizona moved up one spot to No. 23 in the Stats Perform rankings; if the Lumberjacks win at Weber State Saturday they’ll be 8-4 with a loss to UC Davis and be very much on the playoff bubble.