Mercyhurst at No. 4/6 Montana St.

When: Saturday, 1 p.m. TV: MTN; ESPN+. Web: Varsity App; Radio: Bobcat Radio Network. Where: Bobcat Stadium (20,767, FieldTurf). Records: Mercyhurst is 1-2; MSU is 1-2. 

When the Lakers have the ball: Adam Urena threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions last week, when the Lakers battled Sacramento State into the fourth quarter of a 49-28 loss. He’s completed 67 percent of his passes, for 940 yards and 6 TDs. Brian Trobel is averaging 8.0 yards a carry, though he did most of his damage — 10 carries, 115 yards, 3 TDs — in a 48-14 win over New Haven. Dylan Evans (19 catches-293 yards) and Rylan Davison (13-170) each have two receiving TDs. 

When the Bobcats have the ball: QB Justin Lamson was impressive last week, throwing for 293 yards and three TDs in a 41-7 rout of San Diego. He’s thrown for 614 yards and three TDs and run for 116 and two scores. The top rusher is Julius Davis at 175 yards, averaging 7.0 a carry. Adam Jones has 91 yards through three games (31 carries), with two scores. Taco Dowler is easily the top target with 24 catches for 241 yards and two scores. Dane Steel (9-100) is next followed by Jones (8-67, 1 TD). 

Notable: Mercyhurst joined the FCS and the Northeast Conference last season, after 20 seasons in Division II. ... The Lakers made one DII playoff appearance, going 1-1. ... They went 4-7 last season, including a 52-13 loss at MSU on Sept. 21. ... Mercyhurst led Sac State 18-7 last week and trailed just 28-25 before the Hornets scored three fourth-quarter TDs. ... Taco Dowler’s brother, safety Caden, is second on the Cats in tackles with 18, including a sack.  

The Pick: Cats, 45-20.  

Indiana State at No. 5/5 Montana

When: Saturday, 1 p.m. TV: KPAX/MTN/ESPN+; Radio: Grizzly Radio Network. Where: Washington-Grizzly Stadium (25,217, FieldTurf). Records: ISU is 2-1; UM is 2-0. 

When the Sycamores have the ball: Two QBs have split most of the snaps — Keegan Patterson and Elijah Owens. But Owens, a Jerry Rice Award finalist in 2024, is out with a broken collarbone. Patterson and Brock Riddle combined for 38 passing yards in a 73-0 loss at FBS Indiana. Owens was the No. 2 rusher behind Plez Lawrence (154 yards, 4.2 average, 3 TDs). Rashad Rochelle (10 catches) and Lawrence have 100 receiving yards, and Laurence has two TDs. 

When the Grizzlies have the ball: Keali’i Ah Yat set a career high with 300 passing yards in the win over North Dakota last week and was especially effective — five sacks aside — in the fourth quarter. Eli Gillman’s 82 yards (on 16 carries) last week gave him 280 on the season, with 3 TDs. Receiver Brooks Davis (2 TDs last week) and tight end Josh Gale are coming off big games; Davis has seven catches for 106 yards in two games; Michael Wortham has 9 for 137. 

Notable: This is the return game of a 2022 matchup that Montana won 49-14 in Terre Haute. That’s the only Big Sky opponent Indiana State has faced. ... The Sycamores last made the FCS playoffs in 2014, going 1-1. ... ISU had three straight 7-4 seasons under Curt Mallory (9th season) from 2018-21 but has just eight conference wins since joining the MVC in 2021. ... S Kimal Clark, the Northeast Conference defensive player of the year at Central Connecticut in 2024, leads ISU with 31 tackles. ... The Sycamores’ last win over a ranked team was vs. North Dakota, 35-31 last Nov. 2.    

The Pick: Griz, 49-14.