When you think of Montana athletes showing out on the football field, the first teams that come to mind are the Bobcats and Grizzlies, then comes the flurry on Frontier Conference schools.

But Saturday it was a pair of Big 12 schools that had some Treasure State athletes put on great performances. 

First, Arizona State put a scare into the then-No. 9 ranked Texas A&M Aggies with Great Falls’ Reed Harris putting up video game numbers. 

The Sun Devils senior had nine receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns, but Texas A&M pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 48-20. 

“He played great, won one-on-ones. I thought he played well,” Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham said. “I am impressed by him. He’s a great kid, great person.” 

His first score was a 21-yard catch where quarterback Cutter Boley floated the ball to Harris who beat his man on a pick route. The second touchdown was a 58-yarder where Harris got open on a crossing route and outran the Aggies defense to cut ASU’s deficit to 24-20. 

Harris also had six catches for 137 yards in the Sun Devils season opening 70-7 win over Morgan State. He nabbed a pair of touchdowns in that game as well. 

Harris and the Sun Devils now have a chance to show out on the international stage as they battle Kansas Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London for the Union Jack Classic. Kickoff is slated for 10 a.m. on FS1. 

Second was Matt “Moose” Ludwig, a freshman out of Billings West who nabbed three catches and a touchdown for Texas Tech in its win over Oregon State. 

Ludwig’s out route shook off a Beavers defender and allowed Red Raiders quarterback Tommy Castellanos to deliver the ball into the back corner of the end zone and make it a 35-24 game with one minute left. 

“The stage is not too big,” Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire said Monday of Ludwig and fellow freshman LaDamion Guyton. “For freshmen I thought they played on a really high level. 

“(Ludwig) was physical in the run game. He did get a few plays that welcomed him to college football in the run game but I am confident in him.” 

McGuire added at Texas Tech’s weekly press conference that Ludwig could play another big role in the Red Raiders Friday matchup with Houston if tight end Terrance Carter Jr. Is unable to play. Also saying he would love to see the Red Raider fans chanting “Moose” after a big play from Ludwig Friday. 

Ludwig helped Billings West to the state championship game in 2025 where they fell to Glacier at Legends Stadium 16-3. 

Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.