Montana State defeats Idaho State 28-26 in triple overtime

Montana State secures triple overtime victory against Idaho State in Pocatello

The Montana State Bobcats overcame a deficit and survived three overtime periods to defeat the Idaho State Bengals 28-26 on Saturday evening at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello, Idaho. The victory, which swxlocalsports.com reported, was secured via a trick play in the final frame when wideout Dane Steel executed an end-around before passing to Rylan Schlepp in the end zone.

The win marks the 70th career victory for Montana State head coach Brent Vigen, tying him with Rob Ash for the most wins by a head coach in the program’s history. The game was defined by extreme momentum shifts, as the Bobcats struggled to maintain control against an Idaho State team that dominated time of possession with over 20 minutes of ball control in the first half.

Late heroics force overtime at the ICCU Dome

Montana State appeared to be heading toward a loss in regulation before a late fourth-quarter surge leveled the score. With under three minutes remaining in the game, quarterback Justin Lamson connected with Rocky Lencioni on a 20-yard touchdown pass on a critical fourth-and-10 play. Following the touchdown, the Bobcats’ defense blocked a 56-yard field goal attempt by Idaho State’s Mason Lindberg with only nine seconds left on the clock, forcing the contest into overtime.

No. 3 Montana State Defeats No. 22 Idaho State in Triple Overtime

The overtime periods followed a specific protocol requiring alternating two-point conversions from the 3-yard line. During the first overtime, the Bengals attempted a shovel pass, but the Bobcats’ defense recovered the football. In the second overtime, Montana State’s Myles Sanstead converted a field goal to take a 26-23 lead. The game reached a third overtime, where the Bobcats’ tactical trick play finally provided the winning margin.

The statistical breakdown of the key contributors during the contest is as follows:

Montana State defeats Idaho State 28-26 in triple overtime

Player	Statistic
Justin Lamson (Montana State)	22/37 passing, 209 yards, 1 TD, 46 rushing yards
Dane Steel (Montana State)	7 receptions, 75 yards
Rocky Lencioni (Montana State)	6 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD

Defensive takeaways and momentum swings

The game began with Idaho State capitalizing on early opportunities. After Montana State’s Seth Brock forced a fumble deep in Idaho State territory on the opening drive, the Bengals responded with a 42-yard field goal by Lindberg to take a 3-0 lead. Idaho State later extended their lead to 10-0 in the second quarter following a 14-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jordan Cooke.

Defense played a massive role in the shifting landscape of the game. Seth Brock recorded two significant takeaways, including an interception of a Cooke pass in the final seconds of the first half. While that interception prevented an Idaho State field goal attempt, the Bengals eventually regained the lead multiple times, including a 48-yard completion from Cooke to Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio that set up a touchdown run by Carson Sudsbery.

No. 3 Montana State survives 3-OT thriller at No. 22 Idaho State

The Bobcats’ offense faced significant pressure throughout the night. Lamson was under duress for much of the game, absorbing multiple heavy hits while managing the passing attack. Despite the physical toll, his connection with Lencioni and Steel remained the primary engine for the Montana State comeback.

The final score of 28-26 highlights a narrow margin of error for both programs in a game decided by defensive stops and special teams execution in the closing minutes of regulation and the subsequent overtime periods.