Montana State Edges Idaho State in Triple Overtime Thriller

The Montana State Bobcats kept their high-stakes season on track Saturday night, surviving a grueling triple-overtime battle against Idaho State in Pocatello.

In a game defined by narrow margins and late-game adjustments, wide receiver Dane Steele became the unlikely hero, tossing a decisive 2-point conversion pass to tight end Rylan Schlepp to secure a 28-26 victory.

According to reports from both ABC News and Yahoo Sports, the game-winning play originated from a design that caught the Bengals’ defense off guard.

Quarterback Justin Lamson flipped the ball to Steele on an end-around; rather than tucking the ball to run, Steele rolled right and connected with a wide-open Schlepp in the end zone. The play served as the final chapter of a contest that saw both teams trade field goals throughout the first two overtime periods.

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The Bobcats' win strengthens their position in the Big Sky Conference. Currently ranked third in the Stats Perform poll, Montana State moved to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play. The victory also extended a lopsided trend in the series; Montana State has now won five straight games against Idaho State and 16 of the last 17 meetings. The Bengals’ last success in this matchup remains a 24-17 home win back in 2018.

The intensity of the evening was palpable as both squads struggled to find the end zone during the final minutes of regulation. Lamson, who finished the night 22-of-37 for 209 yards, managed to force overtime by connecting with Rocky Lencioni for a 20-yard touchdown pass with just 2:24 remaining in the fourth quarter, knotting the score at 20-all.

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While the game was ultimately decided by trickery in overtime, the regulation play was a study in contrasts between the two offenses. Idaho State’s Jordan Cooke was particularly busy, completing 30 of 52 passes for 318 yards and adding a touchdown run, though he also threw one interception. The following table highlights the scoring contributions that kept the game deadlocked.

Category	Montana State	Idaho State
Passing Yards	209	318
Field Goals Made	4	4
Total Record	9-1	6-4

The kicking game proved vital as both teams relied on their specialists to survive the defensive stalemate. Myles Sansted was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts for the Bobcats, while Idaho State’s Mason Lindberg converted four of his five attempts. The inability of either team to pull away in regulation forced the high-pressure overtime scenarios that eventually led to the 2-point conversion shootout.

Brent Vigen after Montana State’s 3-OT win at Idaho State

The stakes for the remainder of the season are clear for both programs. Montana State looks toward a matchup at Northern Colorado next Saturday, aiming to solidify their position in the national rankings. Meanwhile, Idaho State, sitting at 6-4 overall and 3-4 in conference play, must regroup before facing Montana.

As the dust settles in Pocatello, the question remains whether Montana State’s reliance on complex situational plays will hold up against higher-ranked opponents in the coming weeks. While the trick play worked under the lights on Saturday, the Bobcats will need to maintain their offensive rhythm as the conference schedule reaches its conclusion.