DILLON, Mont. – In a matchup of NAIA top-25 programs, No. 20 Dickinson State dropped a 41-21 decision to No. 9 Montana Western on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium. The Blue Hawks fell to 2-2 on the season.
After Montana Western opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown pass, Dickinson State answered with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Hudsen Grovom to tie the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter.
That would be the only score of the half for the Blue Hawks, who reached the red zone four times in the first half but converted just once. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs built a 21-7 halftime lead and extended it to 28-7 midway through the third quarter behind a potent passing attack.
"The guys played with very good effort today," said head coach Pete Stanton. "We need to figure out a way to get off the field on defense on third down. We had some great opportunities to score in the first half being in the red zone four times but have to finish."
Dickinson State clawed back early in the fourth quarter. Grovom found Gage Gilbert for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-14 with 13:01 remaining. The Blue Hawks then recovered a perfectly executed onside kick and marched 50 yards in six plays, capped by a 5-yard Grovom rushing touchdown—his second of the game—to pull within 28-21.
Montana Western responded on the next possession with a 90-yard scoring drive to push the lead back to 14. The Bulldogs added a final touchdown with just over three minutes to play after an interception halted DSU's comeback hopes.
Grovom finished with 52 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a passing score on 6-of-15 completions. Jace Friesz added 103 passing yards on 10 completions. Adrien Calderon led the receiving corps with 52 yards on four catches, while Gilbert had three grabs for 22 yards and a touchdown. Jackson Simonson rushed 18 times for 64 yards.
The Blue Hawks ran 84 offensive plays to Montana Western's 44 and held a 38:16 to 18:31 edge in time of possession. DSU also outpaced the Bulldogs in first downs (24 to 17), but gave up 376 passing yards and five touchdown passes while going 3-for-5 in the red zone.
Dylan Dahlgren led the defense with six tackles and a sack. Jack Hartman registered an interception, and Ty Nelson forced a fumble on special teams.
