Montana Western’s football program is entering the season with a sense of optimism that stretches beyond the usual preseason chatter.
At the heart of the Bulldogs’ attack are senior receivers Eli Nourse and Seth Shook, whose deep‑route precision has already drawn praise from coaches and teammates, while dynamic running backs Jakob Humphrey, Aidan Lammers and Landon Charlton add versatility to the backfield.
Explosive Receiving Corps
New offensive coordinator Tyler Morris, formerly the head coach at East Helena, will call the plays while preserving the team’s established offensive philosophy, a continuity that head coach Ryan Nourse believes will keep the Bulldogs’ identity intact.
The quarterback battle is shaping up as a contest between returning reserve Kaden LaPlaunt and Cal Poly transfer Sam Wulff; LaPlaunt is known for his deep‑ball accuracy, whereas Wulff brings a knack for touch passes and red‑zone efficiency.
Quarterback Duel
The offensive line, anchored by all‑Conference selections Ethan Larson and Dylan Christman, has shown marked improvement since mid‑season, addressing the inconsistencies that plagued the unit a year ago.
Line Revitalization
Special teams standout Maclain Burckley is poised to break the NAIA record for the longest field goal in a game, a milestone he hopes to achieve with the snapping precision of Jacob Westberry.
Record‑Breaking Special Teams
Defensively, the Bulldogs will rely on returning starters Connor Dunlea while integrating new pieces after the departure of key players such as Tyler Walker, Devin Crow, Keegan Muffich, Jace Fitzgerald and Brady Mounts; special‑teams leaders Canyon Sargent and Manny Variz also provide experience.
Defensive Realignment
The schedule opens on September 5 with a home matchup against MSU‑Northern, followed by a road test against Montana Tech the following weekend, as the team eyes a playoff berth and looks to translate its offensive firepower into wins.