Venue & Game Details
- Kickoff Time: 1:00 PM MDT (2:00 PM CDT)
- Venue: Bulldog Stadium, Dillon, Montana
- Capacity: ~4,000
- Conference: Frontier Conference (both programs are members in 2025)
- Event: Montana Western Shepherd’s Garage Game Day / Homecoming
Weather Forecast (Dillon, MT)
- Kickoff Temperature: ~20°C (68°F), cooling into the upper 50s by evening
- Conditions: Mostly sunny with scattered clouds
- Wind: 10–15 km/h from the west
- Precipitation:
- Impact: Ideal fall football weather; altitude (5,200 ft) could test Dickinson State’s conditioning.
Injury Report
- Dickinson State Blue Hawks:
- QB group healthy; starter threw for 2 TDs in the 30–15 win over Valley City State (Aug 28).
- RB rotation intact, with one back averaging 85+ yards per game.
- Secondary thin after injuries in the 7–35 loss to Carroll (Sept 20).
- Montana Western Bulldogs:
- QB group healthy; starter threw for 3 TDs in the 35–21 win at Rocky Mountain (Sept 20).
- WR corps intact, including a top target who had 120 yards vs. MSU-Northern.
- DL slightly banged up but starters expected to play.
(Note: NAIA programs release limited injury info; updates closer to kickoff may adjust this.)
Key Player Matchups
- Dickinson State QB vs. Montana Western Secondary
- DSU QB has averaged 210 passing yards per game but struggled vs. Carroll’s defense.
- Montana Western’s secondary has forced multiple turnovers in two of three games.
- Montana Western QB vs. DSU Defensive Front
- UMW QB threw for 3 TDs in the Rocky Mountain win.
- DSU’s defense allowed 35 points to Carroll and must generate pressure to stay competitive.
- Running Game Battle
- DSU RB averaging nearly 90 yards per game.
- UMW RB committee has combined for 150+ rushing yards per game.
Recent Team Form
- Dickinson State Blue Hawks (2–1)
- W 30–15 vs. Valley City State (Aug 28)
- W 33–16 @ MSU-Northern (Sept 13)
- L 7–35 vs. Carroll (Sept 20)
- Strengths: Balanced offense, opportunistic defense.
- Weaknesses: Secondary depth, struggled against top-tier opponents.
- Montana Western Bulldogs (2–1)
- L 27–38 @ Montana Tech (Aug 28)
- W 52–0 vs. MSU-Northern (Sept 6)
- W 35–21 @ Rocky Mountain (Sept 20)
- Strengths: Explosive passing game, strong home-field advantage.
- Weaknesses: Defense vulnerable against elite rushing attacks.
Conference vs. Conference
- Both teams are Frontier Conference rivals.
- This is a cross-division Frontier matchup with early-season playoff implications.
- Montana Western is looking to stay in the Frontier title race, while Dickinson State is seeking a statement road win.
Series History
- All-time series: Montana Western leads.
- Last 3 meetings: Montana Western has won 2 of 3.
- 2024 season: Montana Western defeated Dickinson State 28–14 in Dickinson, ND.
- Trend: Montana Western has had the upper hand recently, especially at home.
Betting Trends
- Dickinson State:
- 2–1 ATS in 2025
- 1–4 ATS in last 5 vs. Frontier opponents
- 3 of last 4 games have gone Under
- Montana Western:
- 2–1 ATS in 2025
- 4–1 ATS in last 5 home games
- 3 of last 4 games have gone Over
Historical Betting Results
- 2024: Montana Western -6.5 covered in a 28–14 win (Under cashed).
- 2023: Dickinson State +3.5 upset Montana Western 24–21 (Over cashed).
- 2022: Montana Western -7.5 covered in a 31–17 win (Under cashed).
Game Odds
Dickinson State Blue Hawks 52
Montana Western Bulldogs – 7.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
