BOZEMAN, Mont. (Interstat) — Justin Lamson threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns, Adam Jones totaled 214 yards from scrimmage and scored twice, and Montana State defeated Central Connecticut 35-30 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Bobcat Stadium in an NCAA Football Championship Division game.

Montana State improved to 4-0. Central Connecticut dropped to 0-3. The Bobcats entered after a 20-7 win at Nevada on Sept. 12, a 51-24 home win over Butler on Sept. 5 and a 54-0 win at Utah Tech on Aug. 29. The Blue Devils had lost at Toledo 63-10 on Sept. 12 and at South Dakota 59-20 on Aug. 29.

Brett Griffis led Central Connecticut by completing 18 of 30 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns. He ran 15 times for 43 yards and one touchdown. Davon Smith Jr. carried 19 times for 92 yards and caught one pass for 4 yards. Damani Williams caught six passes for 50 yards and one touchdown and returned one punt for 3 yards. Elijah Daniels had two receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown. Donovan Wadley added two catches for 45 yards. Michael Trovarelli had four catches for 37 yards. Ryan Turley had one catch for 22 yards. Austyn Howe had one catch for 11 yards. Gabriel Wiggins had one catch for 3 yards and two kick returns for 55 yards. Jack Hennessey made a 45-yard field goal.

Lamson, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound quarterback from El Dorado Hills, Calif., completed 23 of 28 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns and added eight carries for 32 yards. He did not throw an interception. Jones ran 18 times for 122 yards and caught six passes for 92 yards, scoring twice. Dane Steel caught four passes for 62 yards and one touchdown. Taco Dowler had seven receptions for 38 yards and two punt returns for 36 yards. Rocky Lencioni caught two passes for 10 yards and one touchdown. Patrick Duchien had one rush for 4 yards and one touchdown. Colson Coon ran five times for 17 yards and caught two passes for 10 yards. Carter Dahlke had one catch for 24 yards and one tackle. Jordan Reed had one catch for 3 yards. Jabez Woods returned three kickoffs for 107 yards. Jared White returned one kickoff for 15 yards. Colby Frokjer punted three times for 135 yards.

Lamson was Montana State’s top star, directing the offense with 239 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding 32 rushing yards. Jones supplied 122 rushing yards and 92 receiving yards with two scores. Griffis led Central Connecticut with 228 passing yards, 43 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Smith added 92 rushing yards, while Williams and Daniels each caught a touchdown pass.

Montana State’s defense was led by Seth Brock, who had five tackles and two sacks. Cole Taylor recorded 11 tackles and one quarterback hurry. Tayden Gray had nine tackles. Colter Petre added seven tackles. Zack Black and Zac Crews each had four tackles and one sack. Taki Uluilakepa, Xavier Ahrens and Bryant Meredith each had four tackles. Brian Harris and Tim Thomas II each had two tackles. Takhari Carr, Brendon Ross and Hunter Sharbono each had one tackle.

Central Connecticut’s Jacob Staton finished with eight tackles and one interception. Eric Jackson had seven tackles. Chris Jean had five tackles. Davion Jennings, Keith Moko, JJ Gibson and LaZaryus Toombs each had four tackles. Wayne Coleman Jr. had three tackles and one sack. Navon Mitchell had three tackles and returned a fumble 42 yards for a touchdown. Sammy Johnson punted four times for 164 yards.

Central Connecticut opened the scoring with 12:48 remaining in the second quarter when Griffis rushed right for a 2-yard touchdown. Hennessey made the extra point. Montana State answered with 8:14 left in the second quarter when Duchien rushed left for a 4-yard touchdown. Sansted made the extra point. In the third quarter, with 12:28 remaining, Jones rushed right for no gain to the Montana State 42, fumbled, and the ball was forced by Toombs and recovered by Mitchell, who returned it 42 yards for a Central Connecticut touchdown. Hennessey made the extra point. Montana State responded with 9:28 left in the third quarter when Lamson completed a short left pass to Lencioni for 9 yards and a touchdown. Sansted made the extra point.

Montana State added a 32-yard touchdown run by Jones with 12:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, and Sansted made the extra point. Central Connecticut got a 45-yard field goal from Hennessey with 9:03 remaining. Montana State answered with a 13-yard touchdown run by Jones with 4:10 left, and Sansted made the extra point. Central Connecticut scored with 54 seconds remaining when Griffis completed a short middle pass to Williams for a 15-yard touchdown. The ensuing two-point pass attempt failed, and a penalty on Montana State was marked off from the 3-yard line to the 2-yard line with no play. Montana State held on for the win.

Montana State will host Northern Arizona on Sept. 26 before traveling to Idaho on Oct. 2. The Bobcats also face Eastern Washington on Oct. 17, Weber State on Oct. 24, Cal Poly on Oct. 31, Idaho State on Nov. 7, Northern Colorado on Nov. 14 and Montana on Nov. 21. Central Connecticut will host Wagner on Oct. 3 and American International on Oct. 10. The Blue Devils travel to Mercyhurst on Oct. 17, host New Haven on Oct. 24, host Robert Morris on Oct. 31, travel to Stonehill on Nov. 7, travel to Long Island University on Nov. 13 and host Duquesne on Nov. 21.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Montana State 42, Central Connecticut 29. Interstat’s ELO system gave Montana State a 98.9 percent probability to win. Central Connecticut carried a pregame spread of plus-38.5, and the over/under line was 59.5. The teams combined for 65 points.