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Indiana State University Athletics

Rochelle
20
Indiana St. ISU 2-2 , 0-0
63
Winner Montana UM 3-0 , 0-0
Indiana St. ISU
2-2 , 0-0
20
Final
63
Montana UM
3-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ISU Indiana St. 7 0 0 13 20
UM Montana 14 21 14 14 63

Game Recap: Football | | Seth Montgomery | GoSycamores.com

Sycamores close out 2025 non-conference slate with loss at No. 5/5 Montana

MISSOULA, Mont. – Nick Osho broke off a pair of long touchdown runs and Rashad Rochelle hauled in a 51-yard touchdown reception to highlight the Indiana State offensive efforts as the Sycamores fell on the road to No. 5/5 Montana on Saturday afternoon at Washington-Grizzly Field, 63-20.
 
The Sycamores (2-2), making the return trip of the home-and-home series started in 2022, started off strong defensively with Bryce Patterson stuffing a 3rd-and-2 for a two-yard loss on the opening drive of the game, while the Indiana State defense forced a Montana (3-0) punt on the second possession.
 
The Griz broke free on their ensuing possession as Eli Gillman went 69 yards down the right sideline for an early Montana touchdown with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter. Indiana State answered four plays later as Keegan Patterson targeted Rashad Rochelle up the seam and completed the 51-yard touchdown pass to the senior wide receiver to even the score at 7-7.
 
Montana broke loose from there scoring 49 consecutive points as Gillman added two more touchdown runs, while quarterback Keali'I Ah Yat added a 14-yard touchdown run and completed scoring passes to both Josh Gale (19 yards) and Jordan Dever (62 yards). The Griz added a defensive touchdown in the second quarter on a Solomon Tuliaupupu strip-sack recovered by TJ Rausch in the end zone to pull away.
 
Indiana State rallied late in the fourth quarter as senior running back Nick Osho broke loose with a pair of long touchdown runs. His first went for 55 yards down the left sideline with 12:14 left in the first quarter to end the Sycamores' scoring draught. His second, a 79-yard carry, featured several broken tackles near the line of scrimmage before he outran the Montana defense down the sideline for the score.
 
Osho finished with a career-high 134 rushing yards on five carries with his two rushing touchdowns highlighting the Indiana State offense. Plez Lawrence added 15 carries for 57 yards as the Sycamores racked up 198 total rushing yards on 30 carries in the game.
 
Keegan Patterson was 15-of-27 through the air for 189 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Sycamore quarterback completed passes to eight different receivers with Rochelle the top target with four catches for a season-high 75 yards and a touchdown.
 
Nic Yatsko paced the Indiana State defense with a career-high nine tackles in the game, while Braxton Sampson and Kaden Gajewski had eight stops apiece with each recording 1.0 tackles-for-loss. Bryce Patterson added a career-high seven tackles and 1.5 TFL in the contest.
 
Montana quarterback Ah Yat was 22-of-27 for 313 yards and two touchdown passes in the win. Overall, Montana quarterbacks completed passes to 11 different receivers paced by Michael Wortham's team-high five catches for 78 yards. Eli Gillman, the NCAA FCS' leading rusher heading into the game, recorded 13 carries for 120 yards and three touchdowns overall.
 
Elijawah Tolbert led Montana's defense with nine tackles and a half-sack in the contest, while Clay Oven added seven stops. Peyton Wing recorded an interception in the win.
 
News & Notes
  • Indiana State closes out nonconference play with a 2-2 overall record featuring wins over McKendree and Eastern Illinois, while falling to Indiana and Montana.
  • Nick Osho recorded his first 100-yard rushing game as an Indiana State Sycamore following his 134-yard performance.
  • Osho's 100-yard game and Indiana State's second 100-yard rushing game of the season following Lawrence's 133-yard, two-touchdown game against McKendree in the season opener.
  • Yatsko's nine tackles marked a career-high for the redshirt freshman safety.
  • The Sycamores fall to 0-2 all-time against Montana.
Team Green Law Postgame Press Conference

 
Up Next
Indiana State closes out the three-game road trip on Saturday, October 4, as the Sycamores travel to Carbondale, Ill. for the start of Missouri Valley Football Conference play. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Southern Illinois Salukis is set for 7 p.m. ET at Saluki Stadium and will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Football, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
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