Justin Lamson
Photo by: Brian Morse
Offensive Stars and Championship Rings Shine During Sonny Holland Spring Scrimmage
4/25/2026 8:30:00 PM | Football
Justin Lamson was brilliant in the spring finale
BOZEMAN, Mont. (April 25, 2026) – Senior quarterback Justin Lamson threw for 192 yards and rushed for 43, leading Montana State's Gold team to a 30-14 win in the Sonny Holland Scrimmage in Bozeman on Saturday.
The annual event closed the spring football practice session for MSU, and offered the first public look at the 2026 Bobcats. But the day began with a look back at a 2025 season that ended with Montana State's first National Championship since 1984.
"It was great to recognize the '25 team and get our rings out," sixth-year head coach Brent Vigen said of the distribution of championship rings that preceded the scrimmage. "Getting that turnaround so today could be part celebration and certainly part spring game was the intent back in January, and I appreciate our equipment manager Justin Jessop for coordinating that."
In a big-picture sense, though, the scrimmage was the day's main story and Lamson was the scrimmage's brightest star. "I thought in particular in the last couple of scrimmages Justin has really performed well. When he's playing like that there's a different efficiency about the first offense than maybe any other unit."
Lamson asserted himself immediately, leading the Gold team – comprised primarily of the first offensive and second defensive units – to a 75-yard, 14-play drive. Senior running back Jared White capped it with a three-yard run. White was another of the day's top performers, rushing for 68 yards on 16 carries.
The Most Outstanding Player of January's FCS Championship Game, Lamson led touchdown drives on his first four full drives. He threw a 40-yard pass to Carter Curnow on the Gold's second drive, rushed for a four-yard score on his third drive, and threw also a four-yard pass to Dane Steel.
While Vigen was impressed with the offensive output, he offered a caveat. "We had a lot of missing pieces (on defense)," he said. "That's kind of where we're at. But I know we'll get those guys back, and we feel good about the defense moving forward."
The matchup at the line of scrimmage offered an interesting contrast, with MSU's experienced offensive front squaring off with a defensive line replacing all four starters. "I'd say maybe I'd give the edge to the O-line, but I did think we did a better job containing the run and then rushing the passer," Vigen said, "whereas last week there was a few more runs that popped in general."
MSU quarterbacks threw for 252 yards on 38-49-1 passing on the day, while the offenses rushed for 245 yards on 49 carries. Vigen praised his team's offensive diversity and efficiency. "We have the ability to be a big-play outfit, but being able to lean on a level of efficiency and consistency is what is ultimately the most important thing."
The Bobcats resume official practices leading up to the 2026 season in late July, with an August 29 season opener scheduled at Utah Tech.
RUSHING: Colson Coon 13-48-0, Jared White 16-68-1, Justin Lamson 7-43-1, Cale Breslin 6-40-0, River Warren 4-6-0, Malachi Claunch 2-7-0, Carter Dahlke 1-33-0
PASSING: Justin Lamson 19-22-0, 192, 2; River Warren 11-15-1, 62, 0; Grant Vigen 8-12-0, 98, 0; Parker Mady 1-1-0, 50, 1.
RECEIVING: Carter Cocke 5-46-0, Jabez Woods 5-55-0, Dane Steel 4-27-1, Carter Curnow 3-54-0, George Helms 3-20-0, Jared White 2-2-0, Jordan Reed 2-38-0, Nick Seymour 2-50-1, Luke Smith 2-20-1, Cale Breslin 2-11-0, Malachi Claunch 2-0-0, Parker Mady 2-54-0, Colson Coon 1-8-0, Adam Jones 1-8-0, Carter Dahlke 1-8-0, Tommy Springman 1-11-0.
INTERCEPTIONS: Vinnie Souza 1
SACKS: Dominic Solano 3, Zac Waible 1, Jake Vigen 1
SCORING SUMMARY
GOLD – Jared White 4 run (Rubich), 7-0
GOLD – Carter Curnow 40 from Justin Lamson (Rubich), 14-0
WHITE – Nick Seymour 50 from Parker Mady (Sansted), 14-7
GOLD – Justin Lason 4 run (Rubich), 21-7
GOLD – Dane Steel 4 from Justin Lamson (Rubich), 28-7
GOLD – Safety (holding in end zone), 30-7
WHITE – Luke Smith 2 from Grant Vigen (Sansted), 30-14
#GoCatsGo
The annual event closed the spring football practice session for MSU, and offered the first public look at the 2026 Bobcats. But the day began with a look back at a 2025 season that ended with Montana State's first National Championship since 1984.
"It was great to recognize the '25 team and get our rings out," sixth-year head coach Brent Vigen said of the distribution of championship rings that preceded the scrimmage. "Getting that turnaround so today could be part celebration and certainly part spring game was the intent back in January, and I appreciate our equipment manager Justin Jessop for coordinating that."
In a big-picture sense, though, the scrimmage was the day's main story and Lamson was the scrimmage's brightest star. "I thought in particular in the last couple of scrimmages Justin has really performed well. When he's playing like that there's a different efficiency about the first offense than maybe any other unit."
Lamson asserted himself immediately, leading the Gold team – comprised primarily of the first offensive and second defensive units – to a 75-yard, 14-play drive. Senior running back Jared White capped it with a three-yard run. White was another of the day's top performers, rushing for 68 yards on 16 carries.
The Most Outstanding Player of January's FCS Championship Game, Lamson led touchdown drives on his first four full drives. He threw a 40-yard pass to Carter Curnow on the Gold's second drive, rushed for a four-yard score on his third drive, and threw also a four-yard pass to Dane Steel.
While Vigen was impressed with the offensive output, he offered a caveat. "We had a lot of missing pieces (on defense)," he said. "That's kind of where we're at. But I know we'll get those guys back, and we feel good about the defense moving forward."
The matchup at the line of scrimmage offered an interesting contrast, with MSU's experienced offensive front squaring off with a defensive line replacing all four starters. "I'd say maybe I'd give the edge to the O-line, but I did think we did a better job containing the run and then rushing the passer," Vigen said, "whereas last week there was a few more runs that popped in general."
MSU quarterbacks threw for 252 yards on 38-49-1 passing on the day, while the offenses rushed for 245 yards on 49 carries. Vigen praised his team's offensive diversity and efficiency. "We have the ability to be a big-play outfit, but being able to lean on a level of efficiency and consistency is what is ultimately the most important thing."
The Bobcats resume official practices leading up to the 2026 season in late July, with an August 29 season opener scheduled at Utah Tech.
RUSHING: Colson Coon 13-48-0, Jared White 16-68-1, Justin Lamson 7-43-1, Cale Breslin 6-40-0, River Warren 4-6-0, Malachi Claunch 2-7-0, Carter Dahlke 1-33-0
PASSING: Justin Lamson 19-22-0, 192, 2; River Warren 11-15-1, 62, 0; Grant Vigen 8-12-0, 98, 0; Parker Mady 1-1-0, 50, 1.
RECEIVING: Carter Cocke 5-46-0, Jabez Woods 5-55-0, Dane Steel 4-27-1, Carter Curnow 3-54-0, George Helms 3-20-0, Jared White 2-2-0, Jordan Reed 2-38-0, Nick Seymour 2-50-1, Luke Smith 2-20-1, Cale Breslin 2-11-0, Malachi Claunch 2-0-0, Parker Mady 2-54-0, Colson Coon 1-8-0, Adam Jones 1-8-0, Carter Dahlke 1-8-0, Tommy Springman 1-11-0.
INTERCEPTIONS: Vinnie Souza 1
SACKS: Dominic Solano 3, Zac Waible 1, Jake Vigen 1
SCORING SUMMARY
GOLD – Jared White 4 run (Rubich), 7-0
GOLD – Carter Curnow 40 from Justin Lamson (Rubich), 14-0
WHITE – Nick Seymour 50 from Parker Mady (Sansted), 14-7
GOLD – Justin Lason 4 run (Rubich), 21-7
GOLD – Dane Steel 4 from Justin Lamson (Rubich), 28-7
GOLD – Safety (holding in end zone), 30-7
WHITE – Luke Smith 2 from Grant Vigen (Sansted), 30-14
#GoCatsGo
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