BOZEMAN, Mont. — Tight end Brandon Bostick caught three touchdown passes from two quarterbacks, sparking Montana State to a 59-3 rout of Division II Adams State in a lightning-delayed season opener Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
Bostick caught two touchdown passes from junior backup Mark Iddins and a third from sophomore starter Cody Kempt in the debut of the Bobcats’ new artificial turf.
Freshman tailback C.J. Palmer of Sprint, Texas, had touchdown runs of 11 and 58 yards as Montana State prevailed in its first home season opener since 2004 — a 19-0 victory over Adams State.
Adams State, a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, didn’t cross midfield until six minutes remained in the third quarter and didn’t score until a 45-yard field goal by Dustin Bolt with five seconds to play.
The Grizzlies’ deepest penetration until the final minute was the Bobcats’ 47-yard line.
The game was delayed and the stadium evacuated for 43 minutes at the beginning of the third quarter because of lightning strikes detected west of the stadium.
When the teams resumed play with the Bobcats leading 38-0, the stands remained empty for safety reasons for about 15 minutes.
Emporia (Kan.) State 42, Western State 0
EMPORIA, Kan. — Emporia State (1-0) racked up 447 yards in total offense in rolling past visiting Western State (0-1) in the season opener for both teams.
It was Emporia’s first shutout since 2000 and its first at home since a 5-0 win over Harding in 1989. The Hornets were led by quarterback Andre Sloan El, who completed 14-of-17 passes for 185 yards and rushed for a team-high 62 yards.
Western State’s Cameron Merrill went 7-for-10 for 43 yards passing.
• Chadron State began defense of its RMAC title by cruising to a 37-17 victory over Mary University (N.D.) on Thursday.
• The other RMAC teams in action Thursday didn’t fare well. New Mexico Highlands, Colorado Mines and Mesa State all lost.
