Instead of playing into the hands of Northern Arizona’s defense, Taco Dowler told fellow Montana State wide receiver Jabez Woods to switch places.

Dowler — MSU’s leading receiver who had just scored on a punt return — lined up on the right side, knowing the NAU secondary would key in on him. Woods, a redshirt freshman, stayed on the left, and found space over the middle. As MSU quarterback Justin Lamson launched a pass with pressure in his face, only NAU safety Nahamani Harris reacted.

Seventy-nine yards later, Woods won the race to the end zone.

“It was a perfect ball,” Woods said Monday, adding, “I knew I had to finish the play from there.”

Dowler’s playmaking this season has opened up space for MSU’s other receivers, Woods said. But Woods’ TD — the longest play from scrimmage thi

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