By MT Tech Sports Information
The Orediggers hang their first W of the season, and it’s a big one.
Montana Tech went on the road Saturday night to Ellensburg, Washington to take on (Div. II) Central Washington. This was the first meeting ever between these two programs.
The Wildcats of Central Washington fell last week at (FCS) Weber State 35-10, but were fully in that game at half, trailing 14-10. The Orediggers entered week two looking to shake the heartbreaking 21-19 loss to Carroll College in week one.
Montana Tech started the game with the ball and after a big return to midfield by Levi Torgerson, quickly slammed it into the endzone three plays later. The Orediggers grabbed the first points of the game, but it didn’t take long for the Wildcats to respond. Both offenses were firing on all cylinders in the first quarter with the Wildcats holding a 14-13 lead after the first 15 minutes.
The points dried up in the second quarter, as both defenses settled in and started to take control. There were seven combined offensive possessions in the second quarter, and only one of those produced points, a 21-yard boot by Montana Tech’s Ryan Lowry.
Montana Tech’s special teams were far from being done in this game.
With 8:36 left in the third quarter Montana Tech was looking at 4th and 9 on the Wildcats 45 yards line. First Team All-Conference punter Andrew Almos came in to punt it away to Central Washington with the Orediggers trailing 21-16. Instead of blasting it toward coffin corner, the Diggs ran the fake punt and Almos delivered a strike to Levi Torgerson that went for 31 yards, all the way down to the Wildcats 14-yard line. The next snap quarterback Blake Thelen found Wyatt Alexander for a touchdown. After the PAT the Orediggers led 23-21, and they would never trail again.
For Montana Tech, quarterback Blake Thelen threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns, on 15 completions. Blake was also not sacked in the contest.
Senior running back Blake Counts racked up 127 yards rushing on 28 carries, averaging 4.5 a carry.
Wyatt Alexander had another big game at receiver, with five catches good for 116 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Levi Torgerson ended with four receptions for 70 yards and a score. Levi also accounted for two kick returns for 63 yards.
Defensively the Orediggers were led by Kade Wilcox who tallied 10 total tackles, nine of those solo. Angel Sanchez III, Tal Arthur, and Jaden MacNeil each finished with seven tackles. Transfer Linebacker Major Niccum made some waves with six tackles, .5 sacks and an interception.
In addition to his huge fake punt pass, Andrew Almos had five punts on the night, averaging 46.4 per kick. Two of his punts were inside the 20-yard line, he also blasted a kick 66 yards.
The Wildcats ran the ball extremely well, finishing with two different backs with over 100 yards each, Tyler Flanagan ran for 150 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries, Tre’Jon Henderson rushed for 138 yards and 2 scores on 18 carries.
Full numbers can be viewed HERE.
Montana Tech will come home to start the Frontier Conference regular season play with the Mountaineers of Eastern Oregon University next Saturday at 1pm. Make sure to get your tickets, you don’t want to miss this.
