By Montana Tech Sports Information
BUTTE, Mont. – The No. 16 Montana Tech Orediggers celebrated Homecoming with a 49-31 victory over the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers.
An entire quarter almost went by before the Oredigger offense set foot on Bob Green Field. The Orediggers scored on five straight drives burying the Mountaineers in points claiming victory in front of 4,386 fans.
The Mountaineers chewed up over 10 minutes on their first drive of the game. Eastern Oregon finished the 17 play and 69-yard drive with a 31-yard field goal by Ethan Cutler.
Then the Oredigger offense took over the defense stimied. .
Blake Counts rushed for 48 of the 72-yard drive finishing with his first touchdown of the game. The senior ended the day with 122 yards and three touchdowns.
The Orediggers forced the Mountaineers to punt on their next possession. Landers Smith blocked the punt setting Tech up at the Eastern 25-yard line. Two running plays later by Kaleb Winterburnput the Orediggers up 14-3.
Tech’s Matt Whitcomb forced a Mountaineer fumble and Jaden MacNeil landed on the ball giving the Oredigger offense great field position again. The Tech offense scored on only two plays to score again. Blake Thelen hit Jordan Jacksonon a 32-yard touchdown to go up 21-3.
The Mountaineers tried to cut the lead before halftime putting a 10 play 75-yard scoring drive together with 3:35 left before the break. Running back Anthony Peterson scored his first of two touchdowns on the day from nine yards out bringing the score to 21-10. Peterson finished the day with 69 yards.
The Orediggers marched right back down the field as Thelen went 3 for 3 on the drive with 74 yards and finished the scoring drive himself running in from one yard out. Thelen finished the game going 14 for 17 for 224 yards and three total touchdowns.
The Orediggers led 28-10 at halftime.
Counts scored from eight yards out and Wyatt Alexander hauled in a 34-yard touchdown putting the Tech lead to 42-17 at the end of the third quarter.
Alexander led the Orediggers with 75-yards receiving on four catches. Jackson had 68 yards and four catches.
Winterburn finished with 53 yards on the ground.
The Orediggers averaged 5.4 yards a carry on the day amassing 190 yards on the ground.
Jadyn Downs finished with 11 tackles to lead the Orediggers and Cole Wyant had 10.
Wyant and Tel Arthur had two tackles for a loss each and Arthur finished with seven stops.
MacNeil had an interception to go with his fumble recovery finishing with two tackles.
Malachi Spurrie had five catches for 147 yards and a touchdown for the Mountaineers.
Quarterback Quincy Glasper went 17 for 29 for 183 yards.
Montana Tech is home again next weekend. The Orediggers host the College of Idaho with an early start time next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for noon against the Yotes.
