By Montana Tech Sports Information.
BUTTE, Mont. – The No. 16 Montana Tech Orediggers faced the first new Frontier Conference foe since 2012 for the final regular season game on Bob Green Field. The Orediggers came away with a 40-31 victory over Arizona Christian.
Tech (5-3, 4-2) came out swinging putting up the first 14 points and scored on their first three possessions of the game. Blake Thelen had his hand in all three scores running the first one into the endzone and connecting with Dylan Snyder and Mark Estes on the next two.
The Orediggers went into the locker room at halftime with a 21-7 lead.
Thelen finished the day completing 16 of 22 for 162 yards and four total touchdowns. Levi Torgerson caught Thelen’s third passing touchdown of the game in the third quarter.
The Firestorm did not want to go quietly. Tyler Duncan through a 14-yard touchdown pass to AJ Sibley narrowing the Orediggers lead to 21-14.
Linebacker Major Niccum intercepted Duncan but the Firestorm came back with their own takeaway on the next possession. Arizona Christian’s Christian Rodri took the pick 94 yards to the endzone tying the score at 21.
The Oredigger running attack racked up 306 yards on the ground in the game making the score seem less of a threat. Landers Smith finished with 183 yards on the ground and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Kaleb Winterburn also broke the century mark with 114 yards and a score.
Sibley finished with 120 yards on the ground. Duncan completed 18 of 27 for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
The Oredigger defense sacked Duncan four times in the game. Coley Wyant led Tech with 13 tackles and a sack. Payton Gosner had nine tackles and a sack.
Niccum was disruptive all day adding a sack and forced fumble to his interception. Niccum had six tackles on the day.
Jayden Downs had an interception returning it 46 yards.
Jackson Ortiz led the Firestorm with 10 tackles.
Montana Tec hits the road next weekend when they travel to Havre to face the MSU Northern Lights.
