By Montana Tech Sports Information.
HELENA, Mont. – Montana Tech ended the season on a high note along with taking down a rival. The No. 22 Orediggers (7-3, Frontier 6-2) defeated No. 16 Carroll College (7-3, Frontier 5-3) 23-17.
The Orediggers got on the board first going 60 yards on 15 plays and finishing with a Ryan Lowry27-yard field goal.
The next score didn’t happen until the end of the half when Jack Prka completed a 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Akulschin.
The Orediggers made big plays on defense and the offense responded in the second half
Angel Sanchez III recovered a fumble on the Saint’s first offensive play of the half. Four plays later Landers Smith scored his first of two touchdowns in the half putting Tech up 10-7.
Kade Wilcox intercepted a Prka pass on the next drive putting the Oredigger offense back on the field.
Smith contributed 39 rushing yards on the eight play 80-yard drive as Tech marched down the field for another score. Blake Thelen hit Mark Estes on a 31-yard touchdown. Tech was up 17-7.
The Saint got on the board again in the fourth quarter when Prka hit Ryan Rickman for a six-yard touchdown. Carroll trailed 17-14 at that point.
Smith got his second score of the game in the fourth quarter running in from five yards out to put the Orediggers up 23-14. Smith was the dominant factor for the Orediggers carrying the ball 28 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
The Saints got a field goal in the final minutes but time ran out on a comeback.
The Saints had 425 yards of offense but struggled turning the production into points.
Tech finished wit 349 yards and capitalized on two of the three take aways in the game.
Thelen completed 16 of 23 for 170 yards and the one touchdown. Estes led the receivers with three catches for 46 yards.
Wilcox had seven tackles in addition to his interception.
JR Seewald also had seven tackles. Sanchez finished with six tackles.
Prka had 273 yards through the air and two touchdowns. Prka also had 63 yards on the ground.
Duncan Kraft lead the Saints ground attack with 72 yards.
Tucker Jones had 11 tackles.
Montana Tech finishes third in the Frontier Conference standings. The Orediggers have to wait for the at-large bid announcement as they sit on the bubble of the post season.
