The Eastern Oregon football team is guaranteed to have its 22nd winning season in its 80 years of football.
Standing in the way of the No. 18 Mountaineers seventh victory of the season is Montana Tech Saturday. EOU has only won seven games in a season twice in school history. Eastern has not won seven games in a season in 29 years when it set a school record with eight wins in a season.
Eastern Oregon broke 10 school records in last Saturday's victory over Montana Western. Fans may see nine more school records fall this Saturday at Community Stadium. Tech holds a 9-5 edge in the 14 meetings with the Mountaineers all-time. However, the Orediggers have lost in their last two trips to La Grande. Montana Tech is 4-3 at Community Stadium.
The Orediggers led EOU after the first quarter in the season's first meeting on Sept. 19 in Butte, Mont. But the Mountaineers outscored Tech 27-13 over the final three quarters and won the game, 30-20. It was only the second time Eastern won in Butte. EOU gained 490 yards of offense and Montana Tech had 406. Skyler Knuchel gained 91 yards on 14 carries for the Orediggers and found the endzone twice. Eastern's Chris Ware threw for 334 yards, completing 29 of his 37 attempts. Tech's Matt Komac gained 225 yards through the air, completing 18 of his 30 attempts. Seath Kimball had 4.5 tackles for loss for the Mountaineers.
The Orediggers defense is third in the nation in sacks totaling 28 this season, averaging 3.5 per game. Punter Brian Nickel's 40.9 yards per punt is fourth in the NAIA. Tech is ninth in the country in rushing defense allowing only 83.5 yards on the ground per game. Komac is ninth in the nation in total offense with 1,863 yards.
Eastern Oregon is third in the NAIA in pass offense with 2,623 yards. The Mountaineers 308 points scored in 2009 is sixth in the nation. Ware is second in total offensive yards and passing yards in the NAIA. Kimball is third in the country in tackles for loss and sacks.
Last Saturday Montana Tech was featured in the CollegeFanz.com NAIA Game of the Week against Carroll College. The Orediggers were overwhelmed by the Saints in Helena, 23-3. Tech allowed 383 yards of total offense, while gaining 305. Komac went 25 of 37 for 189 yards with an interception. Kyle Lewis caught nine passes for 82 yards for the Orediggers. Knuchel carried the ball 13 times for 35 yards.
Saturday's game time is set for 1 p.m. with pregame beginning at 12:40 p.m. on KCMB 104.7 FM and www.EOUSports.com. There will be a live video stream of the game and a live interactive blog fans can follow and add comments. Forecasts at kickoff call for 55 degrees with a 20 percent chance of rain.
