The Eastern Oregon University football team put a pair of victories together for only the second time in two years and head to Montana Tech for a chance for three wins in a row.
The last three game win streak for the Mountaineers came in 2006 when EOU defeated Rocky Mountain, Montana State-Northern and Montana-Western to end the season. But, this Eastern team seems poised to conquer new territory for the program.
Eastern Oregon picked up a huge road victory last week with a convincing 45-24 at Montana-Western. The Mountaineers racked up 440 yards of total offense behind 319 passing yards from Chris Ware who was named the National Offensive Player of the Week that week.
Last week in Butte Mont., Montana Tech was tied with the nation's No. 2 team, Carroll College, after the first quarter but was outscored 20-0 in the final three quarters and fell to the Saints, 27-7. The Orediggers' Matt Komac threw a total of 52 passes, completing 32, in the loss. The junior finished with 294 yards in the air.
Tech's Alumni Coliseum is a tough place for opponents to play. The 3,500 seated natural grass bowl is 5,725 feet above sea level. The stadium features a brand new five million dollar scoreboard media center that includes a massive video replay board.
Last season the Mountaineers split the pair of games with Montana Tech. The Sept. 6, 2008, match-up in La Grande went to EOU after Ware passed for 234 yards and helped hold off a rally by the Orediggers. Tech won the cold, windy and snowy rematch in Butte on Oct. 11, 2008, 13-10. The low-scoring defensive duel featured 11 sacks by Montana Tech.
Tech had a pretty even offensive attack in the first game in La Grande. The Orediggers threw 37 times and ran 35 times. In the second game Tech ran the ball 48 times to its 24 passes. Montana Tech had 388 total offensive yards in the first meeting and 304 in the second.
The Orediggers had their highest amount tackles for loss yards against Eastern in 2008. The first game Tech scooted back the Mountaineers 47 yards and a phenomenal 169 yards the second game.
Montana Tech has a 9-4 lead over EOU all-time and has won five of the last six meetings against the Mountaineers. Eastern is 1-5 at Alumni Coliseum since 2000.
Tech ranks fourth in passing yards per game averaging 338 yards in the air per contest this season. Eastern Oregon currently sits in the fifth with 323 yards per game. The Orediggers 512 total offensive yards per game is sixth in the NAIA and EOU is ninth with 486 total offensive yards per game.
Montana Tech is 10th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game giving up only 58 yards on the ground per game this year.
Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT, with pregame beginning at 11:40 a.m. PT on KCMB 104.7 FM. The game will be broadcasted locally in La Grande on KCMB and can be heard anywhere at www.EOUSports.com.
