DILLON, Mont. – The Eastern Oregon University football team will be looking for another victory Saturday at the University of Montana Western.

It will be the 15th meeting between the programs, with Eastern holding a 10-4 advantage. The teams have split their six meetings at Vigilante Stadium. The trip to Dillon from La Grande is 589 miles, and is Eastern's shortest trip this season. The last time Western won in La Grande was in 2002 when the Bulldogs defeated the Mountaineers in their season opener, 24-21. EOU has won three straight over Western, the longest winning streak for the Mountaineers over any Frontier Conference opponent. The last loss to the Bulldogs was on Sept. 20, 2008, in Dillon.

The last meeting in Dillon went to Eastern Oregon, 45-24, on Sept. 12, 2009. The Mountaineers got six touchdowns from quarterback Chris Ware, five passing and one rushing score. Jordyn Jackson was on the receiving end of two touchdown passes from Ware. The EOU defense held a talented Western passing offense to 273 yards in the air.

The most recent meeting was on Eastern's homecoming, Oct. 17, 2009, the Mountaineers held off a phenomenal second half rally from the Bulldogs. Eastern jumped out to a 40-10 lead early in the second half, before UMW went on a 20-0 run over the final 24 minutes of the game. EOU won 40-30 behind 10 broken school records in the game.

Ware broke four records himself, he threw his 46th touchdown pass, and also broke Greg Stevens 18-year-old record of passing yards in a season. Ware had thrown for 2,560 yards at that point of the season. He broke his own record for total offensive yards in a season he set in 2008. Ware finished the day throwing for 279 yards, completing 19 of his 31 attempts. He had one interception and four touchdowns, three passing and one rushing.

EOU gained 143 yards on the ground, while Montana Western had 103. UMW's Micah Mamiya threw for 321 yards, completing 36 of his 65 passes. He finished with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Craig Cornelius caught 13 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown. Charlie Dotson led the Bulldogs on the ground with eight carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bulldogs last had a winning record in 2004 when they had a 7-4 record. In 2002 UMW went 9-3, and in 2003 they finished 7-4. Montana Western began football in 1924. Its last postseason appearance came in 2002 and ended in with a 30-12 loss to Southern Oregon. The Bulldogs have made three postseason appearances. The football program has an all-time record of 201-263-13.

Mamiya has been replaced by Zach McRae on the UMW two-deep roster. McRae is a junior and Dillon native who will share time with Mamiya. McRae has thrown for 572 yards and has 605 yards of total offense. Colton Woods is the favorite target for Western quarterbacks. Woods has 28 receptions which is second in the NAIA and leads the Frontier Conference.

On defense Trent Mallory and Penisoni Tuifua will lead the Bulldog attack. Mallory is third iin the conference in total sacks and Tuifua ranks. As a team, UMW is seventh in the country in sacks per game. Western is averaging only nine points a game on offense and giving up 28 per game.

The Bulldogs are 0-4 and are coming off a 28-2 loss at home to No. 3 Carroll College last week. All the game's points were scored in the first half, including 14 in each of the first and second quarters for the Saints. Carroll outgained UMW, 310 to 183, in total offensive yards. Western gained 61 yards on the ground and is averaging a conference-low, 76.8 yards per game. Eastern leads the Frontier with an average of 155.8 per game.

Saturday's game kicks off at noon Pacific Time and will have live video available on EOUSports.com and a live broadcast on KCMB 104.7 FM. Gary Henderson will have the play-by-play with Barrett Henderson doing the color commentary. There will be a live video watch party at Benchwarmers Pub and Grill in La Grande. Forecasts for Saturday is sunny with temperatures in the high 70's.