LA GRANDE, ORE. – Eastern Oregon University was defeated by No. 7 Montana Tech, 23-7, Saturday afternoon at Community Stadium.

Chris McGinnis-Parker led EOU with 111 total yards of offense. McGinnis-Parker rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries and scored the Mountaineers only touchdown of the game. Gary Posten recorded a game-high 14 tackles for EOU.

On Eastern Oregon's second drive of the game, Dominique Blackman, who was seeing his first playing time of the season, came in and drove EOU 80 yards down the field. It looked like Eastern Oregon had its first touchdown of the day on a Blackman to Justin Hernandez 20 yard pass but it was called back for a ineligible player down field. However, the Mountaineers rallied and continued to move the ball and McGinnis-Parker capped the drive off with a six yard touchdown.

With 4:55 left in the first quarter, EOU started to move the ball down the field. Blackman found Hernandez for a 21 yard pass play that put Eastern Oregon on the the EOU 49 yard line. The Mountaineers continued to move the ball and got it down to the Orediggers 27 yard line. However, the drive ended on an EOU fumble. EOU controlled the ball for seven minutes and 22 seconds in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Montana Tech scored its first touchdown of the game on a six play drive that covered 36 yards. With 11 minutes to go in the first half the game was tied at seven.

EOU struggled to get the offense going in the second quarter but the defense held strong. After a Taylor Rowe five yard rush, the Orediggers were down to the EOU four yard line. The Mountaineers held strong and forced Montana Tech to settle for a field goal.

Montana Tech's Matt Berg registered his second made field goal of the day with six seconds on the clock in the second quarter to give Montana Tech an 13-7 halftime lead.

Eastern Oregon's defense continued to hold Montana Tech to field goals to start the second half. Montana Tech's drive to start the half was down to the EOU 23 yard line after a Herman Tapley 12 yard run. The drive stalled at the 21 yard line and the Orediggers settled for Berg's third field goal of the afternoon. This one from 38 yards out to extend Montana Tech's lead to 16-7.

EOU's offense started to show a little life late in the third quarter. EOU held the ball on its own 32 yard line, and a third down and eight, Blackman rushed for an 11 yard gain to give EOU a first down. The very next play Blackman rushed for another 10 yards putting EOU in Montana Tech territory. However, the drive stalled at Montana Tech's 40 yard line and the Mountaineers had to punt.

Eastern Oregon continued to move the ball in the fourth quarter as the Mountaineers moved the ball down to the Orediggers 19 yard line. On a third and 12, Blackman found McGinnis-Parker for a four yard completion and EOU settled for the field goal attempt. Montana Tech spoiled EOU's thoughts of the field goal by blocking Marc David's 32 yard attempt.

Late in the fourth quarter Montana Tech still held a 16-7 and 3:13 left in the game Eastern Oregon went for a fourth and 10. Blackman's pass was intercepted by Andrew Cornell and returned 39 yards for an Orediggers touchdown extending the lead to 23-7.

Eastern Oregon could not get anything going after that and fell to the Orediggers 23-7.

Eastern Oregon returns to the field next Saturday when they travel to Havre, Mont. to face Montana State Northern at 1 p.m. MT.