LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University football team overcame a 14-0 first quarter deficit to defeat Montana Tech, 31-20, on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Community Stadium.
The Orediggers jumped out to an early lead as they only took three minutes off the clock on their first drive of the day. Pat Hansen capped off the drive for Montana Tech with a seven yard touchdown run, putting Montana Tech on top, 7-0.
Montana Tech continued to extend their lead over EOU. With 3:45 to go in the first quarter, the Orediggers picked off
Zach Bartlow and returned it for a touchdown. This run extended the Orediggers lead to 14-0 over EOU.
Late in the first quarter, after a huge Mountaineers' defensive stop, Eastern Oregon's offense started to click.
Jace Billingsley put EOU on the board with one minute to go in the quarter. Billingsley went 22 yards on a fourth and two putting EOU down, 14-7.
The Orediggers continued to add to their lead in the second quarter. On a fourth and four, Montana Tech's Dawson Reardon found Hanson for a four yard touchdown pass, extending the Orediggers lead to 20-7.
After trailing by 13 points, the Mountaineers offense and defense began to fire. EOU's Bartlow converted a fourth down to keep the drive alive for EOU.
TJ Esekielu capped off the drive on a four yard touchdown run, trimming the Orediggers lead to 20-14, with 2:10left in the first half.
At the end of the second quarter EOU's
Ronnie Flowers recorded his first interception of the game to keep the Mountaineers down six points, 20-14, at halftime.
To start the second half, EOU drove down the field to give EOU their first lead of the day. Billingsley recorded a 40 yard rush on the drive and Bartlow capped it off with an 11 yard touchdown run giving EOU a 21-20 lead.
Flowers recorded his second interception on his own 43 yard line. This set up the Mountaineers for another scoring drive. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Bartlow went 12 yards on a fourth and two, extending the lead to 28-20.
The Mountaineers defense continued to come up big in the second half. EOU forced the Orediggers into a fumble and EOU took over on Montana Techs' 16 yard line.
Eastern Oregon looked to extend their lead as they moved the ball down to the Orediggers' five yard line. The Mountaineers' drive stalled and EOU settled for a 21 yard field goal putting EOU on top, 31-20.
The Orediggers did not have an answer and EOU came away with a 31-20 victory.
The Mountaineers return to action next Saturday, Nov. 8, when they travel to Caldwell, Idaho to face College of Idaho. Kickoff is set 11 a.m. PT.
