Box Score BILLINGS, Mont. – With three seconds on the clock and the game tied at 24-24,
Marc David lined up for a 30 yard field goal. David's kick went through the upright and the No. 21 Eastern Oregon University football team defeated No. 10 Rocky Mountain, 27-24.
Zach Bartlow led the Mountaineers on offense, as he was 24-of-40 for 220 yards and one touchdown. Bartlow led the Mountaineers on the ground with 91 yards. AJ Prom followed with 89 yards.
Justin Hernandez recorded seven receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown, to lead EOU. The Mountaineers rushed for 260 yards on the game.
On the third Mountaineers possession EOU scored the first touchdown of the game. EOU went 34 yards on five plays.
TJ Esekielu capped off the drive with an 11 yard touchdown run with 4:18 left in the first quarter. EOU went for a two point conversion, that was no good and EOU led 6-0.
The Mountaineers extended their lead to 13-0, early in the second quarter.
Zach Bartlow found
Justin Hernandez on three straight passes; the third resulted in a 15 yard touchdown reception. After the PAT, EOU led 13-0.
Eastern Oregon's defense kept the Battlin' Bears offense quiet and, at halftime, EOU led 13-0.
The Mountaineers forced a three out on Rocky Mountain's second possession in the second half, however,
Jace Billingsley muffed the punt and the Battlin' Bears recovered. After recovering the fumble, Rocky Mountain went 63 yards for their first touchdown and trimmed EOU's lead to six points, 13-7.
After the touchdown, the Battlin' Bears offense started clicking and senior Bryce Baker led Rocky Mountain down the field. On a third and five, on EOU's 11 yard line, Baker carried the ball for a one yard gain. This forcing the Battlin' Bears into a 27 yard field goal, to trim the lead down to13-10.
Eastern Oregon answered back, as their offense continued to move the ball down the field. EOU's drive stalled on the Rocky Mountain 19 yard line and David made a 36 yard field goal, putting EOU back on top by six, 16-10.
The Mountaineers lead did not last long as the Battlin' Bears offense was starting to strike. On a six play drive, Rocky Mountain took the ead over EOU, 17-16, after Baker found Mackenzie McGrath for a 40 yard touchdown.
Eastern Oregon wasted little time answering the Battlin' Bears' touchdown. On the sixth play of the Mountaineers drive,
Jace Billingsley took a handoff and went 35 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. The Mountaineers went for two and Bartlow found Billingsley for the two point conversion, growing EOU's lead by seven points by seven points, 24.17.
EOU's lead lasted only two minutes. Baker led Rocky Mountain down the field, on five plays, and capped off with a touchdown pass to Ryan Toner to tie the game at 24-24.
With six minutes to go in the game, EOU took over and started to move the ball down the field to regain the lead. On the Mountaineers eighth play of the drive, Bartlow found AJ Prom for a 32 yard reception, unfortunately, Prom fumbled and Rocky Mountain took over with one and a half minutes left.
The Mountaineers offense was off the field for two plays, as
Ronnie Flowers picked off Baker to give EOU the ball back on the Battlin' Bears 26 yard line. Eastern Oregon continued to slowly move the ball down the field and with three seconds remaining David lined up for the game winning field goal. David's kick went through the uprights and EOU came away with a, 27-24, victory over No. 10 Rocky Mountain.
The Mountaineers return to action next Saturday, Oct. 4 when EOU hosts College of Idaho at 6 p.m.
