HELENA, Mont. – From ending the Saints' 44-game Frontier Conference winning streak in 2011 to scoring 21 unanswered to defeat Carroll in 2013, the Eastern Oregon University football team has booked quite a few memorable moments against the Saints.

Now, the Mountaineers can add to that collection, as the Navy and Gold overcame a seven-point first-half deficit to knock off No. 4 Carroll for the third time in the past five seasons, 28-21.

"Great day to be a Mountie," said head football coach Tim Camp. "I want to thank the fans for their belief and support of our players and coaches. They played and coached at a high level today and Eastern Oregon University was rewarded with a win over the fourth-ranked Carroll College Fighting Saints."

Key Performances
Junior quarterback Zach Bartlow completed 13 of 20 passes and amassed a season-high 105 rushing yards, including two touchdowns on the ground for EOU.

Senior wide receiver Jace Billingsley rushed 71 yards on 19 carries and caught eight passes for EOU, while sophomore wide receiver Calvin Connors caught four kickoffs for a career-high 104 return yards.  

EOU's defense was all over the place, with junior linebacker Tucker Stanley and senior linebacker Gary Posten tallying eight tackles apiece.

Both senior linebacker JT Capers and senior defensive back Byron Benson had an interception in the win, and Benson also broke up a career-high three passes.

"We were able to create opportunities in every phase of the game today," said Camp. "It was not perfect, but I am so proud of the players and coaching staff for their efforts and ability to continue to believe and build this program. The credit goes to them. Carroll College is a very good football team. Very proud to be a Mountie!"

The Storyline
EOU got on the board with 9:32 left in the first quarter, as Bartlow found his way into the end zone on a 10-yard carry.

The Saints, however, showed why they are the second-best passing team in the league, as senior quarterback Mac Roche responded with a pair of touchdown passes in a span of five minutes to give the Saints a 14-7 advantage going into the second quarter.

With 5:12 left in the second stanza, the Navy and Gold tied the contest at 14 apiece, as Bartlow capped a 4-play, 59-yard drive with a 21-yard rush for a touchdown.

On Carroll's next possession, EOU's defense came up with a huge defense stop, as Posten and junior defensive lineman Dalton Morgan came in for the assisted tackle on 3rd-and-16, and then the Mountaineers forced a fumble and recovered it at the Saints' 3-yard line.

EOU forced Carroll to punt on its first three possessions of the third quarter before the Navy and Gold registered the go-ahead touchdown. After Barlow rushed 10 yards to Carroll's 1-yard line, junior wide receiver TJ Esekielu brought it in for the touchdown to give EOU a 21-14 lead with 19 ticks on the clock.

Once again, the Mountaineer defense made game-changing plays at critical times, as Capers forced a fumble and recovered it 25 yards for the touchdown to jumpstart the fourth quarter and put EOU ahead, 28-14.

The Saints fired back on their next possession with a 13-play, 71-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Roche to sophomore running back Ryan Walsh with 7:40 remaining in the contest, but Carroll never got past its own 28-yard line for the remainder of the game, and the Navy and Gold upset the Saints (3-2, 3-2 Frontier) for the third time in the last five seasons.  

Stats of the Game
29.8 – Average yards per kickoff return for EOU.

4 – Sacks by the Mountaineer defense.

Up Next
EOU (2-4, 2-3 Frontier) returns to action on Saturday for its Homecoming Game against No. 16 Montana Western in La Grande at 1 p.m.