HELENA, Mont. – Eastern Oregon University hit the road for their second matchup of the season with the Carroll College Saints on Saturday. The Saints jumped out to an early lead and didn't look back taking the win 37-3. With the loss, the Mountaineers now fall to 1-8 on the season while Carroll moves to 6-2.
Carroll's first score of the day came on their second drive late in the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback Jack Prka, who was kept in check by the Mounties in their last meeting, started off a big day with an 86-yard drive that was capped off by a short touchdown pass for the first score of the game. On their very next drive the Saints struck again with 15 seconds left in the first quarter. Prka and the Saints marched another 80 yards, 60 coming through the air, for their second score of the game as Duncan Kraft punched in a 12-yard run to make it 14-0.
The Saints attack didn't slow up in the second quarter as they were able to split the uprights with a Spencer Berger field goal in their first drive making it 17-0. On their next offensive possession Carroll College found the endzone again thanks to a Matthew Burgess touchdown run at the end of another long drive making it 24-0. As time winded down in the half Carroll College wasn't done scoring. Jack Prka connected with Chris Akulschin for a 50-yard touchdown pass to make it 30-0 at the half.
While it was
Carson Bohning who had the big first half in the first meeting by these two teams, the script was flipped on Saturday afternoon. Jack Prka, who was held to 113 yards with three interceptions in La Grande, had a monstrous first half going 14-22 with 242 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints scored on five straight drives in the first half, with four of those being touchdowns.
With a comfortable lead, Carroll coasted in the second half adding only one more score with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Prka connected with Akulschin for the second time of the day to make it 37-0.
Eastern avoided the shutout thanks to a last second 37-yard field goal. The field goal capped a 16 play, 63-yard drive at the end of the game for the Mounties.
The Mountaineers return home next week for their final home game of the season. EOU will take on No. 12 College of Idaho Saturday, Nov. 5. It will be senior day for the Mounties as the EOU veterans play their last home game.
BY THE NUMBERS
- The second matchup of the season went nothing like the first as the Saints totaled 309 yards in the air and 485 total compared to the Mounties' 95
- Despite some offensive struggles the Mounties took care of the ball not giving up a turnover via fumble or interception for the first time all year
- Carroll dominated the time of possession battle holding on to the ball for 37 minutes and 31 seconds to the Mounties' 22 minutes and 29 seconds
