DILLON, Mont. - Eastern Oregon dropped its second game of the season on Saturday afternoon to fall to 0-2 on the year. The Mounties took on the No. 17 ranked Bulldogs of the University of Montana Western in their second conference matchup of the year and lost, 48-14.

Montana Western jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter putting up 17 unanswered points. It started with a field goal on Western's first drive. That was followed by a Jon Jund rushing touchdown to put Western up 10-0. The Bulldogs struck again with a short drive that resulted in a 10-yard rushing touchdown at the end of the first quarter making it 17-0.

The Bulldogs added onto their lead early in the second quarter with a three and a half minute drive that went 50 yards and resulted in another short rushing touchdown increasing the Western lead to 24. Western followed that up with another field goal prior to the Mountaineers responding with their first touchdown of the season. Luke Ross led a 63-yard drive that ended in a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Lijewski-Blackham for the Mounties making it 27-7. UMW finished the half with a quick strike going 76 yards on six plays to take a 34-7 lead at the half. 

Scoring slowed in the third as each team added a touchdown. Montana Western struck first with a long 85-yard drive. EOU answered immediately with their biggest play of the year as Luke Ross hit Malachi Spurrier for an explosive 65-yard touchdown pass making it 41-14, Montana Western.

In the final quarter Montana Western struck again on a 4-play, 53-yard drive that resulted in a 35 yard touchdown pass from the reigning Frontier Offensive Player of the Year, Jund. 

EOU will get a break from conference play this upcoming week. The Mounties are scheduled to play NCAA Division III Whitworth on the road next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Western won the yardage battle with 418 yards (239 passing, 179 rushing) to EOU's 221 yards (181 passing, 40 rushing)
• Both defenses had productive days forcing turnovers, EOU forced two fumbles and recorded an interception
• The Mounties had four sacks by four different players
• Two touchdowns on the day extends EOU's scoring streak to 162 games
• Luke Ross's 63-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Spurrier is now the longest play of the year for the Mounties

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

• Luke Ross: 15-24, 181 Yards, 2 TD
• Malachi Spurrier: 7 Rec, 135 yards, TD
• Zak Donato: 9 Tkl,2 TFL
• Josh Mendoza: 7 Tkl, 1 TFL, 1 PBU