LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon dropped its home and Frontier Conference opener on Saturday, falling 45-22 to the No. 12-ranked Orediggers of Montana Tech at Community Stadium. The Orediggers used a balanced attack to pull away in the second and third quarters, utilizing a powerful run game and capitalizing on big opportunities in play action.
Montana Tech opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a 36-yard field goal by Dylan Root after a 7-play, 64-yard drive. Eastern Oregon quickly answered when Glasper connected with Spurrier on a 20-yard touchdown pass, capping a 7-play, 65-yard drive. A missed extra point left the Mountaineers leading 6-3.
The Orediggers regained the lead just before the end of the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Blake Thelen to Wyatt Alexander, completing a 5-play, 65-yard drive. Montana Tech extended their lead early in the second quarter with a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown by Demario King, making it 17-6. Late in the half, Thelen connected with Derek Pearse on a 7-yard touchdown pass, pushing the Orediggers' lead to 24-6 at halftime.
Eastern Oregon showed signs of life in the third quarter with an impressive 18-play, 73-yard drive ending in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Glasper to Tanner Sweek. A two-point conversion brought the Mountaineers within 10 points, at 24-14. However, Montana Tech responded with two quick touchdowns, one 3-yard pass from Thelen to Nick Michelotti, followed by a 27-yard strike to Logan Kennedy, both capping 65-yard drives.
In the fourth quarter, the Orediggers extended their lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Landers Smith. Eastern Oregon responded with a final push, as Glasper connected with Sweek for a 7-yard touchdown, set up by a long kickoff return from Colton Kesey. A successful two-point conversion brought the final score to 45-22.
Statistically, Montana Tech outgained EOU, totaling 440 yards to Eastern Oregon's 363. Glasper led the Mounties with 259 passing yards and three touchdowns, despite being intercepted twice. Spurrier finished with 79 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Sweek hauled in two touchdown receptions. Brody Macmillan led the Mountaineers' ground game, accounting for 57 yards, followed by Glasper with 55 yards.
Blake Thelen led Montana Tech with an efficient performance, completing 13-of-18 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Landers Smith contributed on the ground with 14 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown, while Wyatt Alexander was Thelen's top target, hauling in five receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, both teams were led by linebackers Matt Whitcomb and Nehemiah Medrano, each recording a game-high 15 tackles.
Eastern Oregon will look to regroup as they continue Frontier Conference play next week, traveling to Billings, Montana, to face the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears on September 28th at 1:00 p.m. MT.
