La GRANDE, Ore. — Much improved wasn't quite good enough for the Orediggers Saturday afternoon.

Eastern Oregon blocked a chip shot field goal attempt, and Max Hannah returned it 80 yards for a touchdown as time expired to preserve Eastern Oregon's 22-15 Frontier Conference football win over Montana Tech at Community Stadium.

The block was the second by the Mountaineers in the final minute of the game.

Leading 16-15, Eastern Oregon blocked a 32-yard attempt by Zach Reisenauer.

Tech senior offensive lineman Drew Waltee, though, recovered the block and ran it to the Eastern 6-yard line.

“He did a nice job getting his hands on the ball, knowing it had to go forward,” Tech coach Chuck Morrell said. “It gave us new life at the end of the game.”

The heads-up play set up Tech's game-winning attempt from 23 yards out with 3 seconds on the clock.

Hannah and Howard McDonald busted through the line to block the would-be game winner. The ball bounced to Hannah who celebrated as he ran untouched for the touchdown.

“In order to beat some of the best teams in the country, you've got to execute in every phase,” Morrell said. “Obviously we didn't do that or we'd be talking about a win right now.”

No. 23 Eastern Oregon (5-2, 5-1) took the lead for good on a 31-yard touchdown run by Kevin Sampson with 4:45 left in the game.

Sampson ran for 101 yards on 18 carries.

“I think he's the most talented running back in the (NAIA),” Morrell said. “Every time he touches the ball he's got the ability to go the distance.”

That run followed a 2-yard run by Tech's Pat Hansen less than 3 minutes earlier. Both teams had 2-point conversions fail on their last touchdown.

Tech's Mike Touzinsky recovered a fumbled put at the Eastern Oregon 2-yard line to set up Hansen's touchdown, which gave Tech a 15-10 lead with 7:29 left in the game.

“I'm proud of our effort,” Morrell said. “Eastern is an extremely talented football team. They (quarterback Chris Ware and Sampson) might be best two offensive players in the NAIA. They beat the No. 1 team in the nation, and we went toe-to-toe with them.”

Eastern Oregon jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a 65-yard pass from Jason Simonis to Abraham Naway on a trick play and a 25-yard Luis Ortiz field goal in the first quarter.

Reisenauer hit a 23-yard field goal to cut the lead to 10-3 at halftime.

Craig Halko caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brian Schwarzkoph early in the first quarter. The Mountaineers led 10-9, though, after the extra point failed.

The Orediggers controlled the football for most of the fourth quarter, thanks to several nice runs by Hansen and Schwarzkoph.

“Offensively we really dominated the fourth quarter,” Morrell said. “We had the ball for 12 minutes in the fourth quarter.

“They really did a nice job down the stretch, moving the ball down the field to put us in position to win the football game.”

Tech's final drive started at the Oredigger 20-yard line.

Ware passed for 199 yards. The Orediggers sacked him four times, two by Ryan Jones.

Connor O'Neill, and Marcus Johnson registered a sack.

Jacob Workman was credited with a team-high seven tackles.

“Defensively we bowed up several times when they were in our territory,” Morrell said. “In certain phases we played the best we played all year.”

Hansen ran for 72 yards on 29 carries.

Tight end Leif Knatterud caught three passes bofore leaving the game injured late.

Trent Thomas, James Roberts and Hansen also caught passes.

The Orediggers (1-6, 0-6) lost their sixth straight game.

Tech will hit the road again next week when they travel to Havre to take on MSU-Northern.

Eastern Oregon will play at home against Carroll College.