BUTTE, MT- It was a senior day to remember for Oredigger fans but Montana Tech fell 45-33 to No. 5 Southern Oregon University.  

The Diggers came out early with one goal in mind and that was to let Oredigger running back Pat Hansen loose one final time. Hansen came into the contest needing just 61 yards to surpass the career rushing record set by Don "The Iron Tumbleweed" Heater in 1968-71. Hansen exceeded that mark early in the first quarter finishing the contest with 161 yards.

After a quick three and out from SOU, Montana Tech's Pat Hansen started the game in style with a 20 yard touchdown run. On Tech's second possession Pat Hansen broke a tackle and rumbled across midfield for 15 yards to become Tech's All-Time Leading Rusher. The next play QB Dawson Reardon found Nolan Saraceni on a wheel route down the sideline for a 43 yard touchdown. The Diggers jumped out to a 14-0 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter.

The Raiders found their groove in after spotting Tech two scores and rambled of 31 straight points of their own. Austin Dodge connected with Dylan Young for two scores, Joseph Lealofi recovered a fumble for a touchdown, Melvin Mason rushed for a score, and Aldrick Rosas kicked a 39 yard field goal. Just like that Southern Oregon led 31-20 early in the third quarter.

Dawson Reardon connected with Clay Cavender from 30 yards out making it an 11 point deficit 31-20 with nine minutes and change to go in the third quarter.
SOU and Tech would trade punches in the fourth quarter as Dodge threw for two more scores, both to Ryan Retzlaff. Reardon barreled in from one yard out and Zach Winfield collected his first touchdown for the Diggers as he went around the left end with 1:28 left in the contest. The Diggers would try for the onside kick, but SOU recovered and ran the clock out making it a 45-33 final.

Defensively Montana Tech was led by David Meis who tallied a career high 17 tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior Mike Touzinsky finished his career with seven tackles, and 2.5 sacks.

On offense, Pat Hansen finished his Oredigger career with a school record 4,486 rushing yards, over fifty-one hundred all-purpose yards, and 48 touchdowns. Hansen, from Ekalaka, Montana, will surely be remembered as one of the best Orediggers to ever play.

Clay Cavender finished the contest with seven receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.