ASHLAND, Oregon – The No. 9 Orediggers moved one game closer to the conference championship knocking off No. 1 Southern Oregon 21-17.

Andrew Loudenback connected with Sean Sullivan for his second touchdown toss of the half and the go ahead score with 1:44 left in the game.

Junior defensive back Gunnar Kaysar put the nail in the coffin intercepting Southern Oregon's Tanner Tosin with 1:13 left. Clay Cavender took one more long run against the Raiders setting up the victory formation.

Loudenback finished 9 of 18 with 70 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

The Oredigger rushing attack put up strong numbers once again posting 352 yards on the ground.

The Raiders scored on their opening drive when running back Melvin Mason crossed the goal line on a seven yard rush.

After trading punts, Tech took the ball at the Southern Oregon 17 yard line. A 51 yard dash by Zach Bunney set the Orediggers up in the redzone. Clay Cavender scored from two yards out tying the game at seven.

Trosin connected with Teran Togia on a 9 yard pass in the flats for Southern's second score of the game 14-7 with 7:34 to play in the half.

In the wanning moments of the half, the Orediggers drove to inside the three yard line with just seconds left in the half. Loudenback threw an interception as time expired keeping the score at 14-7 going into the break.

The Raiders struck first in the second half with a 35 yard field goal from Marcus Montano with 7:48 to go in the third quarter.

The Orediggers shrunk the Raiders lead to just three at the end of the third quarter when Cavender scored his second touchdown of the day on a three yard pass from Loudenback. The Orediggers trailed 17-14.

The Digger defense dug their heels in not allowing another Raider score the rest of the game. Tech stopped Southern Oregon within field goal distance, but Montano was unable to connect. The Orediggers held the Southern Oregon offense to 340 total yards in the game.

Nolan Saraceni finished with 149 yards on 30 carries. The Raiders were able to keep him out of the endzone all game. Cavender had 130 yards on the ground.

Kayser finished the day with six total tackles. Luke Benz and Tyler Gavlak also had six tackles and one tackle for a loss each.

Montana Tech has one more hurdle to jump for the Frontier Conference title. The Orediggers Montana Western next Saturday at noon at Alumni Coliseum.