LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon was not ready to let their season slip away Saturday afternoon. After trading blows for most of the game, the Mountaineers pulled away from the Orediggers 33-21.

Montana Tech (2-1, 2-1) takes their first loss of the season. In a must win situation, Eastern Oregon (1-3, 1-2) keeps their season alive getting their first win.

The Mountaineers struck first with a field goal. Kicker Marc David connected on a 48 yard attempt.

On the next drive, Tech drove the ball right down the field finished off by a 1 yard touchdown by Nolan Saracini. Tech made the score 8-3 with a pass from holder Alec Bray to Zach Winfield with some special teams trickery.  

Eastern Oregon pushed down the field again on their next possession. Quarterback Marc Bartlow completed an 11 yard strike to Josh Richards for their first touchdown. The Mountaineers pulled ahead 10-8 after the extra point.

Tech moved the ball on their next possession to the 10 yard line before stalling. Matt Berg's 26 yard field goal attempt was blocked however.  

Quarterback Quinn McQeary went out prior to the blocked field goal with an injury. McQueary would sit out the rest of the game with Dawson Reardon coming off the bench.

The Orediggers held the Mountaineers to a punt at the end of the half, but Alec Bray fumbled the return turning the ball over to the Mountaineers inside the 20 yard line.
Eastern Oregon would connect on a field goal to lead 13-8 at the half.

Saracini finished the first half with 61 yards and one touchdown. McQueary had 40 yards on the ground as well.

Saracini scored from three yards and a 71 yard rumble from the wildcat formation in the third quarter. But Eastern Oregon answered with their own two rushing touchdowns from Jac Billingsly from 33 and 4 yards out. Eastern led Tech 26-21 at the end of three.

The Mountaineers scored first in the fourth quarter and final score of the game when Bartlow connected with Billingsly on an 11 yard pass. Eastern held the 33-21 for the rest of the game.

Saracini finished with 198 yards on 23 carries and three touchdowns.

Billingsly rushed 34 times for 182 yards and three total touchdowns. The Mountaineer running back caught three passes for 32 yards.

Bartlow completed 17 of 26 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Reardon struggled getting the offense going in the second half. The sophomore completed just 5 of 19 passes for 103 yards and one interception.

Rial Gunlickson and David Meis led the Oredigger defense with 13 and 10 tackles. Jake Crawford at five tackles and an interception.

Montana Tech is home next weekend for Homecoming when they host College of Idaho for the first time. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.