BUTTE, Mont. - The #21 Montana Tech Orediggers willed the win over College of Idaho 29-21 Saturday on Bob Green Field. The Orediggers improve to 3-1 on the season while COI falls to 1-3 in conference play.

Despite losing quarterback Dawson Reardon at the end of the first half, a stout defense and a wildcat offense proved too much for the visiting Yotes.

Montana Tech scored the first points of the game on a 37 yard strike to tight end Kolby Kansala compliments of Dawson Reardon. The long-ball touchdown completed a five play 67 yard drive for the Diggers. Montana Tech was unsuccessful on the two-point conversion attempt but took the first lead of the game 6-0.

College of Idaho responded with a nine play 77 yard touchdown drive capped off by a quarterback sneak. The Yotes' successful point after gave them a 7-6 lead with 8:27 left in the first stanza.

Dawson Reardon continued his success in the first half leading the Diggers to pay-dirt connecting with wide out Sean Sullivan for a 28 yard touchdown. The touchdown catch was the first of his career. Montana Tech went for two once again and found success as Alec Bray caught a Reardon bullet to give Tech a 14-7 lead with 2:23 left in the first.

Yotes quarter A.J. Martin led COI to their second touchdown and tied the game 14-14 on a three play 15 yard drive early in the second quarter after Montana Tech was stopped on fourth and short.  

Montana Tech led at the end of the first half 17-14 when Matt Berg booted a 22 yard field goal as time expired.

In the first half, Montana Tech accumulated 316 yards of offense with 131 yards coming on the ground.

The Oredigger defense jumpstarted the second half when they forced a three and out and College of Idaho was forced to punt. The snap to the punter went through the end zone resulting in a safety.

The 19-14 lead was short lived when COI scored with 4:22 left in the third on a five yard pass to tight end Marcus Lenhardt. The Yotes led 21-19.

To start the fourth quarter, Matt Berg booted a 29 yarder giving Montana Tech a 22-21 lead with 12:51 left in the game.  

Montana Tech iced the game with a Clay Cavender keeper out of the wildcat formation giving Tech a 29-21 lead.

A Reid Siderius interception as COI was driving with a chance to tie the game up ended the game.

Running back Nolan Saraceni made a statement today rushing 31 times for 179 yards. Saraceni guided the wildcat offense in the second half.

Tyler Gavlak led the defense with nine tackles.  David Meis and Matthew Neylan both contributed seven tackles a piece for the Digger Defense. Meis also had a crucial sack on third down late in the fourth quarter.

The Orediggers are on bye next week. Tech heads to Billings in a conference match up with the Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears on October 10^th.