BUTTE, Mont.—Nolan Saraceni rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns and Dion Williams caught five passes for 166 yards helping the Orediggers dominate the Bulldogs 35-20 on Bob Green Field Saturday afternoon.

Montana Tech took the opening possession of the game jumped ahead early when Mitchell Keeton caught a Quinn McQueary pass in the endzone just three minutes into the game. McQueary led the Orediggers 70 yards in just seven plays to put Montana Tech up 7-0.

The Bulldogs responded on the next drive with a J.D. Ferris touchdown pass to Beau Brekke to get within a point, 7-6, after the Orediggers blocked the extra point attempt.

The Oredigger defense held Western to 354 yards of offense. The Orediggers haven't allowed an opposing running back to rush for over 100 yards this season.

The Diggers and Dawgs traded empty possessions for much of the first half before Montana Tech scored twice in the second quarter. The Diggers moved ahead 14-6 when Nolan Saraceni rumbled 39 yards up the middle on his way into endzone with 6:29 left in the first half. Saraceni scored his second touchdowns of the game on the next possession when he bullied his way over the goal line from one yard out with 1:36 mark to put Montana Tech up 21-6.

Saraceni finished the day with a season-high 149 yards and three touchdowns. The Digger running back averaged 5.5 yards per carry.

With 1:36 left before the half, Western strung together a 10-play 77 yard drive that saw Ferris find Matt Lickfold in the endzone. Another blocked PAT put the Diggers up 21-12 at the intermission.

Montana Tech tallied 263 yard of offense in the first half led by Saraceni who eclipsed the century mark for rushing yards midway through the second quarter.

Montana Tech's defense held Western to a 3-and-out to start the second half before Quinn McQueary hit wide receiver Dion Williams on a 52 yard pass and rushed for a 33 yard gain to set up Saraceni in the short field. The senior running back scored his third touchdown from one yard out to put Montana Tech up 28-12 with 9:56 to play in the third quarter.

A back and forth final quarter saw both teams trade possessions before Montana Tech surrendered a safety when the snap on a punt rolled through the back of the endzone. The safety cut the Oredigger advantage to 28-14, but Montana Tech got the ball back on the free kick when the Bulldogs muffed the return.

Montana Tech utilized the short field and scored with 2:23 left in the game on an eight yard Quinn McQueary keeper putting Montana Tech up 35-14.

McQueary completed 17-of-28 passes for 241 yards and touchdown while rushing for 69 yards and a score.

Receiver Dion Williams provided big plays for the Tech offense catching five passes for 166 yards. The Diggers had a balanced 485 yards of total offense tallying 244 yards on the ground and 241 through the air.

The Bulldogs added another touchdown in the final moments of the game to make the final score 35-20.

Defensively Montana Tech was led by Gunnar Kayser who had 7 tackles and an interception. Zach Hulse, Rial Gunlikson, and Drew Schleeman each had 6 tackles for the Diggers.

The Orediggers (4-1) will play Frontier Conference rival Carroll College next Saturday on Bob Green Field at 1PM.