BUTTE, Mont. – Eastern Oregon attempted a late rally in the fourth quarter, but Montana Tech held off the Mountaineers 23-10 in wintery conditions.

Eastern Oregon's Jaden Machuca hit a 32-yard field goal with 14:50 to go in the fourth quarter for the Mountaineers first score of the game 16-3. Derrick Fontenot blocked an Oredigger punt on the ensuing drive and Josh Mendoza returned it 30 yards for a touchdown cutting the Tech lead to 16-10.  

The Orediggers put the game away on the following offensive possession. Freshman Blake Counts capped off a 75-yard drive with his third touchdown run of the day.

Counts was the work horse for the Orediggers driving the touchdowns into the endzone from short distance. He finished the day with 134 yards on 36 attempts scoring from 1, 2 and 5 yards.

The game finished with linebacker Carter Myers intercepting his third pass of the season and second in the last two games. Myers had 7 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss in the game.

The Oredigger defense held the Mountaineers in check allowing just 171 yards of total offense. The Tech defense had three sacks on Kai Quinn from Jess Sims, Cade Harris and Bridger Johnson. Quinn completed just 12-of-35 attempts for 128 yards.

Montana Tech also blocked a punt of their own and a 30-yard field goal attempt in the first half.

Tucker Rauthe had a season-high 7 tackles. Jacob Clark had 6 tackles.

Sims finished with 5 tackles in addition to his sack.

Jet Campbell completed 11-of-18 passes for 159 yards.

Tight end Nate Sander led the receiving core with 4 catches for 62 yards. Freshman Anthony Jones had 3 receptions for 46 yards.

Victor Dias rushed 21 times for 60 yards for EOU.

Montana Tech (5-2) hits the road until the final game of the season. The Orediggers are in Ashland, Oregon for a second meeting with Southern Oregon (3-4).