Game 1
Montana Tech (0-0)
vs. 
No. 18 Eastern Oregon (0-0)

Copper Game presented by Rocky Mountain Credit Union
August 28, 2021 
Butte, Mont.
6 p.m.

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GAME NOTES

Last Time
· The Orediggers finished 6-4 in 2019 under then-Head Coach Chuck Morrell
· In 2019, the Orediggers finished fourth in the conference standings
· The Orediggers had six first team and three second team all-conference selections
· Senior linebacker Carter Meyers was named Honorable Mention All-American who led the conference in sacks
 
For the Record
· Head Coach Kyle Samson enters his first season as a head football coach
· Coach Samson served as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach for the Orediggers in 2019
· Previously Coach Samson led the Flathead High School football program for five seasons reaching the AA state title game in 2018 after an 18-year drought
· Coach Samson coached in the Frontier Conference for the Montana State Northern Lights as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach from 2007-14
· The Orediggers open the season at home on August 28th in the Copper Game presented by Rocky Mountain Credit Union
· The Orediggers host Eastern Oregon at 6 p.m. on Bob Green Field at Alumni Coliseum
· The Orediggers did not play in 2020-21 season
 
Checking the Numbers
· Under Coach Samson, the Orediggers had one of the top running attacks in 2019 rushing for 190.5 yards a game and finished with 21 rushing touchdowns
· The Orediggers return 9 starters on offense
· The Orediggers return 5 starters on defense
· The Oredigger offense ranked 4th in the Frontier Conference in offense per game (25.0 PPG) and 4th in total offense (397.5 yds/gm)
· The Oredigger defense ranked 2nd in the Frontier Conference in total defense (17.2 PPG), 2nd in rushing defense (117.6 yds/gm), and 1st in pass defense (161.4 yds/gm)
 
Top Returners
 
Jet Campbell, QB, R-JR, 6-4, 210, Billings, Mont.—Started in all 10 games in 2019. Completed 122-of-219 pass attempts for 1,967 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Rushed 71 times for 150 yards and 6 touchdowns. Caught 1 pass for 7 yards and a touchdown against Southern Oregon on Sept. 21st. Named academic all-conference. 

Blake Counts, RB, SO, 5-11, 225, Kalispell, Mont.— Played in all 10 games in 2019. Rushed 186 times for 839 yards and 8 touchdowns. Caught 1 pass for 15 yards. Career high in yards (155) against MSU-Northern on Sept. 28th. Career high carries (35) and touchdowns (3) against Eastern Oregon on Oct. 26th. Selected second team all-conference.
 
Trevor Hoffman, WR, SR, 6-4, 205, Renton, Wash.—Started all 10 games in 2019. Caught 52 passes for 1,018 yards and 8 touchdowns. Ranked 6th nationally in receiving yards per game (101.8 YPG). Selected first team all-conference. Named academic all-conference. 
 
Logan Kolodejchuk, DL, JR, 6-1, 230, Kalispell, Mont.—Started all 10 games in 2019. Registered 31 tackles (7 solo, 24 assisted), 4 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Forced 1 fumble. Season high 10 tackles against Rocky (11/16). Named academic all-conference. 
 
Spencer Schock, LB, R-SO, 6-0, 210, Missoula, Mont.—Saw limited action in 2019 due to injury. Named academic all-conference. 
 
Zach Trumble, DL, R-SO, 6-3, 250, Valleyford, Wash.—Played in all 10 games in 2019. Recorded 19 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Blocked a field goal.
 
Captains Meeting—The 2021 Montana Tech Captains are Jet Campbell, Trevor Hoffman, Spencer Schock, Logan Kolodejchuk, and Zach Trumble.
 
Return of the Offense—The Orediggers return 9 on the offensive side of the ball led by captains  Campbell, Counts, and Hoffman. Junior running back Tyler Folkes returns behind an experienced offensive line in Spartz, juniors Triston Stauffer and Trey Copeland. The Oredigger rushing attack ranked third in the conference averaging 190.5 yards on the ground a game in 2019. 
 
Other returners on offense include redshirt junior wide receiver Kiley Caprara  as well as  tight ends Jaylen Taggert and Logan Kennedy.
 
Offensive Newcomers—Freshman Carson Shuman and Max Anderson will start on the offensive line Saturday.
 
A number of new wide receivers will see action for the first time as Orediggers. Transfer redshirt sophomore Mark Estes will start at wide receiver and wide receivers Kyle Torgerson and Wyatt Alexander will also see action.
 
Experienced Defense—The Oredigger defense returns a number of student-athletes that saw snaps in 2019. Kolodejchuk, Trumble, Naoki Harmer, Jake Orvis, Blake Allred, Bridger Johnson, and Teddy Croft were part of the dominant Oredigger defense that ranked second in the conference holding opponents to just 17.2 points per game in 2019. The Oredigger secondary led the league in fewest pass yards by their opponents holding teams to just 161.1 yards per game.