DILLON, Mont.- Montana Tech got the monkey off their back for the first time in 10 years defeating Montana Western in Dillon, 33-24. 

The Orediggers (3-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead to start the contest on scoring drives of 64 and 59 yards.

The Diggers found paydirt to start the game on an 11-yard pass from Blake Thelen to running back Kaleb Winterburn with 10:05 left on the clock. Thelen found Winterburn leaking out of the backfield on the right side to score the game's first touchdown untouched. 

Montana Tech's second drive of the game started at their 33-yard line thanks to a Jake Orvis interception of Western Quarterback Jon Jund to stop the Western offense on just their fourth play of the game. A deep pass to Trevor Hoffman for 43 yards put the Diggers in the redzone where Thelen found running back Blake Counts for a three yard score with just 6:52 on the clock. 

The Bulldogs responded with a 10-play 75-yard drive to cut the Tech lead to seven on a Reese Neville one yard carry. 

Montana Tech's defense came up huge to end the first quarter forcing the Dawgs to punt on their last play of the quarter. On the punt, Western's snap on their punter sailed through the back of the endzone to put the Diggers up 16-7. 

The Oredigger offense was rolling in the second quarter as well as Montana Tech ran a 10-play 69 yard drive taking up just over three minutes of clock. Facing a third and 10 from the 13-yard line, Blake Thelen hit receiver Trevor Hoffman over the middle for this third passing touchdown of the game to put the Diggers in front 23-7. 

Thelen finished the game 15-for-27 for 200 yards and three scores to lead the Tech offense. Hoffman caught six passes for 99 yards and one score. Thelen completed passes to seven different receivers.  

Montana Tech found the endzone again in the second quarter on a Blake Counts 2-yard run with 4:57 on the clock. 

Western's second touchdown of the game came right before the half on a Colten McPhee 5-yard rush to cut in the Digger lead to 30-14 at the break. 

Montana Western scored their next two drives on a pair of long sustained drives to trim the Digger lead to 30-24. Trey Mounts caught a 47-yard pass from Jund for a score in the third quarter and John Mears converted on a 29 yard field goal with 7:39 in the fourth quarter. 

The Diggers then bled the clock for the next six minutes on a 9-play 61-yard drive that ended with a Ryan Lowry 32-yard field goal. Montana Tech's lead stretched to 33-24.

Western's subsequent drive ended with the clock running out and the ball at the 18-yard line. 

Montana Tech's offense out-gained the Bulldogs 400 yards to 381. The Diggers were a perfect 5-for-5 in the redzone on Saturday afternoon. 

The Digger defense was led by Keyshawn James-Newby's nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Cole Wyant and Ben Windauer led from the linebacker position combining for 15 tackles. 

Blake Counts rushed 17 times for 120 yards and one score while Kaleb Winterburn had 10 carries for 59 yards.

Jon Jund passed for 217 yards on 12 completions and gained 104 yards on the ground. 

The Diggers return home next weekend for Homecoming against MSU-Northern.