Caldwell, ID - The #10 ranked Montana Tech Orediggers fell just short in an overtime thriller against the #19 College of Idaho, losing 45-37 in a Frontier Conference match up in Caldwell, ID. Despite a strong showing from quarterback Blake Thelen and standout receiver Wyatt Alexander, the Orediggers were unable to overcome the Yotes' late-game surge.
Montana Tech (3-1, 1-1) got off to a solid start, with Dylan Root nailing a 32-yard field goal to give the Orediggers an early 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The College of Idaho (3-2, 1-1) responded with a promising drive, but the Tech defense came up big, blocking a 39-yard field goal attempt. Unfortunately, Montana Tech couldn't capitalize, and the Yotes took over, marching down the field for the first touchdown of the day on a 1-yard run by Caden Young. A missed extra point left the score at 6-3.
The Orediggers looked to strike back early in the second quarter, driving to the Yotes' 7-yard line before being stopped on a fourth-and-1 attempt. The College of Idaho responded quickly, extending their lead to 13-3 with another Caden Young touchdown. With time winding down in the half, Thelen engineered a scoring drive, connecting with Levi Torgerson for a 5-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 13-10 heading into halftime.
After a missed field goal by the Yotes to open the second half, Thelen found Wyatt Alexander on the very next play for a stunning 80-yard touchdown strike, giving Montana Tech its first lead of the game at 17-13. The College of Idaho threatened to score again, but the Oredigger defense held firm, turning them away on a fourth-and-goal attempt from the 1-yard line, thanks to a huge tackle by Matt Whitcomb.
The Orediggers struck again quickly, with Thelen hitting Alexander on a 70-yard pass to set up another red-zone opportunity. This time, Thelen found freshman Nick Michellotti for a 5-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 24-13. The Yotes answered just 14 seconds later with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Andy Peters to Travis Marieiro, cutting the lead to 24-19 after a failed two-point conversion.
With 11:39 left in the fourth quarter, Montana Tech seemed to gain control when Landers Smith sprinted 44 yards for a touchdown, making it 31-19. However, Peters responded with three straight scoring drives, giving the Yotes a 37-31 lead with just under two minutes to play.
The Orediggers refused to quit. Thelen connected with Alexander again on a 45-yard bomb, setting up a 9-yard touchdown run by Smith to tie the game at 37. But the potential game-winning extra point was blocked, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra frame, College of Idaho struck first, scoring on a 2-yard run by Hunter Gilbert and converting a two-point attempt to take a 45-37 lead. Montana Tech's overtime possession ended abruptly when Dee'Shon Swaffo intercepted Thelen's pass, sealing the win for the Yotes.
Thelen finished the day with 387 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Alexander had a career day with 219 receiving yards and a score. Smith added 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns. For the Yotes, Peters threw for 419 yards and two touchdowns, adding two more scores on the ground.
Montana Tech returns home next Saturday to take on Southern Oregon for Homecoming, with kickoff at Alumni Coliseum set for 1 p.m.
