HELENA -- Wykece Johnson rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns, Jace Thompson made a team-high seven tackles and blocked a kick, and the No. 11-ranked Montana Tech football team earned a hard-fought road win over No. 25 Carroll, 30-19, Saturday evening. 

The victory improved the Orediggers to 2-0 on the young season, both victories over ranked opposition. 

Johnson, the graduate transfer from Mississippi State, carried the ball 34 times in a yeoman effort, scoring Tech's final three touchdowns. His output was more than half the Orediggers' yardage in the game. 

Jarrett Wilson got the scoring started for the Orediggers on his second possession under center. The sophomore found a wide-open Derek Pearse on the sideline for a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter. 

The Saints later tied the game, but Montana Tech responded with another touchdown, Johnson's first, and a Casey Kautzman field goal to lead, 16-7, heading into the half.

Carroll (1-1) drew first blood after halftime, a third-quarter touchdown that cut the Tech lead to 16-13, but the Orediggers had the answer again. Tech mustered a nine-play, 54-yard drive that Johnson capped with a four-yard TD run.

The Digger defense came up big on the next possession with a stop and a blocked punt by Jace Thompson that set up another quick Montana Tech score; Johnson carried the ball twice to tack on another touchdown. The Saints added a late touchdown to bring the deficit to 11, but Tech's defense held in the late going.

Montana Tech's win was its fourth-straight in the series and improves the Orediggers to 2-0 on the young season, both wins over NAIA top 25 teams. Tech continues its season at home next Saturday against Rocky Mountain.

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