DILLON, Mont. – The no. 7 ranked Montana Western Football team (4-1) took on the no. 12 ranked Montana Tech Orediggers (4-2) this afternoon and held on to win the game 27-21.
The Bulldog defense impressed, holding the Orediggers to one for 10 on third downs and a below average of 330 total yards of offense in the game.
Senior
Braden Swank highlighted with two interceptions in the first half, three pass breakups and two tackles.
How It Happened
The Orediggers were the first chance on offense and seized the opportunity by marching down on a quick 3:40 drive to put the first points on the board at 7-0. They would take this lead through to the second quarter.
The second quarter started off with three interceptions in a row, including two by Swank for the Bulldogs. Following the second UMW interception, the Bulldogs went 80 yards for their first touchdown of the game that was capped off by a 41-yard touchdown pass to
Jake Humphrey.
The Bulldog defense then went on to stop the Orediggers on fourth and two at the UMW 37-yard line for a turnover on downs to fuel another scoring drive. Western then pushed the ball down the field quickly on a seven-play drive that saw
Michael Palandri hit
Coby Tanioka in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown pass and take a 14-7 lead into the half.
UMW added to the score four minutes into the second half when
John Mears hit his first of two field goals in the game from 49 yards out.
Montana Tech answered and closed the gap to 17-14 with just under five minutes to play in the third on a 24-yard touchdown rush by Landers Smith.
The Bulldogs opened the fourth quarter with an 85-yard march down the field that resulted in a Palandri touchdown rush with 9:36 left in the game.
A quick three and out forced by the Bulldog defense was followed up by the second field goal of the game by Mears from 22 yards out to put UMW up 27-14.
The Orediggers capped scoring in the game when they scored a touchdown with just under a minute to play, leaving the Bulldogs up to win the game 27-21.
N
otables
- The Bulldogs have won three straight in the series with the Orediggers and are now 7-3 in the last 10 matchups.
- Palandri threw for 238 passing yards, going 20 for 34 on the day and two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground.
- Humphrey closed in on 100 rushing yards, totaling 97 total in the game.
- Nourse led the receiving corps with 94 yards on nine receptions.
- Keegen Muffich led the Bulldog defense with 10 total tackles and a tackle for loss.
- Jace Fitzgerald totaled nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack for a loss of six yards.
Up Next
Montana Western will hit the road next week for a matchup against Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. The game will kickoff at 1pm.
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