By Macy Ricketts
The Montana Tech football team lost a close matchup in their 2016 season opener against Carroll College on Saturday, September 4 in Helena. The Saints completed a 45-yard field goal to defeat the Diggers 27-24 in a heated rivalry game. During the 2015 season, Tech defeated Carroll both times the teams competed for the first time since 1999.
The Montana Tech football team lost a close matchup in their 2016 season opener against Carroll College on Saturday, September 4 in Helena. The Saints completed a 45-yard field goal to defeat the Diggers 27-24 in a heated rivalry game. During the 2015 season, Tech defeated Carroll both times the teams competed for the first time since 1999.
In the first quarter, kicker Derrick Holt scored a 27-yard field goal to put Tech on the board. Early in the second quarter, Carroll responded as Colter Hamel completed a 19-yard field goal. Eddie Smith sparked a fire under the Diggers with a monster tackle that lead to a Carroll fumble, which Smith also recovered, giving Tech the ball at Carroll’s 28-yard line. Veteran running back Nolan Saraceni blasted through Carroll’s defensive line to score a touchdown on a 3-yard run with 8:28 left in the half. In third quarter action, Carroll’s Ryan Walsh responded with a 2-yard run to score a touchdown.
Early in the fourth quarter, Tech fans went wild as Dion Williams nabbed a 32-yard pass from quarterback Quinn McQueary and Tech scored another TD. Shortly after, Saraceni again powered through Carroll’s D-line for another 3-yard touchdown, giving Tech the largest lead of the game-- 24-10-- with 9:36 left to play.
Carroll came back strong and found holes in Tech’s defense to respond with an 80-yard pass from Carroll QB J.T. Linder to Connor Fohn for a touchdown less than a minute later. With two minutes left to play, Linder found the Saints’ star wide receiver Kyle Griffith for a 27-yard pass to score another touchdown for Carroll, tying up the contest.
Steady pressure by Carroll’s offense allowed the team to get within field goal range with 13 seconds left. Hamel drove the final nail in Tech’s coffin by completing a 38-yard field goal with no time left to win the game.
The Diggers will have a change to avenge their loss to Carroll at home on Bob Green Field October 15. Tech football returns to action September 10 in their home opener against Montana State University Northern.
Early in the fourth quarter, Tech fans went wild as Dion Williams nabbed a 32-yard pass from quarterback Quinn McQueary and Tech scored another TD. Shortly after, Saraceni again powered through Carroll’s D-line for another 3-yard touchdown, giving Tech the largest lead of the game-- 24-10-- with 9:36 left to play.
Carroll came back strong and found holes in Tech’s defense to respond with an 80-yard pass from Carroll QB J.T. Linder to Connor Fohn for a touchdown less than a minute later. With two minutes left to play, Linder found the Saints’ star wide receiver Kyle Griffith for a 27-yard pass to score another touchdown for Carroll, tying up the contest.
Steady pressure by Carroll’s offense allowed the team to get within field goal range with 13 seconds left. Hamel drove the final nail in Tech’s coffin by completing a 38-yard field goal with no time left to win the game.
The Diggers will have a change to avenge their loss to Carroll at home on Bob Green Field October 15. Tech football returns to action September 10 in their home opener against Montana State University Northern.