HELENA, Mont. – In two games this season against Montana Tech, the Carroll College football team looked like the better team in the first half, but in both games, the 11th-ranked Orediggers outscored the Saints in the second-half to earned the win. Saturday at Nelson Stadium, the Saints led 10-6 at the break, but Tech rallied to win 23-10.

Carroll held the NAIA's leading rusher, Jed Fike, to 80 yards on 21 carries, well short of his 158-yards per game average coming into Saturday.  He had just 28 yards through three quarters, and the final 58 yards came on the Diggers' final two drives. 

Carroll opened the scoring in the first quarter. A forced fumble by Isazah King was recovered by Tucker Johnson and returned to the Montana Tech 33-yard line. The short field set up a nine-yard QB keeper touchdown for Eric Dawson out of the wildcat formation to put Carroll on top 7-0 with 3:56 to play in the first quarter. 

The Saints added a 28-yard field goal from Dylan Torgerson with 5:58 left on the clock in the second quarter after a long drive from the Saints. 

On the ensuing drive, the Saints had the Diggers pinned back at their own 15-yard line on third-and-15 when Quinn McQueary made a pinpoint throw to Sean Sullivan at the 50-yard line to keep the drive alive. The big completion would be the turning point in the game as the Diggers drove the field to and scored on a one-yard run by Fike to cut the lead to 10-6, a score which would hold until halftime. 

After a Carroll three-and-out to start the second half, Montana Tech drove 75-yards on 10 plays, capped by a 15-yard touchdown throw from McQueary to Dion Williams to give Montana tech its first lead, 13-10. 

After trading possessions, the Saints looked to be driving when a pass from redshirt freshman Reese Hiibel, who was starting his first game in relief of senior Tanner Gustavsen, bounced off of a receiver's hands and into was intercepted and returned to the Carroll 27.

The Carroll defense played tough, but on back-to-back third downs, the Saints were called for penalties that extended drives, leading to a four-yard touchdown from McQueary to Chris Kelly to put Montana Tech up 20-10.

Montana Tech added a fourth-quarter field goal and held off late Carroll attempts to get back into the game to earn the 23-10 win. 

The Diggers improve to 5-1 while Carroll falls to 1-5. 

While the Saints limited the run, Montana Tech was efficient with the short passing game, McQueary finished the game with 398 yards on 34-51 with an interception and two touchdowns. The Saints held Tech to 46-total yards rushing, which was highlighted by six tackles for loss, including five sacks. Before Saturday, Tech had only allowed three sacks all season.

Hiibel in his first start performed admirably. He was 17-33 for 172 yards and an interception, but also had multiple receivers drop balls, including a pair that looked like they were heading to the end zone. 

Ryan Arntson tallied 61 yards on nine carries to lead the Saints to 128-yards rushing.  Shane Sipes had four catches for 57 yards, but seven receivers caught balls for the Saints. 

Carroll travels to play at Rocky Mountain next Saturday in Billings. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Herb Klindt field.