CALDWELL, Idaho – Backup quarterback
Nathaniel Holcomb tossed for 272 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough for the College of Idaho, as Montana Tech used a big second half to surge past the Yotes, 36-16, at Simplot Stadium.
The Orediggers (1-0, 1-0 Frontier) got 143 yards and three touchdowns from running back Jed Fike and freshman quarterback Cole Hauptman rushed for 107 yards more, as Tech outscored C of I 26-6 in the second half.
Knotted up at 10-10 at the break, MT recovered an onside kick to start the second half – needing five plays to go 51 yards, capped by a Fike 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead. After forcing a 3-and-out, the Diggers marched 57 yards in nine plays – getting a one-handed Dion Williams grab on a 3rd-and-10 to extend the drive – with Fike plowing into the end zone from four yards to make it 24-10.
The Yotes (0-2, 0-2) cut the margin late in the quarter – as
Keagan McCoy stripped quarterback Tanner Kump and
Levi Russo-Bell recovered the fumble deep in MT territory. Holcomb found
Connor Richardson in the corner of the end zone on a 16-yard scoring strike to make it 24-16, only to see Tech block the extra point and Damaree Morris returned the kick to the end zone for a defensive two-point conversion.
MT put the game away late, turning a C of I interception into a Fike scoring run and a late field goal to cap the scoring.
The two teams traded first half field goals, as
Kyle Mitchell connected on a 32-yard try for the Yotes, while Tyler Padilla nailed a 41-yard kick to even the score. On the ensuing drive, Holcomb connected with
Hunter Juarez on a 75-yard touchdown pass to give C of I the lead, only to have Tech take advantage of three Coyote penalties on a 15-play drive, with Williams outjumping the C of I defense for a 7-yard touchdown catch to tie the score at halftime.
Fike rushed 29 times in the win for Tech – their first ever win in Caldwell, while Kump was 24-of-39 for 248 yards and the touchdown in his first collegiate start. Williams led Tech with eight grabs for 77 yards in the victory.
Holcomb set a school record with 44 pass attempts for the Yotes, finishing 22-of-44 for 272 yards – connecting with 10 different receivers.
Keegan Crafton had six catches for 45 yards and Richardson added five receptions for 54 yards and the touchdown.
C of I was limited to just 19 rushing yards on 23 carries in the loss – with Holcomb sacked four times.
Nick Calzaretta led the Yotes with 26 yards on nine carries. The Yotes were bit by the penalty bug, committing 12 penalties for 107 yards, while finishing just 4-of-17 on third down conversions.
The Coyotes hit the road the next two weekends – traveling next Saturday to No. 4 ranked Southern Oregon, followed by a date at Portland State.
NOTES: Mitchell's first half field goal was his tenth as a Coyote, equaling the school record set by Jeff Harris in the 1970s…
Forrest Rivers led three C of I players with 10 or more tackles with a career-high 15, including two for loss, while
Tristen Alesi had eight tackles and a first half interception…prior to the game, both teams stopped for a moment of silence for longtime C of I professor Dr. Wally Lonergan and assistant equipment manager Greg Grove, both who passed away this week…at halftime, former C of I president Dr. Marv Henberg was presented with the Frontier Conference's Ron "Swede" Kenison Award.
