CALDWELL, ID — On Saturday, No. 10 Montana Tech fell just short in a hard-fought Frontier Conference game against No. 19 University of Idaho, losing 45-37 in overtime, suffering its first loss of the season.
After allowing a touchdown and two-point conversion on C of I’s first OT possession, Tech quarterback Blake Sellen was intercepted and the game ended, leaving the Ordigers 3-1 overall and 1-0 on the Frontier. They fell to one loss. With the win, the Yotes improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.
The I-C got the ball first in OT and scored in four plays, culminating with a 2-yard touchdown run by Hunter Gilbert. The Yotes scored two points and converted on a run by quarterback Andy Peters to take a 45-37 lead.
On the first play of the Audigers’ first possession of overtime, Sellen was intercepted by De’Shon Swafford, and the Yotes scored 24 points in the fourth quarter, giving both teams a combined 59 points after halftime. This ended.
Tech trailed 37-31 late in the game, but the Audigers’ Landers Smith scored on a 9-yard run set up by a 45-yard pass from Sellen to Wyatt Alexander with 47 seconds left. However, after Smith’s TD rush, Dylan Root’s extra point kick was blocked and the game was tied at 37-37.
On the ensuing C of I drive, the Yotes pushed to the Audigers’ 32-yard line, but Peters’ pass was intercepted by Tech’s Matt Whitcomb, sending the game into overtime.
The Audigers took a 31-19 lead early in the fourth quarter on Smith’s 44-yard touchdown run. C of I rallied with three consecutive TDs on a 12-yard pass from Peters to John Krebs and consecutive 8- and 4-yard runs by Peters, giving the Yotes a 37-31 lead with 1:53 left. . .
Sellen passed for 387 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked three times and had two interceptions.
Alexander had 219 receiving yards on just six catches, including an 80-yard TD reception from Sellen in the third quarter. Smith had 111 rushing yards and two scores.
Peters threw for 419 yards for C of I and connected with two receivers for at least 100 yards, Travis Marieiro for 112 yards and Tommy Houser for 107 yards.
Montana Tech returns home next week to take on Frontier foe Southern Oregon State at 1 p.m.
