BUTTE, Mont. – Like every other team in No. 3-ranked Montana Tech's way over the last month, the Southern Oregon football team had no answers for the Orediggers in a 58-10 loss on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Coliseum.
Jarrett Wilson, a left-handed junior quarterback, completed 18-of-20 attempts for 295 yards and four touchdowns and All-America receiver Levi Torgerson torched the Raiders again as the Diggers improved to 4-0. They've now outscored their opponents, including a pair of NAIA Top 25 foes, by a combined margin of 164-31.
Torgerson – the reigning Frontier East Division Player of the Year, who last year in Ashland accumulated 222 reception yards and four touchdowns – made 10 catches in the first half and finished with 11 for 146 yards and a pair of scores. Jamal Cariglia had three rushing TDs on 11 touches, helping Tech to 313 yards on the ground and 604 total.
The game got off to an inauspicious start when the Diggers took the opening drive 78 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown and recovered the ensuing short kickoff after a Raider muff. Three plays later, they were in the end zone again and had a 14-0 lead before SOU's offense had taken the field.
Fresh Ison scored SOU's lone touchdown on a 32-yard run and finished with five carries for 50 yards.
Dom Montiel went 14-of-25 for 166 yards, finding
Dawson Douglas four times for 55, and
Andy Nguyen made a 25-yard field goal.
Junior linebacker
Raiden House led SOU's defense with seven tackles and
Braden Bailey forced a fumble. The Diggers didn't allow a sack but had four of their own.
Over two seasons as Tech's starter, Wilson has compiled 36 touchdown passes compared to three interceptions. He also tossed four TDs last year in Ashland.
The Raiders are back home next week to face a third consecutive nationally-ranked opponent, No. 23 Dakota State (S.D.), on SOU Sports Hall of Fame Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Laurel Field.
