Diggers Postseason Hopes End With Loss

Jason Silvernale

Cole Berg Runs the Ball 

      After the heartbreaking loss to Eastern Oregon earlier in the month, the Diggers knew that a win would be required in the rest of their remaining games to make an appearance in the postseason. The Lights of MSU Northern didn’t let that happen, collecting only their third win of the season with a score of 21-14. On the other hand, Tech fell to 4-3 in Frontier Conference play and 4-4 overall.
   The Orediggers struggled right out of the pen by allowing a Lights touchdown a few minutes into the first quarter. Tech could not respond with any kind of score in the first quarter and went into the second trailing 7-0.

   Tech got some momentum late in the second quarter when the offense ran a punt fake which led to Cole Berg getting a first down on Northern’s 33 yard line. Shayne Shaules caught a 21 yard pass from Matt Komac to give the Orediggers their only score in the half. Sean Kelly’s kick was good to make it 14-7. The Lights took the advantage into half time.

The third quarter was a defense deadlock with neither team being able to put another score on the board.
The beginning of the fourth quarter saw Brandon Boltz grab a 4 yard toss from Komac to tie the score at 14-14 all after the successful Kelly kick. Nonetheless, with a little over seven minutes left on the clock, Northern threw for the final score for the game and the advantage of 21-14.
Tech was only able to rush for 24 yards on the day. On the receiving end, Shaules led all with six catches for a total of 116 yards.
The Diggers final home game and senior recognition day will be November 6th when the 7-0 Carroll Saints visit the Mining City.