Butte MT (VCSU) – It was tough day in Butte for the Valley City State University football team. Senior Day for Montana Tech and the Orediggers defeated the Vikings 41-0 at Alumni Coliseum.

The Orediggers defense held Valley City State to 26 total yards and three first downs while putting together a strong performance on offense. Montana Tech had 534 total yards in the 232 rushing and 302 passing.
The Vikings had six three-and out drives until the last drive when the offense moved the ball was too little to late.

Montana Tech scored on their opening possession when Jarrett Wilson found Levi Torgerson for a 38-yard touchdown. Casey Kautzman’s extra-point made 7-0 Montana tech with 10:50 to go the first quarter.

After a Viking three-and-out, the Orediggers would score again on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Nick Michelotti. Kautzman’s extra-point made it 14-0 Tech with 7:04 to go in the first quarter.

The Viking defense came up big on the next Orediggers possession when Dorian Sandness forced Michelotti to fumble the ball after a completion. Gavin Gerhardt recovered the fumble setting up the Vikings at their own 44-yard line with 3:00 to go in the first quarter.

The Vikings would get into Montana Tech territory when Joey Cave hit Jake Deutsch for a nine-yard completion. A two-yard run by Cave gave the VCSU its first first down of the quarter. But three plays later, the Vikings were forced to punt.

The Orediggers then went on a 21 play, 51-yard drive that took over twelve minutes off the clock. Wilson hit Michelotti for a second time from nine yards out for the touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, making the score 20-0 Montana Tech with 3:35 to go in second quarter.

The Orediggers would score once more before the end of the half when Wilson and Torgerson connected on an 18-yard touchdown. The Kautzman extra-point made it 27-0 at halftime.

Montana Tech would get the second half kickoff and Christian Vetter capped a 12-play drive with a one-yard run. Kautzman added the extra-point for a 34-0 Oredigger lead with 8:20 to go in the third quarter.
After a Viking punt, the defense held Montana Tech to a field goal attempt by Kautzman. But the 32-yard attempt was wide left, keeping the Orediggers off the scoreboard.

Tech would cap the scoring with a 10-play, 61-yard drive that ended when Isiah Claunch connected with Jaxon Cotton for a one-yard completion. Kautzman’s extra-point made it 41-0 with 8:21 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings best drive of the day came on the ensuing drive. Valley City State would get two of its three first downs on the drive. The longest play of the day for the Vikings was a twelve-yard completion from Cave to Exavian Westbrook for a first down. A nine-yard run by Cave would follow then a four-yard completion to Will Pfahl would give the Vikings a first down at the 50-yard line. But three straight incompletions ended the drive of the Vikings. Montana took over after a 38-yard punt by Jim Miller. 

The Orediggers would run out the clock to end the game, and the Vikings season.

Joey Cave completed four of 16 passes for the Vikings for 28 yards. Exavian Westbrook hauled two of the passes for 15 yards.

Gavin Gerhardt led the defense with 14 total tackles and a fumble recovery.

The Vikings end the season 6-4 on the year and 3-3 in the Frontier Conference. The six wins is the most since VCSU won eight games in 2021.