BUTTE — Levi Torgerson set the tone on the first play.
The Montana Tech senior returner scored a 100-yard kickoff return against Montana Western in Thursday's season-opening Copper Game at Bob Green Field, then notched a punt return touchdown later in the first quarter and also had a passing touchdown in the second quarter to help lift his team to a 24-point halftime lead.
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The No. 11-ranked Orediggers then fended off the No. 5 Bulldogs in the second half for a 38-27 victory and Tech's first win in this series since 2022. Western had won the past three meetings.
After Torgerson's kickoff touchdown, Tech running back Wykece Johnson — a Mississippi State transfer — rushed for a 74-yard touchdown to put the Orediggers up 14-0 midway through the first quarter. Then three minutes later Torgerson housed the punt return to make it 21-0 Tech.
Photos: Montana Tech hosts Montana Western in 2025 Copper Game
Western scored with just over a minute remaining on a 25-yard pass from Michael Palandri to Eli Nourse. Tech then marched downfield in the final minute and scored on a 13-yard double pass play from Torgerson to Parker Johnston to put Tech up 31-7 at halftime.
Western then cut the lead to 31-21 on a 4-yard Palandri rush and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Palandri to Landon Charlton. Tech then helped ice the win early in the fourth quarter on a 5-yard scoring pass from Jarrett Wilson to Nick Michelotti.
Tech will travel to Carroll College on Sept. 6 while Western will host MSU-Northern.
