Orediggers well-represented on Frontier All-Conference teams

The following is a press release from Digger Athletics:

BUTTE, Mont. – The Frontier Conference announced the 2023 Football All-Conference team today. Montana Tech had seven student-athletes selected to the all-conference teams with four named first team all-conference.

Blake Counts earned his second first team all-conference honor and his fourth appearance on the all-conference list. Wyatt Alexander, Brandon Spencer, Cole Wyant, and Andrew Almos were also selected first team all-conference.

Counts rushed for 516 yards in eight games this season. The Kalispell native was second in the league in touchdowns with nine and yards per carry averaging 5.6 yards. Counts finishes his career with 2,972 rushing yards placing his fifth on the all-time list for the Orediggers.

Offensive lineman Brandon Spencer is making his first appearance on the all-conference team. The redishirt junior from Lolo, Montana started every game this season. The Orediggers were third in the conference in rushing yards averaging 169.4 yards a game and a league leading 25 rushing touchdowns.

Wyatt Alexander is making his first appearance on the all-conference team. The junior wide receiver from Whitehall was second in the conference in receiving yards with 1,109 yards averaging over 100 yards a game. Alexander was second in yards per catch with a 20.9 yard average. Alexander finished with nine touchdowns receptions and ranked four the in the league.

Linebacker Cole Wyant made the first team all-conference for the first time. Wyant led the conference in total tackles with 113 takedowns. The Rocklin, California native averaged 10.3 tackles a game and posted four sacks and eight tackles for a loss this season.

Andrew Almos is a second time all-conference honoree. Almos, from Great Falls, led the league and the nation in punting averaging 44.3 yards per punt. More than half of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line with 17 of 26 punts making it.

Defensive backs Matt Whitcomb and Angel Sanchez III were named to the Frontier second team.

Matt Whitcomb was fourth in the conference in total tackles with 71 averaging 8.9 per game. From Couer D’Alene, Idaho, he had six tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and four pass breakups.

Angel Sanchez III had 44 tackles and a sack this season. The Tacoma, Washington native broke up five passes and had one interception.

The all-conference teams included honorable mention this year. Four Orediggers earned an all-conference honorable mention nod: quarterback Blake Thelen, running back Lander Smith, offensive lineman Max Anderson, and linebacker Major Niccum.

Montana Tech finished with an overall record of 7-4. The Orediggers reached the NAIA Football Championship Series and were ranked No. 17 at the end of the season.