LA GRANDE, Ore. – Jacob Bakken threw for 423 yards and five touchdowns, helping Rocky Mountain College clinched at least a share of the Frontier Conference football title with a 48-10 win at Eastern Oregon Saturday.
The Battlin’ Bears led 7-0 late in the first half, when Bakken found Max Gray on fourth down for a 40-yard touchdown to put Rocky up 13-0. On Eastern Oregon’s ensuing possession, Kai Quinn’s third-down pass hit the back of his receiver and bounced straight into the arms of Rocky defensive lineman JoJo Bones for an interception.
On the next play, Bakken found tight end Darneail Jenkins in the end zone, who made a spectacular one-handed catch for the touchdown to put the Bears up 20-0. After an Eastern Oregon punt, Bakken quickly moved the offense back into scoring position, and found Jenkins for another touchdown to give the Bears a 27-0 lead at halftime.
Gray caught two third-quarter touchdowns to extend the lead to 41-0 before Rocky removed most of its starters.
The win, coupled with Montana Western’s 17-14 loss to the College of Idaho, guarantees Rocky at least a share of the Frontier Conference title. The Bears currently sit 7-2, while Western is 6-3 with one regular-season game remaining.
Rocky will host Montana Tech next Saturday at noon, while Western will travel to Southern Oregon.
