Football | 09/07/24 | 11:21 AM

HELENA, Mont. – The 2024 football season is finally here in Helena as the Carroll College Fighting Saints open their season at 6 p.m. against No. 21 Montana Tech at the new Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

NEW

New is the word being used to describe the Carroll Football team as they enter their 105th football season in program history.

New faces. New field. New technology. New year.

The 2023 Saints saw their season fall just short of a playoff berth, sitting as the 24th-ranked team in the country from the outside. The season started strong, with Carroll posting wins over teams ranked in the NAIA Top-25 (St. Thomas, Montana Tech, and Rocky). The Saints would climb as high as No. 6 in the NAIA National Poll, but three losses in the final stretch would dash their hopes of another NAIA Football Championship Series berth.

The disappointing end to the year will not soon be forgotten by a group of returning competitors, who are looking to win the Frontier for the second time in their careers.

Quarterback Jack Praka (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho/SR) is set to make his 29th start at center for the Saints this season. Prka has been a steady force, with over 5,300 passing yards during his time at the helm. He has some new weapons around him this season.

The running back room looks a lot different than it did a year ago. This summer, two NCAA Division I transfers joined the team, Xavier Ford (Glendora, Calif./JR) and Asher Croy (Bozeman, Mont. / R-JR) They join Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year Peter Minneart (Boise, Idaho / FR) with returner Max Lehman (Meridian, Idaho / R-JR) hopes to rack up a lot of yards this season.

The attacking line gets three new players. Andrew Devine (Wasilla, Alaska / R-JR), Wyatt Sandford (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / R-SO), and Ben Larsen (Washoe Valley, Nev. / R-SO) will all get their first season opener of their careers. Timothy Sellars (Olympia, Wash. / GR) and Jadon Lam (Townsend, Mont. / R-SR) return to their respective center and right tackle positions, cementing their roles as leaders on offense.

Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash./R-JR) has proven to be one of the best receivers in the league, and this year he will be flanked by Lincoln Holmes (St. George, Utah / R-FR) and Gavin Vandenacre (Townsend, Mont. / R-SO). Add tight ends Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, California / R-JR) and Ryan Rickman (Salem, Ore. / R-SR) and Carroll’s offense becomes much harder to defend.

Most of the defense that finished fifth in the NAIA in rushing yards per game last season (86.1) returns for the Fighting Saints in 2024. Hunter Pik (Windsor, Colo./SR) and Garret Worden (Laramie, Wyo./R-SR) are among the most formidable rushers a team in the nation can offer, and have transferred from Washington State Rocky Shields (Littleton, Colo. / R-SO) who fills the middle between them. Forest Suero (Helena, Mont. / R-SO) had an excellent fall camp and hopes to make a big impact this season.

Boise State transfer linebacker Brett Tommasini (Eagle, Idaho / R-JR) is as physical as they come and should provide stability in the midfield alongside Jacob Zweetland (Missoula, Mont. / R-SO).

Elia Larson (Sandpoint, Idaho / R-JR) and Daxon Graham (Dillon, Mont. / R-JR) will resume their posts at the corners, while Bodie Smith (Whitefish, Mont. / R-SO) and Braeden Orlandi (Valley Springs, California / R-FR) patrol from their safety positions at the top of the field.

This past offseason, Nelson Stadium got a facelift, installing a new synthetic playing surface and a state-of-the-art lighting system. The game-changing upgrades mean that today’s game will be played at night for the first time in the stadium’s history.

Valley Bank Field officially opens with a 6:07 p.m. kickoff between the Fighting Saints and the Orediggers.

The game has captured the attention of the nation, as is often the case with one of the longest-running rivalries in the NAIA. Tonight’s game will be broadcast live, regionally on SWX channels in Montana, Northern Wyoming, Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington.

A simulcast will be available to watch on the Fighting Saints Network HERE.

Listen live to Voice of the Saints, Nick Dietzen and Carroll Hall of Famer, Gary Turcott, on Rewind 94.9 FM or online HERE.

You can follow live statistics HERE.

Demand for tickets is high and school administrators expect it to sell out. Get to the stadium early and secure a spot for this historic evening.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com tonight for complete coverage of the action and to stay up-to-date on everything happening at Carroll Athletics.

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