The 2003 football team went unbeaten at 15-0, while winning the school’s second national crown.
In the NAIA playoffs, the Saints defeated McEndree (Ill.) 40-7, Mary (N.D.) 49-7 and St. Francis (Ind.) 38-14, to reach the finals.
Carroll entered the chipper riding a 19-game winning streak dating back to the 2002 season. For the year, they had outscored their opposition 634-161.
Coach Mike Van Diest’s Saints then captured their second successive national title with a 41-28 win over Northwestern Oklahoma.
Quarterback Tyler Emmert completed 26 of 37 passes for 344 yards, and three touchdowns, and ran for another. Mark Gallik caught all three strikes, and finished with 13 catches for 25 yards.
Carroll’s other scores were provided by Rhett Crites’ 18-yard field goal, and Bret Bermingham’s 33-yard interception return.
Emmert was named the Frontier MVP, while linebacker Marcus Atkinson was selected the league’s defensive MVP. Emmert was also chosen the NAIA Player of the Year.
Van Diest earned both conference and national Coach of the Year awards.
The Saints placed eight players on the 2003 NAIA All-American team, led by first team selections Emmert and Gallik.
Making the second team were offensive lineman Spencer Schmitz and linebacker Atkinson. Honorable mention citations went to defensive lineman Nate Chiovaro, defensive back Brett Birmingham, punt returner Regan Mack and kicker Rhett Crites.
Among those selected to the Don Hanson Football Gazette All-American squad was O-lineman Kyle Baker.
Among the all-conference players not listed above were wide receiver Zach Zawacki; running backs D.J. Dearcorn and Jed Thomas; O-linemen Paul Barnett and Dan Mazurek; linebackers Mike Maddux, Gary Cooper and Mark Nay; D-lineman Jeff Shirley; defensive back Matt Peterson; and punter Crites
