HELENA, Mont. – The Carroll College defense held Valley City to 87 total yards including 31 yards through the air and Dustin Rinker ran for 153 yards and three touchdown en route to a 49-0 Carroll victory over Valley City State in the opening round of the NAIA Football Championship Series at a wind-swept Nelson Stadium.

The Saints scored five touchdowns on the gound and one through the air, Mac Roche was 17-30 for 133 yards and a touchdown pass to linebacker Sean Blomquist who entered the game as a fullback on a goal line situation. Roche Also scored a touchdown on a quarterback dive.

Along with Rinker's 153 yards and three touchdowns, Jordan Pine had 90 yards and a score.

Anthony Clarke also scored on a 70-yard punt return in the fourth quarter to cap off the scoring.

The Carroll defense only allows the Vikings to tally four first downs and they only entered the Saints end of the field once.

Valley City quarterback Kurtis Walls was 7-27 for 31 yards and an interception. Ian Keller led the Viking ground attack with 54 yards on 12 carries.

Dustin Rinker earned offensive player of the game honors for his performance and Dawson Osborne received the defensive player of the game award when he recovered a fumble and tallied an interception.

The Saints own the No. 1 seed in the tournament and will host No. 8 Southern Oregon in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Football Championship Series. The two previous meetings were barn burners. SOU won the season opener 38-35 in 100 degree heat in Ashland. In the return, game the Saints outlasted the Raiders for the 42-40 win.

SOU is the only team that has scored more than 14 points against the Saints in 11 games this season.