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THIS WEEK IN CARROLL FOOTBALL
The Saints look to build on a 34-3 win over MSU-Northern when they travel the arduous journey to Ashland, Oregon, to face the Raiders of SOU. The Raiders look to be back on a playoff level under first-year coach Charlie Hall. SOU is 3-0 and have outscored their opponents 124-74. The two teams do not have a common opponent yet this season.
LAST GAME: SAINTS TOP MSU-NORTHERN 34-3
Major Ali ran for a career-high 147 yards, and a touchdown and the Carroll College Saints dominated in all three phases of the game to earn a 34-3 win Saturday at Nelson Stadium.
The Saints racked up 432 yards of offense, including 321 yards on the ground while holding MSU-Northern to 198 yards of offense and just one first down in the second half. Carroll was also excellent on special teams, with a kick return for a touchdown for Shane Sipes and a good day from punter/kicker Dylan Torgerson who went 2-2 in field goals and launched his only punt 45 yards with no return, pinning the Lights inside the 20.
The Saints started the scoring with 7:25 left in the first quarter on a 22-yard field goal from Torgerson to go up 3-0. After a missed field goal from the Lights, the Saints went on an 80-yard, eight-play drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Gustavsen to Ryan Walsh on the first play of the second quarter go up 10-0.
Walsh added a receiving touchdown with 2:33 after a seven-play, 60-yard drive with much of the heavy lifting being done by Ali on back-to-back runs for a combined 26 yards. The Saints took a 17-0 lead into the half. The Carroll defense allowed just 10 first downs in the first half but would be even more impressive in the second.
MSU-Northern picked off Gustavsen in the third quarter, setting up a 43-yard field goal for Tommy Langley but Carroll answered right back with an 85-yard kick return for a touchdown by Shane Sipes. The score took the sails out of any attempt at a comeback from Northern.
The Saints added a 14-play 67-yard touchdown, capped with a seven-yard run for a touchdown by Ali and a field goal by 38-yard field goal from Torgerson.
Carroll outgained Northern 321-24 on the ground. Gustavsen was 8-18 for 100 yards and a touchdown. Sipes led all receivers with five catches for 58 yards. Walsh carried the ball 13 times for 69 yards and a touchdown to go with his one catch for 20 yards and another score.
Defensively, Drew Melton had a career day, breaking up five passes and intercepting another. The Saints notched nine pass breakups on the day and a pair of interceptions, one each by Melton and McBride Galt.
ABOUT SOUTHERN ORGEON
SOU has one of the most prolific offenses for yards in the conference with 494.7 yards per game. The defense is also stout, holding opponents to just 333.3 yards per game overall. Quarterback Tanner Trosin is the reigning Frontier Offensive Player of the Week and is ranked seventh in the NAIA in total offense. The Raider defense is led by the sack-happy duo of Tre Holmes and Amrando Gauger who are first and second in the Frontier in sacks.
Head Coach Charlie Hall took the job after Craig Howard passed away suddenly this spring. Howard led SOU to a national championship in 2014. Hall has started his college career with a 3-0 start.
QUICK NOTES
• Carroll travels to Southern Oregon to take on the Raiders on their home turf. The Saints and Raiders played once last season with SOU coming away with a 34-14 win at Nelson Stadium
• Carroll returns eight starters on offense, including three offensive linemen, two receivers, the tight ends and a pair of running backs. Starting quarterback Tanner Gustavsen also saw starting action in a pair of games and played in seven games total.
•Gustavsen was threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the season debut against Montana Tech in Butte. He was 17 of 29 for 200 yards with no interceptions. He also ran for 23.
• Tight End Eric Dawson made an impressive return from a medical redshirt year with five receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown and a 15-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat formation in the season opener against Montana Tech.
• Major Ali is the Saints' leading rusher after carrying the ball 24 times for a career-record 147 yards and a touchdown against MSU-Northern.
• Carroll running backs combined for 321 yards last week, the most since rushing for 396 against the College of Idaho in 2014.
• Shane Sipes was named the Frontier Special Teams Player of the Week after racking up 119 yards on two returns, including an 85-yard touchdown.
• In the opener, the Saints and Diggers were tied at 21 at halftime and stats were very similar, before the Saints struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the second half.
• Carroll is seventh in the Frontier in total offense/game after three games.
• Major Ali moved into the NAIA Top-50 in total rushing and rushing yards per game.
• Tanner Gustavsen is eighth in the conference in total offense per game.
• Dylan Torgerson is ranked fourth in the NAIA in Punt Yards per attempt at 43.5 yards per attempt. He only punted once against MSU-Northern, a 45-yard bomb that pinned the lights inside of their own 20.
• Ryan Beaulieu ranks 19th in the NAIA for total punt return yards and 40 for passes defended.
• Drew Melton jumped into the NAIA top-10 in passes defended after breaking up five passes and grabbing a first quarter interception.
•There are 36 true freshmen listed on the Carroll roster.
• In one of the smallest classes in recent history, only 14 seniors are listed on the roster, 12 of those seniors are listed as starters on the two-deep.
• Head Coach Mike Van Diest has the sixth-best winning percentage (.816) of any active college football coach with more than ten years of experience. He is ranked 23rd all-time from any division.
• Van Diest has the highest winning percentage of any coach in NAIA history with 10 or more seasons. Second is Charlie Richard who coached at Baker (Kan.) from 1980-90, 92-94.
• SOU has been known for their offense but their defense is doing big things this season. They are third in the NAIA in sacks and 18th in rushing defense.
• The SOU offense is still on point, and are 16th in the NAIA in total yards per game.
• Head coach Charlie Hall was hired to replace National championship winning coach Craig Howard who passed away suddenly this spring. He is 3-0 in his first season.
