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THIS WEEK IN CARROLL FOOTBALL
The Carroll College Saints get a rematch against Montana Western this weekend in Dillon. It's the second meeting between the team's this season. Carroll fell 16-10 to Western in Helena in Week 2. The Saints had a game-winning touchdown in their hands, but the ball squirted free and became a UMW interception that halted the Saints' best threat to score late.  

LAST GAME: CARROLL SLOW TO GET ON TRACK IN LOSS TO COI
Freshman quarterback Hunter Bledsoe passed for a game-high 241 yards and a touchdown, but the Carroll College Saints couldn't overcome the College of Idaho Yotes, falling 28-7 in Caldwell, Idaho, on Saturday. Bledsoe came in for starter Kolby Killoy early on and completed 20-of-44 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown and an interception. The freshman's throws wouldn't be enough, however, as the Yotes (1-5, 1-4) bettered the Saints (3-3, 2-3) during their homecoming game. COI grabbed the lead when Darius-James Peterson threw a seven-yard pass to Connor Gagain midway through the first quarter. The Yotes extended that lead with a touchdown when Peterson ran in from two yards out late in the opening period.The home team made it a three-score game when Connor Richardson hauled in an eight-yard pass from Peterson with 11:36 left in the second quarter. The 21-0 score stuck until the fourth quarter when the Saints finally broke through. Bledsoe hit Shane Sipes for a 26-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. It would be the last time the Saints found the end zone. COI added another touchdown when Daniel Garcia returned a fumble recovery 48 yards with five minutes remaining to grab a 28-7 lead. Major Ali led the Saints in rushing with 61 yards, while Sipes led the receivers with 83 yards and a touchdown. The Saints intercepted Peterson four times on the day, led by Drew Melton's two picks. McBride Galt and Nate McGree each added a pick, too. David Peterson forced and recovered one fumble. It wasn't enough for the Saints to find ways to put points on the board, though. The Saints are back on the road next week to take on Montana Western in Dillon. The Bulldogs defeated the Saints 16-10 earlier this season.  

ABOUT WESTERN
The Bulldogs defeated the Saints 16-10 earlier this season With only a shootout loss to Eastern Oregon in La Grande, Oregon, this season, the Bulldogs have put together a strong season. Montana Western defeated the Saints in Helena earlier this season and then have earned two home wins over ranked opposition in Dillon. The Bulldogs defeated Rocky Mountain College 24-21 and last week took down Montana Tech 32-19. 

Western is finding success behind a high powered offense. The Bulldogs average 35.6 points per game, the best mark in the Frontier. A lot of that comes from the stellar quarterback play of Jon Jund, who is No. 2 in the conference with yards per game at 299.8. 

QUICK NOTES
• Every Frontier Conference team was on a bye last week. 
• Carroll is now 3-3. The last time the Saints started 3-2 was the 2015 campaign, though that season ended roughly with a 4-6 record overall.  
• Offense looking to get on track: The Saints have scored seven points in the last two weeks. Redshirt freshman Hunter Bledsoe showed positive signs in the passing games last week, but the Saints are still looking to light up the scoreboard.
• Carroll had its highest scoring outing against Montana-State Northern a week earlier, scoring a season-high 32 points.
• 60-40: Carroll has shown a committment to the run, electing to rush the ball 60 percent of offensive snaps.
• The power of the takeaway: Carroll is 2-1 when it creates a positive turnover margin. •  Saints coach Mike Van Diest has not named a starter at quarterback ahead of the game at Western.
• Bledsoe reportedly wowed coaches after receiving additional reps with the first-team offense during the Saints' bye week.
• Carroll junior linebacker Chase Bowen is averaging 10.2 tackles per game, the third best mark in the Frontier Conference, and No. 17 mark in the NAIA.
• Cornerback Ryan Beaulieu is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA in passes defended per game (2.2).
• Defensive back Drew Melton is also ranked highly in passes defended per game, coming in at No. 3 in the NAIA with 2 each contest.
• Melton became the first individual to record two takeaways in a single game for the Saints this season.  
• Another DB, Isazah King, is also in the Top 25 of passes defended, ranking No. 24 with 1.5 knockdowns per game.
• The Saints' defense ranks No. 22 in the NAIA in total defense, allowing 317.3 yards on the ground.
• Carroll returns three all-conference performers from a season ago, two on offense and one special-teamer.
• Carroll lists 35 true freshmen on the roster. • In one of the smallest classes in recent history, the Saints list only 10 seniors on the roster,  all of those as starters on the two-deep.  
• Coach Mike Van Diest has the 13th-best winning percentage (.798) of any active college football coach with more than 10 years of experience. He ranks 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.
• Van Diest was selected to join the NAIA Hall of Fame this season. He will be inducted this winter.
• The Battlin' Bears forfeited their opening week win over Carroll College. Rocky Mountain College self-reported an academically ineligible player, giving the Saints their first win of 2018.
• Ryan Nourse enters his fifth season as the head coach of the Bulldogs, his third straight season with the team. He spent 2013-2016 as UMW's athletic director. 
• Aside from a 7-4 season in 2016, this is the most successul start to a season under Nourse.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Jon Jund is one of the best quarterbacks in the NAIA. He averages 287.6 yards per game, the eighth best mark in the NAIA. 
• UMW linebacker Jason Ferris is No. 3 in the NAIA in passes defended per game (2) and No. 5 in tackles per game (12.4).