EDITOR'S NOTE: This story originally said Ryan Arntson broke Tyler Gleason's 1980 rushing record of 278 yards. After official film review of the game, Arntson fell short by 11 yards. It's the second highest total a Saints runner has ever compiled. This story has been edited to reflect Arntson's official total. 

HELENA, Mont. -- A little more than a mile away from Nelson Stadium, Ryan Arntson ran. 

In Vigilante Stadium, he ran, and ran and ran. 

As a mainstay in the Helena High Bengals' offense, he ran through Montana High School AA opponents. Ran to various awards. And he ran into record books. 

His choice to come to Carroll College was in part to play with his brother Troy and later under his dad Tony. But, he also wanted to run for his hometown Carroll College Saints. 

Saturday at Nelson Stadium in front of 2,122 in attendance, he ran into the Saints record books, threatening a 39-year-old record. On just 18 carries, Arntson rushed for the second highest highest mark in school history with 267 yards and added two touchdowns as the Saints handled the Montana State-Northern Lights 56-7. 

"I haven't done that in awhile," Arntson said of his big day. "It definitely felt good. I gotta give all my credit to the linemen and the receivers blocking down field especially on that first run."

Arntson's big day came as a byproduct of lead running back Major Ali's suspension. Arntson learned on Thursday he'd be starting -- and he made the most of it. 

On the Saints very first play from scrimmage, after the defense turned away the Lights, Arntson reeled off a 92-yard run, one of the longest runs in Saints' history. 

"It was right when we had our pull and he blocked that backer and I saw end zone," Arntson said of the moment he knew he was going to the house for a touchdown.  

The Saints swapped three-and-outs with the Lights, forcing two punts before putting together another impressive drive in the quarter. Quarterback Hunter Bledsoe replaced Kolby Killoy and on his very first play in the game he scored -- like Arntson earlier -- by heaving a 24-yard touchdown pass to Troy Arntson. 

The Arntson brothers shared the backfield on several occasions against Northern, with Troy handing off to Ryan on at least one play. 

"It means the world to me," Ryan Arntson said. "I've always looked up him. Seeing him score that touchdown right after mine, that's one of the coolest experiences I've ever had in sports, for sure." 

Bledsoe struck again on the Saints' next drive after the Lights turned the ball over on downs. This time, Bledsoe found Eric Dawson for a 21-yard touchdown pass. 

With so much talk about position-less basketball, with coaches tending to favor players that can play anywhere on the court, Dawson, the Saints' "tight end," proved there may be such a thing as positionless football. Dawson lined up at tailback, rumbling through defenders in power running formations. He went outside at receiver. He lined up at tight end. He played h-back. He's been a wildcat runner before. 

Anywhere the Saints could put the part-man, part-wrecking ball, they did. Dawson rushed five times for 16 yards and two scores and caught four passes for 38 yards and another score. 

"He's running all of our plays," Saints coach Mike Van Diest said. "He's just a terrific ball player. He's as good of a football player as we've ever had here. We've had some great ones at tight end, running back, whatever. He's a great one."

The Saints forced another quick possession out of Northern and went back to work. 

A 24-yard run by Arntson put the Saints on the move. A 14-yard pass to Dawson, followed by a punishing four-yard touchdown run put the Saints up 28-0. 

Northern battled back to get a touchdown on the board with a few minutes left in the half. Northern quarterback Tommy Wilson forced his way into the end zone from a yard out to prevent a shutout. 

"Their quarterback... I'm a big fan of Wilson," Van Diest said. "I like how he competes. He does a lot of things well. I'm glad we don't have to play him anymore. He's a good player. He's a tough kid." 

With a 28-7 lead at half, the Saints knew it was paramount to finish the game. In most games this season, the Saints had played well in the first or second half, but been unable to play sharp for the entirety of the game. 

The Saints were in cruise control the rest of the way. 

Making offense, defense and special teams work and sync and get results hadn't happened. 

Saturday, it did. 

"I think we finally just put together for a complete game for the first time this season," said Saints senior linebacker Reece Quade, who finished tied for a team-high seven tackles, while forcing and recovering a fumble on the day. 

Quade and the defense allowed 375 yards on the day, well above their average, but only gave up one touchdown. Quade, along with senior defensive lineman Beaugh Meyer, forced fumbles to end Northern drives. 

The Saints started the second half in overdrive. Sophomore Shane Sipes took the opening kickoff and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, the second return touchdown of his career. 
Even when the stats, the scoreboard and everything seemed to be in the Saints' favor, Quade knew there was still room for improvement, which would need to be the case as the Saints close out the season against two tough teams in Montana Tech and Eastern Oregon. 

Even then, the win would be a memory for years to come, as least for Quade. 

"It's seeing the smiles on everyone's faces," Quade said. "Every good player we have. Seeing coaches happy. Seeing teammates happy and then being happy yourself. It's awesome to see the success we had to day. That's something I will remember."
 
Arntson came just short of breaking Tyler Gleason's record set in 1980 when he rushed for 278 yards against Rocky Mountain College. 

The Saints prepare for their final road trip of 2018, a matchup with rival Montana Tech in Butte next Saturday.