Football | 11/19/22 | 7:04 AM

DES MOINES, Iowa – The No. 16 Carroll College Football team is back in the NAIA Football Championship Series, squaring off with No. 2 Grand View University this morning at 11 a.m. (MST).
 
The Carroll College Fighting Saints are back in the NAIA Football Championship Series, and all is right in the world.

Carroll's 21-6 win over No. 11 College of Idaho secured them the Frontier Conference auto-bid, and a first round matchup with 2021 NAIA runner-up, No. 2 Grand View. Carroll will look to make a splash and re-establish themselves as a team to fear in the NAIA, and here are some things to look for heading into this NAIA FCS opening round.
 
Saturday's opening round contest will pit two of the statistically strongest groups in the NAIA against one another. Grand View's offense enters this week as the No. 3 total offense in the nation, averaging 440.3 yards per game (252.1 passing, 188.2 rushing ypg) and 42.2 points per game. The Vikings dominated the rest of the Heart of America - North Conference, with QB Johnny Sullivan leading the conference in passing yards/game, and touchdowns (29).  Carroll's defense has been equally as impressive through conference play, limiting Frontier offenses to just 230.5 yards per game (159. 1 passing, 71.4 rushing ypg) and 13.3 ppg. The Saints defense has been absolutely dominant for the last month-plus. After 31 points allowed to No. 11 C of I at the midway point of the year, the Saints have limited opponents to just 29 TOTAL points since Oct. 8. The Saints shut out then-ranked No. 14 Rocky Mountain College, and allowed only 6 points to then-ranked No. 11 College of Idaho during that stretch. Carroll's defense has playmakers at each level, but their defensive front has been a nightmare for opposing teams. 
 
After a slow offensive start to the 2022 season, QB Jack Prka (Coeur d'ALene, Idaho / SO) has the Saints offense humming as of late. The true-Sophomore has been outstanding over the Saints' five-game win streak. Fresh off of a 275-yard, 3 TD performance that earned him Frontier Conference Player of The Week honors, Prka will face his toughest competition yet. The Vikings come into the NAIA FCS allowing just 8.4 ppg, and 224.4 ypg. Over the final five games of the season, Carroll's offense is averaging 30.6 ppg, and 402.2 ypg over this five-game winning streak to end the regular season, but at times has been susceptible to stalling. WR Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-FR) has quickly established himself as a prime target for Prka, and TE Tony Collins (Fort Worth, Texas / SR) continues to provide matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. Carroll's Running Back-by committee has been solid, but will need to step up if the Saints hope to pull the upset. The Saints will need to sustain drives, and get points on the board at every opportunity if they hope to knock-off the No. 2 team in the nation.

As has been the case for the Saints all season long, ball security and keeping the play in front of the defense will be the prime focus for this playoff matchup. Last weekend in Caldwell, Idaho. Carroll came out of the game with a +1 turnover margin, even with Prka's two early interceptions. LB Rex Irby (Boise, Idaho / SR) hauled in two picks of his own, and DB Tug Smith (Newport, Wash. / R-JR) came down with one interception at key points of the game, effectively accomplishing both goals, to keep Carroll in control. The Carroll defense has a bend-don't-break mentality, one that has served them well. Although the Yotes were able to move the ball early in the first three quarters, Carroll's defense was able to stand tall and keep C of I out of the end zone entirely. In Carroll's last loss, C of I connected on a 68-yard TD pass, just one play after a Carroll TD, to regain the lead and flip momentum. Their longest play allowed since then? A 33-yard pass early in the 24-0 shutout over RMC. Conversely, Carroll has continually hit the big play in the second-half of the year, including TD passes of 63 and 57-yards last week alone. If the Saints defense can continue to limit plays downfield, and can the Carroll avoid mistakes and turnovers, look for this game to come down to the wire.
 
The Frontier Conference as a whole has struggled in recent years in the NAIA FCS. The last NAIA FCS win that the conference can boast is a 70-23 win from College of Idaho over incoming-member Arizona Christian. Interestingly enough, Grand View would start the trend of Frontier disappointment in the second round, handing the Yotes a 14-6 loss and beginning a three-game skid for the Frontier representatives. Carroll will look to buck that trend, and potentially open the door for a future multi-bid league once again. The Frontier Conference is a highly competitive league, and anyone who comes out of it with the title has proven themselves worthy of their spot in the NAIA FCS. With Carroll winning two of the last three Frontier titles, the program is back on track and looking to reestablish the conference dominance that Saints fans are accustomed to.
 
Carroll, overlooked by mush of the nation as of late, continues to be the most successful football program in the NAIA. 45 conference championships, 42-17 NAIA FCS record, eight NAIA Championship appearances, six NAIA championships. Carroll has won (42) and played in (59) more FCS games than any other qualifier, and will not be satisfied with a participation trophy. People are quick to forget just how dominant a small school in Montana can be. The 2022 Fighting Saints are a proud, smart, and physical group, capable of playing with anyone in the NAIA. Grand View's recent run of success is impressive, but certainly not intimidating to the members of a program as storied as Carroll's. 20 years removed from the program's first National Championship, can this year's version of the Saints repeat the accomplishment?
 
Today's game will be streamed live for free HERE, and live stats can be seen HERE. Catch John Kemper on the call locally on 94.9 FM, or listen anywhere HERE.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com this evening for a full recap of the action, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.