LA GRANDE, Ore. - The Carroll College Football team earned a hard-fought road win, 25-23 over Eastern Oregon in La Grande, Ore. on Saturday afternoon.

Carroll (2-1) managed to scrape out a win over EOU (0-4) on a day that seemed off from the start, and finished in an equally obscure way. The game featured several wild moments that kept fans from both schools on the edge of their seat.

The Saints had the first opportunity to put points on the board, receiving the opening kick-off. Carroll moved the ball effectively, until miscommunication between Jack Prka (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / SO) and his intended target led to an EOU turnover right at the edge of the red zone.

Eastern Oregon threw a curve ball at the Saints, giving the starting QB duties to Carson Bohning. Bohning was not listed on the two-deep leading up to the game, but made the most of his opportunity and played a very solid game for the Mountaineers.

After an exchange of punts, Bohning made his first impact play, connecting with Walker Camp on a 34 yard pass down the sideline. Bohning capped off the drive a few plays later, keeping the ball on a zone read and putting EOU on top 7-0.

On the ensuing possession, after a series of Matthew Burgess (Junction City, Ore. / R-JR) runs, Prka had his second hiccup of the game, throwing a second interception deep into the EOU secondary.

On the next series, Bohning once again connected with a receiver deep down the sideline, when Malachai Spurrier caught a ball that was tipped up into the air by Zach Spiroff (Helena, Mont. / JR). Several plays later, Bohning threw a pass that was batted into the air by Carroll's defensive line. Bohning caught the tipped pass himself, and tried to advance it before Cameron Pruitt (Boise, Idaho / R-SO) forced a fumble, recovered it and returned it 47 yards into EOU territory.

Just three plays later, Prka was intercepted for the third time in the first half, and Carroll's offensive woes seemed to be unavoidable.

Carroll would manage to stop the Mountaineers from doing anything with the turnover, and forced a punt. Once the Saints had the ball back, Burgess took matters into his own hands, sprinting through the EOU defense en route to a 63 yard touchdown, the third-longest of his career, tying the game at 7-7.

Following the score, Carroll would attempt a sneaky onside kick, but EOU was able to recover and respond in a hurry. Bohning connected on another bomb down the right sideline to Spurrier for a 46 yard touchdown that would put the Mountaineers back on top 14-7.

The Carroll run game would take over for the remainder of the game. A combination of Duncan Kraft (Billings, Mont. / R-JR) and Burgess runs would move the Saints into EOU territory, where Spencer Berger (Billings, Mont. / FR) would knock down a 27 yard field goal to bring the game to 14-10 late in the second quarter.

After an exchange of punts, Carroll would go for a fourth-and-one, but EOU would manage to get the big stop at their own 24 yard line, then drive down the field and make a field goal of their own to bring the score to 17-10 in their favor heading into the halftime break.

The action would slow down a touch in the third quarter. Bohning and Spurrier would connect on another long pass play, but the Mountaineers would miss a field goal attempt several plays later that would keep the score at 17-10.

Late in the third, Zach Spiroff managed to capitalize on Bohning's first big mistake of the game, securing an interception and returning it all the way into the red zone to set the Saints up with a great opportunity to even the game headed into the final quarter. Just two plays into the fourth, Jack Prka would do just that. Prka kept the ball on a read option and scampered into the end zone to tie things up at 17-17. 

Carroll would force the Mountaineers to punt on the next drive, then march down the field, setting up Berger for another field goal, which he would make and give Carroll their first lead of the game, 20-17.

On the next series, Spiroff would come up clutch for the Saints once again, grabbing his second pick of the game, and setting up Carroll with a tremendous chance to run some clock and ice the game.

On the ensuing series, facing a third-and-three deep in EOU territory, disaster would strike for the Saints. A fumble by the running back would be scooped up, and taken 62 yards for a Mountaineer touchdown. The momentum had completely flipped and EOU would take a momentary 23-20 lead.

After a false start on the PAT backed the kick up 5 yards, Garrett Kocab (Phelan, Calif. / R-SR) broke through the line and blocked the attempt. Zach Spiroff made what may be considered the play of the game, grabbing the loose ball and returning it all the way to the end zone for a rare defensive return two-points, bringing the score to 23-22 in favor of EOU.

The Saints would receive the kick-off, following the bizarre series of events, but were not able to advance the ball and were forced to punt it away.

The Carroll defense would do their part, stuffing three straight plays and giving the offense one last shot to pick up the come-from-behind win.

Prka and the offense would not let the opportunity go to waste, as he connected on a 29 yard gain to Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-FR) that would move the Saints into field goal range.

Spencer Berger, in what was only his third collegiate field goal attempt, blasted a 33 yard kick through the uprights to give Carroll the 25-23 road win.

Even though it was a rough first half for Jack Prka, he managed to salvage the day and make plays when necessary, finishing 9-19 for 113 yards passing, 3 interceptions, and one rushing touchdown.

Carroll's two-headed monster in the backfield had a tremendous showing, with Matthew Burgess going for 107 yards and a touchdown, while Duncan Kraft finished the day with 117 yards rushing.

The long bus ride back to Helena will be easier for the Saints with a win in their pocket, and they will immediately turn their attention towards next Saturday's match-up with Southern Oregon.
The game with Southern Oregon is Carroll's Homecoming game, and with the planned activities surrounding the weekend inlcuding the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, kick-off has been moved to 2 p.m., an hour later than the original planned start.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for more information on the homecoming activities planned for the upcoming week, ticket information, and much more.