Football | 09/07/24 | 11:21 AM

HELENA, Mont. - The 2024 Football season has finally arrived in Helena, and the Carroll College Fighting Saints are set to kick-off their season against No. 21 Montana Tech at 6 p.m. on the new Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

NEW

New is the word that surrounds the Carroll Football team as they enter the 105th football-playing season in program history.

New faces. New field. New technology. New year.

The 2023 Saints saw their season cut short of a playoff berth, left looking from the outside in as the nation's No. 24 ranked team. The season started strong, with Carroll racking up wins over teams appearing on the NAIA Top-25 (St. Thomas, Montana Tech, and Rocky). The Saints would climb as high as No. 6 in the NAIA National Poll, but three losses down the stretch would spoil their hopes of another spot in the NAIA Football Championship Series.

The disappointing end to the year is not forgotten by a group of returners looking to win the Frontier for the second time in their careers.

Quarterback Jack Prka (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / SR) is set to make his 29th start under center for the Saints this season. Prka has been a steady force, accruing over 5300 passing yards in his time at the helm. This season, he has some new weapons surrounding him.

The running back room looks much different than a year ago, two NCAA Division I transfers joined the team this summer, Xavier Ford (Glendora, Calif. / JR) and Asher Croy (Bozeman, Mont. / R-JR). They'll join Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year Peter Minneart (Boise, Idaho / FR) with returner Max Lehman (Meridian, Idaho / R-JR) looking to rack up yards in bunches this season.

The offensive line sees three new starters. Andrew Devine (Wasilla, Alaska / R-JR), Wyatt Sandford (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / R-SO), and Ben Larsen (Washoe Valley, Nev. / R-SO) will all get their first season-opening starts of their careers. Timothy Sellars (Olympia, Wash. / GR) and Jadon Lamb (Townsend, Mont. / R-SR) will return to their respective center and right tackle positions, providing senior leadership up front.

Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-JR) has proven to be one of the best receivers in the league, and this year he'll be flanked by Lincoln Holmes (St. George, Utah / R-FR) and Gavin Vandenacre (Townsend, Mont. / R-SO). Add in tight ends Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-JR) and Ryan Rickman (Salem, Ore. / R-SR) and the Carroll offense becomes much more difficult to defend.

The bulk of a defense that finished No. 5 in the NAIA in rush yards per game last season (86.1) returns for the Fighting Saints in '24. Hunter Peck (Windsor, Colo. / SR) and Garret Worden (Laramie, Wyo. / R-SR) are as formidable a pair of rushers as any team in the nation can boast, and have Washington State transfer Rocky Shields (Littleton, Colo. / R-SO) plugging the middle in between them. Forrest Suero (Helena, Mont. / R-SO) had an outstanding Fall camp, and looks to make a big impact this season.

Boise State transfer linebacker Brett Tommasini (Eagle, Idaho / R-JR) is as physical as they come, and should provide stability in the middle of the field alongside Jacob Sweatland (Missoula, Mont. / R-SO).

Elijah Larson (Sandpoint, Idaho / R-JR) and Daxon Graham (Dillon, Mont. / R-JR) will resume their posts at the corners, while Bodie Smith (Whitefish, Mont. / R-SO) and Braeden Orlandi (Valley Springs, Calif. / R-FR) patrol the top of the field from their safety positions.

This past off season, Nelson Stadium got a face lift. A new synthetic playing surface was installed, and a state-of-the-art lighting system went in with it. The game-changing upgrades mean that for the first time in stadium history, today's game will be played at night.

Valley Bank Field will officially be inaugurated with a 6:07 p.m. kick-off between the Fighting Saints and the Orediggers.

The game has drawn the attention of the nation, as is often the case with one of the longest-running rivalries in the NAIA. Tonight's game will be broadcast live, region-wide on SWX channels throughout Montana, Northern Wyoming, Northern Idaho, and Eastern Washington.

A simulcast will run on the Fighting Saints Network HERE.

Catch Voice of the Saints, Nick Dietzen, and Carroll Hall of Famer, Gary Turcott, call the action live on Rewind 94.9 FM or online HERE.

Live stats can be followed HERE.

Ticket demand has been at a high, and school officials anticipate a sell out. Get to the stadium early and secure your seat for this historic night.

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

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