HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll College Football team fell 30-22 on Saturday night to No. 21 Montana Tech in their season opener at Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

A capacity crowd of nearly 6,000 fans packed into the newly renovated Nelson Stadium for the venue's first-ever night game, but were sent home with a sour taste in their mouths as the Fighting Saints (0-1) couldn't overcome early mistakes, falling 30-22 to the Orediggers.

Carroll won the coin toss, and elected to start their season with the ball. Their eight-play drive was cut short as reigning NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Jadyn Downs grabbed his fourth pick of the season, setting up Tech with a short field. The Carroll defense held steady, forcing the Orediggers into a field goal, and Tech grabbed a 3-0 lead.

The ensuing Carroll possession would also result in a turnover. Peter Minneart (Boise, Idaho / FR) rattled off a seven yard run, but the ball popped loose as he went to the ground and Tech would grab their second takeaway of the night just five minutes into the game.

Blake Thelen connected with running back Landers Smith for a seven-yard touchdown to cap a seven-play 32-yard drive, and Tech extended their early lead to 10-0.

On the next Carroll Drive, Xavier Ford (Glendora, Calif. / JR) provided a spark. He rattled off back-to-back runs of 21 and 10 yards, kick-starting the Carroll offense. Six plays later, Jack Prka (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / SR) would cap an eight-play drive with the Saints' first touchdown of the season, cutting the lead to 10-7.

After shutting down the first two plays of the next Tech drive, the Carroll defense missed by inches on a deep pass from Thelen to Levi Torgerson, and the 67-yard strike would put Carroll down by nine following a failed PAT, 16-7.

Early in the second quarter, Tech would block a Carroll punt deep in their own territory, setting up another short field in which the Orediggers would capitalize. Blake Thelen snuck in from one-yard out to extend the lead to 23-7.

The Saints would have a chance to cut into the Tech advantage with the final possession of the opening half, but after marching 57 yards down the field, Prka would be sacked at the Tech 30, and the clock would run out on the scoring opportunity.

Braeden Orlandi (Valley Springs, Calif. / R-FR) flashed his playmaking ability from his safety position on the opening drive of the second half. Orlandi picked-off Thelen and rattled off a 23-yard return to put Carroll back in business, but the offense would go three-and-out.

Tech put together a 10-play 62-yard scoring drive on the ensuing possession. Logan Kennedy was on the receiving-end of a four-yard Thelen pass to put the Orediggers on top 30-7.

Xavier Ford busted a 43-yard run on the next Carroll possession, setting-up a six-yard Max Lehman (Meridian, Idaho / R-JR) touchdown to cap a 90-yard, 11-play drive, and Carroll would eat into the lead at 30-14.

Jacob Sweatland (Missoula, Mont. / R-SO) gave the Saints life on the next Tech Drive, making a diving interception on a tipped pass at the line.

Xzavier Ford added to his impressive Saints debut with a nine-yard touchdown run up the middle, and Prka would connect with Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-JR) on the two-point try to suddenly pull Carroll within one score at 30-22.

The Saints D stood tall on the next drive, and it appeared the offense would get one final shot at the tie before a fake punt pass from the Tech Punter would all-but-seal the Montana Tech win. Several QB-kneels later, the Orediggers would wrap-up the 30-22 win.

Prka was a warrior in the opener, going 17-26 for 154 yards, while also adding 49 yards and a touchdown rushing.

Xzavier Ford had an outstanding Carroll debut, rushing for 156 yards on 21 attempts with one score.

Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-JR) led the Saints with 48 receiving yards, while Gavin Vandenacre (Townsend, Mont. / R-SO) tallied the most catches with five.

Defensively, Braeden Orlandi played a whale of a game in his first career start, leading the Saints with 10 total tackles, one TFL, and one interception.

Saturday's non-conference loss was not what anyone on the Carroll sideline wanted, but they will have no time to waste as they prepare to host Rocky Mountain College next Saturday in Helena for their 2024 Frontier Conference opener.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of that game, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.

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