HELENA, Mont. - For the second-straight week the Fighting Saints put up 40-plus points, using a second half surge to cruise to a 44-0 win over Simpson on a brisk Saturday afternoon on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

While the Fighting Saints (6-1, 3-0) left some meat on the bone in the first half, they left no doubt with a a crisp 27-point second half effort to remain unbeaten in Frontier Conference - West play, and head into a well-deserved bye week on a high note.

Carroll quarterback Kaden Huot was sensational yet again, finishing his fourth-straight game of 300-plus passing yards with a highly-efficient 23-25 effort for 312 yards and five touchdowns - bringing his total to 10 passing TD's in the last two weeks alone.

"It was a great day." said Huot "You know, offense came out a little slow, but then we got stuff going there in the second half. We figured some stuff out, it was on us, and we went out and excecuted to get it done."

Lincoln Holmes (St. George, Utah / R-SO) had another big game against the Redhawks. A year removed from his prior career-best, Holmes was electric on Saturday, finishing with a new career-high 117 yards on six catches, including both first half scores for the Saints.

Holmes' first TD grab of the afternoon was also the first score of the game, a 49-yard dot from Huot that was caught in nearly the exact same spot on the field as his receiving touchdown in last year's 52-0 win over the Redhawks. 

On the other side of the field, Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-SR) hauled in a pair of touchdowns for the second-straight week as well. The captain's fifth - and sixth - touchdown receptions of the season, both of which coming in the third quarter, were two of a game-high seven catches for 99 yards. Akulschin now ranks inside the Top-20 in the NAIA in receiving yards, sitting at No, 18 with 565 yards on the year - 277 yards shy of his career-high.

"They're (Holmes, Akulschin) a big part of our offense. It's nice knowing that they're gonna find a way to get open and I have a chance to get the ball to 'em. They do a hell of a job making plays after the catch."

Offensive statistics are fun, but the Carroll defense once again put up some highly-impressive numbers in their second shutout of the season - their fourth in the last two seasons.

The Saints were as stout as ever, limiting Simpson to just 193 yards of offense (143 passing | 50 rushing). Saturday marked the third time in the last two seasons that Carroll has held their opponent under 200 yards of total offense (9.21.24 vs Simpson | 10.5.24 vs MSU-N).

Simpson's longest play from scrimmage - a gain of 38 yards - came on a double-reverse pass in the fourth quarter to get into field goal range, but the second of two missed field goals would keep the Carroll shutout intact after buckling down in the redzone.

Coming off his first Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor, Forrest Suero (Helena, Mont. / SR) wreaked havoc once again. The local product finished with a team-high nine tackles (three solo, six assisted), continuing his outstanding senior campaign.

While Suero led the team in tackles, fellow defensive lineman Denavion Ali (Denver, Colo. / R-SR) was perhaps the biggest factor in the dominant defensive effort. Ali had a career day, finishing with seven total tackles (four solo, three assisted) made more impressive with 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Henry Gross (Helena, Mont. / R-SO) tallied six tackles, including 2.5 TFL and one sack, while defensive back Caden Hansen (Dillon, Mont. / R-SO) had perhaps his best game as a Saint, finishing with five tackles, 2.5 TFL, one sack, and three pass break ups as well.

The lopsided victory saw standout performances in all three phases, as Peyton Morton (Billings, Mont. / R-JR) made one of the biggest special teams plays of the season. Morton blocked a punt with under two minutes remaining in the half, setting Carroll up with an instant redzone opportunity that Huot and Holmes would make good on just three plays later. 

Connor Sullivan (Kalispell, Mont. / R-JR) had an excellent return day, racking up 81 return yards on four punts (20.25 avg.) to set the Saints up with multiple short field opportunities. 

Gavin Vandenacre (Townsend, Mont. / R-JR) recorded a touchdown catch in his third-straight game, a 30-yard reception on fourth-and-three in the fourth quarter to help put the game well out of reach. The six-foot, four-inch receiver finished his afternoon with three catches for 48 yards.

While the run-game was not relied upon heavily, the Carroll backs were efficient. Peter Minnaert (Boise, Idaho / SO) picked up his fourth touchdown of the season, a four-yard score in the third quarter - highlighting his four carry, 23-yard afternoon. Xzavier Ford (Glendora, Calif. / SR) got the lion's share of the carries, finishing with 35 yards on eight attempts and one catch for five yards.

The win guarantees that Carroll will finish with a winning record, as they have every year under Head Coach Troy Purcell (2019-present).

Following a bye week that the Saints will use to rest and refocus, a three-game sprint against Southern Oregon, College of Idaho, and Eastern Oregon awaits Carroll as they continue their pursuit of conference championship No. 46 in program history.

"We gotta get everyone right with their bodies, get in and get treatment."

"It's nice to have that mental break of not having to prepare for a game next week, but still staying focused in practice and making sure we're competitive in practice - which we're always doing."

Two weeks from now, on November 1, the Saints will make their final road trip of the 2025 regular season, heading to Ashland, Ore. for a showdown with Southern Oregon.