HELENA, Mont. - Coming off one of their most memorable wins in recent history, the No. 12-ranked Carroll Football team is back home, hosting Simpson University in a 1 p.m. clash on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

The Fighting Saints (5-1, 2-0) will look to keep their Frontier Conference West division lead intact, as they take on the Redhawks (0-6, 0-2) in their lone October home game of the 2025 season.

Vibes are high in Helena, and with good reason. Carroll is firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, with outstanding production coming from both the offense and the defense over the course of their four-game win-streak.

After starting the year as the No. 25-ranked team in the Preseason NAIA Coaches' Poll, the Saints have seen one of the largest rises in the country, checking in this week at No. 12 - matching their highest ranking from a year ago. Stacking one more win before a bye week, paired with several Top-10 matchups across the nation this week could potentially bring the Saints their first Top-10 ranking since the 2023 season in the next couple of weeks. However, taking care of business at home remains the only priority for a 2025 team looking for Frontier title No. 46.

Speaking of taking care of business, quarterback Kaden Huot (Helena, Mont. / JR) and defensive lineman Forrest Suero (Helena, Mont. / SR) took care of business in a big way last weekend in Dillon. The pair of former Helena High Bengals were each named Frontier Conference Player of the Week for their contributions against Western. Huot was outstanding, going 22-36 for 349 yards and five touchdowns through the air, while also finishing with a game-high 52 rush yards and one score. Suero made his impact felt in a big way on the defensive side, finishing with five tackles and grabbing a huge momentum-swinging interception in the second quarter that would ultimately lead to 21-unanswered Carroll points.

Gunner Giulio (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / R-JR) is having one of the best takeaway seasons by any member of the Saints' secondary in the last decade. Giulio is tied for first in the NAIA with six total takeaways on the season (4 INT, 2 FR), and is No. 4 in the nation with four picks, including one on Western's final possession of the game in last week's road win.

Wide Receiver Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-SR) had a monster game as well, tallying eight total receptions for a season-high 193 yards and a pair of touchdowns of 40-yards or more.

Saturday marks the second game in yet another very young series. The Saints picked up a 52-0 win over the Redhawks in the lone other meeting in the 2024 Carroll College Homecoming game last September at Nelson Stadium. That game was the 865th in Carroll program history, and just the fourth game in Simpson history. Simpson enters the week still in search of their school's first victory.

The 1 p.m. clash is sponsored by Stockman Bank and Cancer Support Community Montana. The game is Carroll's annual Pink Game, aiming to raise awareness and support for those who have fought, and continue to fight Breast Cancer. Free tickets are available to cancer survivors and their families - just visit the Stockman Bank tailgate prior to the game.

Carroll Athletics is also proud to welcome all Helena Small Fry participants free of charge for those wearing their team jersey, and would like to congratulate all on a great season.

Stick around for a 6:30 p.m. Volleyball match in the PE Center this evening, as the Fighting Saints host No. 7 Bellevue. All Carroll football tickets presented at the gate will provide free admission to Volleyball as well.

Saturday's game will be a tape delay broadcast on SWX stations throughout Montana, but a live stream can be found free of charge HERE.

Catch Voice of the Saints, Stewart Davis, and Carroll Hall of Famer, Gary Turcott, call the action live on Rewind 94.9 FM in Helena, or online HERE.

Live stats for the game can be found HERE.

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