HELENA, Mont.. - For the second time in as many seasons, the No. 17-ranked Carroll Football team will take on Arizona Christian under the desert sky with a 7 p.m. kickoff from ACU Football Field in Glendale, Ariz.

The Fighting Saints (3-1) wrapped up a successful non-conference portion of their 2025 schedule last weekend in Helena with a 27-13 win over Rocky, and will look to carry the momentum into their Frontier Conference opener with the Firestorm (1-2) this weekend in Glendale.

Saturday marks the start of a new era for Carroll, as they'll play the first Frontier Conference - West divisional game in program history, following the addition of several new teams this past summer.

The Frontier - West is comprised of six teams (CC, Arizona Christian, Montana Western, Simpson, Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, College of Idaho), with all six playing each other once to determine the division champion and the automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series in November.

The Saints and Firestorm have played three times in the all-time series, with Carroll owning wins in both prior matchups, a 35-20 win in Helena in '23, and last year's 28-0 win in Glendale.

The programs have two very different histories. Carroll is in its 106th season of football, while Arizona Christian is in just its 12th total season with the sport. Their first season was 2014, 100 years after the first group of gridders suited up on the Hilltop.

Success has followed both programs, however. The Saints own six national titles and 45 conference crowns, while ACU has four conference championships in their short history.

Through non-conference play, the Carroll defense has been nothing short of spectacular. Entering Saturday, the Saints are among the Top-15 teams in the country in points per game (No. 8 - 12.5 ppg) yards per game (No. 2 - 213.8 ypg), pass yards per game (No. 3 - 132.5 ypg), rush yards per game (No. 14 - 81.3 ypg), and sacks (No. 10 - 13 sacks). With big time playmakers at each level, the Saints have stymied nearly everything thrown their way this season, and are hungry to keep the dominance rolling this weekend in the desert.

Two of the nation's best safeties wear the Purple & Gold, and both have shined thus far. Braeden Orlandi (Valley Springs, Calif. / R-SO) enters the week at No. 6 in the NAIA in tackles per game (11.5), while Gunner Giulio (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / R-JR) leads the nation in total takeaways (3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries).

Offensively, the Saints are rounding into form as well heading into conference play. Last week was the first 300-yard passing day for quarterback Kaden Huot (Helena, Mont. / JR), who's thrown for multiple touchdowns in each of his last three games. Huot is surrounded by talent, perhaps none more valuable than the best tight end in the nation, Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-SR). Ochoa enters the week at No. 18 in the NAIA in total receptions (26), No. 10 in receptions per game (6.5) , and No. 25 in receiving yards per game in the NAIA (84.5)

Kickoff for tonight's desert duel is set for 8 p.m. (MDT), with a forecasted high of 87 in the Valley of the Sun.

A live stream of tonight's game can be found HERE, and live stats HERE.

Catch Voice of the Saints, Stewart Davis, and Carroll Sports Information Director, Conlan Burk, call the action live on Rewind 94.9 FM in Helena, or online HERE.