HELENA, Mont. - The Frontier Conference has announced its West Division Football postseason honors for the 2025 season, with Carroll College well represented. Seven Saints earned First Team honors, four earned Second Team honors, a pair were Honorable Mention selections, and Braeden Orlandi was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year.

The 2025 season was a step in the right direction for the Fighting Saints (8-2, 5-1). While finishing runner-up in the Frontier Conference - West, the Saints finished the regular season with the nation's No. 13-ranking, and have the opportunity to host the first postseason game on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium since 2014, this weekend at 1 p.m. against St. Thomas (Fla.).

After back-to-back 7-3 campaigns, with narrow postseason misses, Carroll is back in the 20-team field thanks in large part to the efforts of a strong contingent of All-Conference performers.

FRONTIER CONFERENCE - WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Braeden Orlandi - DB (Valley Springs, Calif. / R-SO)

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For the second-straight season, and third time in the last four seasons, Carroll can claim the league's best defensive player, as defensive back Braeden Orlandi garnered the top honor following one of the most impressive statistical seasons in Carroll history. Orlandi finished the regular season with 112 tackles (47 solo, 65 assisted), 5.5 tackles-for-loss, .5 sacks, one interception, three pass break ups, and a forced fumble. He led the conference with 11.2 tackles per game - the second-best mark in the entire NAIA, and became the first Saint since 2013 to record 100 or more tackles in a season (Sean Blomquist - 123). In addition to the DPOW Honors, Orlandi was a First Team All-Conference selection.

FRONTIER CONFERENCE - WEST FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Andrew Devine - OL (Wasilla, Alaksa / R-SR)
Wyatt Sandford - OL (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / R-JR)
Carson Ochoa - TE (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-SR)
Chris Akulschin - WR (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-SR)
Forrest Suero - DL (Helena, Mont. / SR)
Brett Tommasini - LB (Eagle, Idaho / R-SR)
Braeden Orlandi - DB (Valley Springs, Calif. / R-SO)

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The Fighting Saints secured seven total First Team All-Conference selections, their most under the direction of Head Coach Troy Purcell. 

A pair of offensive linemen, Andrew Devine and Wyatt Sandford, garnered First Team All-Conference honors after both starting all 10 games and helping the Carroll offense record its best passing numbers in the last six seasons. The All-Conference honors were the first for both.

Carson Ochoa is no stranger to the All-Conference team, as one of the Nation's top tight ends is now a three-time All-Frontier performer - all of which coming on the First Team. A '24 VSN All-American, Ochoa led the Saints in total receptions (55), yards (703), and touchdowns (7) - capping one of the most impressive careers of any tight end in program history.

Chris Akulschin was named a First Team All-Conference selection for the first time in his career after once again proving to be a big play waiting to happen. The wideout finished second on the team with 45 receptions for 658 yards and six touchdowns, including multiple scores of 40 yards or more.

Forrest Suero was a force on the interior of the defensive line all season, earning First Team All-Conference honors for the first time in his career. The multi-time All-Conference selection had an impressive year, finishing with 58 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, an interception, one pass break up, one forced fumble, and a pair of fumble recoveries - all while lining up right on top of the ball on nearly every snap.

Brett Tommasini rounds out the Carroll First Team selections, grabbing his First Team honor after a Second Team All-Conference performance last year. The linebacker flew around the field with reckless abandon, finishing with 61 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks, one pass break up and four quarterback hurries.

FRONTIER CONFERENCE - WEST SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Kaden Huot - QB (Helena, Mont. / JR)
Denavion Ali - DL (Denver, Colo. / R-SR)
Eli Aby - LB (Laurel, Mont. / R-SR)
Gunner Giulio - DB (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho / R-JR)

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After transferring in this past spring from the University of Montana, Kaden Huot put together one of the best passing seasons of the last decade-plus. The junior earned Second Team honors after going 198-302-7 for 2515 yards and 28 touchdowns during the regular season, adding in 273 yards and a pair of scores on the ground as well. His 28 TD passes are the most since Mac Roche in 2014, who also tossed 28 on the year.

Denavion Ali earned the fist postseason honors of his career after an outstanding senior campaign. Ali led the Saints in both tackles-for-loss and sacks on the season, finishing with 10.5 TFL for 58 yards and seven sacks for 49 yards. He finished with 45 total tackles, two pass break ups, a forced fumble, and one blocked kick to boot.

Eli Aby earned Second Team All-Conference honors for the first time in his career after an Honorable Mention selection in '24. The Montana State transfer was second on the team in tackles, finishing with 81 on the year (22 solo, 59 assisted). He had 6.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks, three pass break ups, as well as one forced fumble and a pick.

Gunner Giulio rounded out the Second Team All-Conference selections after a stellar senior campaign. Giulio led the Saints in takeaways by a large margin - finishing with five interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries from his safety position. He finished with 63 tackles on the year, and added in four pass break ups while patrolling the secondary.

FRONTIER CONFERENCE - WEST HONORABLE MENTION
Henry Gross - LB (Helena, Mont. / R-SO)
Connor Sullivan - KR/PR (Kalispell, Mont. / R-JR)

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Two Saints were named Honorable Mention All-Conference selections. Henry Gross finished the season with 47 total tackles, 8.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, and a team-high three forced fumbles in an impressive sophomore season. Connor Sullivan had one of the most memorable seasons for any Carroll returner in the last decade-plus. His 24.85 yards per kick return helped the Saints finish in the Top-10 in the nation in return average, and he became the first Saint since 2014 (Anthony Clarke) to return a punt for a touchdown two weeks ago against College of Idaho.

To view the full Frontier Conference - West All-Conference release and teams, click HERE.

The group of Saints will look to continue to add onto their already impressive stat-line this weekend, as they host (17) St. Thomas in NAIA Football Championship Series First Round Action at Nelson Stadium with kick-off slated for 1 p.m.