HELENA, Mont. -  Carroll, the NAIA's No. 8-ranked team, struggled to get anything going in a 36-13 loss to No. 15 College of Idaho on Saturday afternoon on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

After entering the week on a six-game win streak in which they averaged more than 27 points per game, the Fighting Saints (7-2, 4-1) simply couldn't move the ball in Saturday's loss, putting up only 13 points.

The Saints came into the week as one of the hotter teams in the nation, averaging 394 yards of total offense per game, but were held completely in check by the Yotes - finishing the game with just 125 yards.

For the first time this season, quarterback Kaden Huot (Helena, Mont. / JR) was held without a touchdown pass. The junior entered the week at No. 5 in the NAIA with 27 TD passes on the year, but a persistent Yotes pass rush forced some early and errant throws, with the offense struggling to maintain drives.

Carroll took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter as reigning Frontier Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Connor Sullivan (Kalispell, Mont. / R-JR) broke loose for a 62-yard punt return touchdown - the first return score by a Saint since 2018 (Shane Sipes - 10.27 vs MSU-N).

From that point forward the College of Idaho controlled all facets of the game. The Yotes capitalized on several Carroll mistakes, grabbing three interceptions in the game - two of which came off deflections by Carroll receivers, and controlled the pace of the game with sustained drives on the offensive side of the ball.

The Yotes grabbed the lead with nine minutes remaining in the opening half on a Rylie Byington 14-yard touchdown run, and broke the game open in the late stages of the frame. 

Byington scored his second touchdown of the afternoon from three yards out with just under two minutes remaining, and then after a quick interception the Yotes added seven more points with a first-play 40-yard touchdown pass from Caden Young to Jackson Ames to go ahead 26-7 at the break.

Peter Minnaert (Boise, Idaho / SO) scored his sixth touchdown of the 2025 campaign in the third quarter to keep the game within striking distance, but a Caden Young rushing score in the fourth and Carroll's inability to move the ball would close the door on any sort of a comeback attempt.

College of Idaho controlled the game, nearly from start to finish, as evidenced by their 42:56 time of possession. 

The Saints, who entered the week at No. 13 in the NAIA in third down percentage (47 percent), were behind the sticks for the majority of the game, finishing just 2-11 on the afternoon.

With the win, the College of Idaho secured the Frontier Conference - West division's automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series.

While the loss was certainly not the desired outcome for the Saints, they still have plenty to play for. Carroll still sits squarely in contention for an at-large selection to the NAIA FCS, but will have to take care of business next weekend in Helena as they host Eastern Oregon in a Senior Day game with kick-off slated for 12 p.m.