HELENA, Mont. - Homecoming Weekend is in full swing, and the No. 18-ranked Fighting Saints will cap-off a busy weekend on the Hilltop with a 6 p.m. kick against Rocky Mountain College on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

Fresh off a blowout win over then-ranked No. 11 Dickinson State, Carroll (2-1) will look to wrap up its non-conference slate and keep momentum rolling as they host the Battlin' Bears (0-3) under the lights.

The 6 p.m. clash will be the first night Homecoming Football game in Nelson Stadium's 24-year history, and the second straight evening home game for the Purple & Gold.

Saturday's game between the Saints and Bears will be the 86th all-time meeting between the "two" schools, and Carroll has dominated the series which dates back to 1918. The Saints hold a 61-20-4 advantage. Early history between the schools is difficult to track, as Rocky has absorbed multiple former schools (Intermountain Union College, Montana Wesleyan, and Billings Polytechnic) and their associated records.

Thanks to their big win in North Dakota last weekend, the Saints saw the biggest jump in the NAIA Coaches' Top-25 Poll this week. Carroll vaulted up seven spots, from No. 25 to No. 18.

The Carroll defense has been outstanding through three games on the defensive side of the ball, entering the week inside the Top-10 in multiple categories. The Saints are No. 9 in the NAIA in scoring defense - holding opponents to just 12.3 points per game, No. 5 in total defense - allowing just 202.3 yards per game, and most impressively No. 2 in the nation in pass defense - allowing just 119 yards per game.

The defense will have its hands full as they look to slow down Rocky's air-raid attack. The Bears come into the week averaging 291.7 yards per game through the air, and have one of the NAIA's best young receivers in Darius Haskin, who's averaging 150.7 receiving yards per game with six touchdowns on the year.

As impressive as the Carroll defense has been, the offense was equally as efficient in last week's big win over the Blue Hawks. Quarterback Kaden Huot (Helena, Mont. / JR) went 20-24 for 205 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air, while adding in 63 yards on the ground and his first career receiving touchdown in his best start as a Saint.

Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-SR) is the lone tight end in the nation to lead his team in both receptions (19) and yards (247). 

The offense was very balanced in the win, finishing with a near 50-50 split in terms of total yardage (rushing - 241 yards, passing - 243 yards) in their most complete showing of the year.

Tonight's game is the Frontier Conference game of the week, and will be broadcast live on SWX stations throughout all of Montana, Northern Idaho, Eastern Washington, and parts of Wyoming.

A simulcast will be available online HERE, and live stats can be followed HERE.

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