HELENA, Mont. - One of, if not the longest-running rivalries in the NAIA will add another chapter this evening in Helena, as No. 25 Carroll hosts No. 11 Montana Tech in their 2025 home opener on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium at 6 p.m.

As close to next door neighbors as it gets in Montana, the Fighting Saints (1-0) and Orediggers (1-0) will do battle once again in what will be the 134th meeting in the all-time series dating back to 1920.

Carroll has been overwhelmingly dominant in the history of the rivalry, winning 88 of the total contests, while Montana Tech has enjoyed recent success with wins in six of the last ten meetings, including a pair in 2024.

For the second straight season, Carroll will host Tech in a home-opening night game, with kick-off slated for 6 p.m. Saturday's bout will be just the second night game in the 25-year history of Nelson Stadium, and the Saints will look to avenge a 30-22 loss to the Orediggers 364 days ago.

A slow start doomed the Saints in last year's season-opening loss, with several turnovers and miscues on special teams in the opening half. After falling behind 30-7, Carroll would score 15 unanswered in the second half, ultimately running out of time in their pursuit of a comeback win.

The 2024 teams are a distant memory now, however, with a myriad of new faces on both sides at several key positions.

Both teams will have different signal callers under center than they did a year ago. Carroll will be led by Helenan Kaden Huot (Helena, Mont. / JR), who will be making his first start in his hometown in over three years. The former top recruit in Montana fared well in last week's season-opening win over MSU-Northern, going 21-33 for 256 yards and a touchdown, while adding 35 yards and one score on the ground as well.

Explosive plays and putting points on the board has been a point of emphasis for the Fighting Saints throughout the offseason. They made their share of big plays in last week's 20-0 shutout, but an abnormal amount of penalties saw several of the chunk plays wiped off the board.

Montana Tech has seen the majority of their season points come via explosive plays, with three touchdowns of more than 70 yards. The Orediggers had a pair of return touchdowns on special teams, as well as a 73 yard draw play go for six in their season-opening win over No. 5 Montana Western last week. 

The Carroll defense will be tasked with stopping the big play potential of the Orediggers, and should feel confident heading into the matchup after their third shutout in the last two seasons last weekend in Havre. Filled with playmakers at all three levels, the Saints held Northern to just 158 total yards, picking up right where they left off as a Top-20 defense in 2024.

Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-SR) was borderline dominant in last week's season-opening win, hauling in seven passes for 85 yards and getting after it blocking in the run game. Entering the evening, the '24 VSN Third Team All-American leads all NAIA tight ends in receptions, and is No. 2 at the position in receiving yards.

Tonight's game will officially kick at 6:07 p.m., and will be broadcast throughout Montana, Northern Idaho, and Eastern Washington on SWX affiliates. Additionally, the game has been tabbed as an NAIA game of the week, and will be streamed nationwide on UEN. 

Parking in the PE Center lot will be charged beginning at 10 a.m., as the Carroll Volleyball team hosts MSU-Nothern at 1 p.m., while tailgate lots will open at 3 p.m., gates open at 4 p.m.

Tickets are still available for purchase in advance HERE, or at the ticket gate.

Due to ongoing construction of the Biskupiak Family Maintenance Building, Bishop Carroll drive, surrounding the campus will be inaccessible. 

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.

Live stats for the game can be found HERE.