HELENA, Mont. - Several short fields, missed opportunities, and untimely penalties by No. 25 Carroll led to a 30-19 loss to No. 11 Montana Tech in Saturday night's home opener on Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.

Looking to snap a three-game skid against the Orediggers (2-0), the Fighting Saints (1-1) simply couldn't overcome their own mistakes, falling for a fourth-straight time in the series.

One of the NAIA's longest running rivalries began with a feeling-out process from both sides, as both teams advanced near midfield, but no further on their opening possessions.

The Orediggers would be the first to strike, finding the endzone on their second possession of the game. Facing a fourth and one on the edge of field goal range, Tech's Wykece Johnson picked up nine yards, followed by the game's first big play. Jarrett Wilson connected with Derek Pearse on a delayed route, catching the Carroll defense off guard for a 27 yard touchdown to take a 7-0 advantage with five minutes remaining in the first.

Carroll's offense couldn't quite get things rolling in the early stages of the game, coming up just short on several third down plays to force early punts, and Tech would lead 7-0 after 15 minutes of play.

Just minutes into the second quarter, the Saints would get their first momentum-shifting play of the evening, courtesy of All-American candidate Braeden Orlandi (Valley Springs, Calif. / SO). The playmaking safety came around the edge, getting his first sack of the season, and forcing a fumble to spark Carroll's first points of the game.

On the first play after the fumble, Kaden Huot (Helena, Mont. / JR) connected with Carson Ochoa (Yorba Linda, Calif. / R-SR) for 41 yards down the seam. Four plays later, Huot would find Lincoln Holmes (St. George, Utah / R-SO) in the back of the endzone to even things up at 7-7.

Montana Tech would regain the lead with 2:49 in the half, as Mississippi State transfer Wykece Johnson scored from one yard out, capping a five play, 43-yard drive. A bad hold on the point after attempt would limit the damage, however, as the Orediggers went up 13-7.

After a 19-yard rush on the drive's first play, Huot would be hit as he released the ball on his next pass attempt, causing an underthrow and an interception for the Orediggers that would be returned all the way to the Carroll 19.

With time ticking down in the half, the Carroll defense would stand tall, holding Tech out of the endzone on a series of plays from within six yards. After stuffing a rush attempt from the one yard line with just 12 seconds remaining, Tech would rush it's field goal unit onto the field, knocking in an 11-yard field goal as time expired to take a 16-7 lead into the break.

On their opening possession of the second half, Carroll would pull within one score.

Huot connected with his favorite target, Ochoa, for 27 yards, and again for 34 yards into the endzone just two plays later, but a holding call in the backfield would negate a touchdown for the First Team All-Frontier tight end for the second time in as many games. All was well in the end, as Huot found running back Peter Minnaert (Boise, Idaho / SO) in the flat for an eight yard touchdown three plays later. Spencer Berger's second PAT attempt of the evening would be blocked, however, keeping the game 16-13.

The Orediggers extended their lead back to 10 later in the period, as Johnson scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a four-yard rush to cap a nine-play, 54-yard drive.

Disaster struck for the Saints in the opening minutes of the fourth, as Tech would block a punt deep in Carroll territory, recovering the ball at the Saints' 6-yard line. Two plays later, Johnson grabbed his third touchdown of the game to put the Orediggers in front 30-13.

Carroll wouldn't go down quietly, as Hout would hit his other tight end, Ty Wilkinson (Pocatello, Idaho / R-FR) for the second time in as many weeks for a 13-yard score that trimmed the lead to 30-19 with under six minutes remaining. A second blocked PAT would keep the margin there, however, and the Saints would be unable to chip away at the lead any further for the remainder of the game.

Kaden Huot finished his night 16-29 for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

Carson Ochoa, still scoreless, was again the leading receiver for the Fighting Saints, finishing with 66 yards while Chris Akulschin (Gig Harbor, Wash. / R-SR) led the team in receptions with five for 26 yards.

Huot led Carroll with 60 yards rushing, followed by Minneart's 44 yards in his first game back since suffering a season-ending leg injury against Arizona Christian last October.

Defensively, Braeden Orlandi was all over the field, finishing his highly impressive day with 15 total tackles. 2.0 tackles for loss, one sack, and a forced fumble in the loss.

Carroll will now have two weeks to prepare for their next opponent, as they travel to No. 13 Dickinson State on September 20 where they'll square-off with the Bluehawks for the first time since 2013.