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REDDING, Calif. - The Carroll College Football team held off a late rally on Saturday afternoon, finding a way to fend-off Simpson for a 45-31 win on a hot and dry day in the Golden State.

The Fighting Saints (6-1, 3-0) yet again saw contributions across the board, with the offense, defense, and special teams coming with key plays in pivotal moments to hold off a fearless comeback effort by the much-improved Redhawks (3-4, 1-2).

For just the third time in the 112-year history of the Carroll Football program, the Saints have now put up 40 or more points in five straight games. The 2026 team joins the 2003 NAIA National Champions and 1988 Frontier Champions as the only teams to accomplish the feat.

Carroll's 45 points weren't just a fun stat, they were absolutely necessary against one of the NAIA's top offenses.

Entering the year the Redhawks were winless in their first two seasons fielding a team, totaling just 385 yards combined in two previous losses to the Saints. The 2026 Simpson squad, however, is a much more explosive and dangerous team. The Redhawks entered Saturday afternoon as the No. 9 team in the nation in total yardage (485) and gave Carroll's No. 7-ranked defense (241.5 ypg) all they could handle, piling up 571 yards of total offense and a season-high 31 points. Reigning NAIA Offensive Player of the Week Ya'j Vance played a big part, completing 27 passes for 380 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 23 rushing yards on 14 attempts as well.
 
While the Saints did give up season-highs in both yards and points, they continually came up with the big plays when it was most needed, forcing three more fumbles, one interception, and redzone stops that helped maintain a two-score cushion throughout.
 
The Carroll offense was firing on all cylinders in a dominant first half effort. The Saints scored on each of their first four possessions, using a healthy mix of run and pass to build an early 28-10 lead for their counterparts on the defensive end to hold up.
 
Kaden Huot (Helena, Mont. / SR), who entered the game as the most efficient passer in the NAIA, was as effective as ever on Saturday. The second-year starter was 14-20 on the afternoon, throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Huot completed six passes of 25-yards or longer, two of which went for six.
 
Ty Wilkinson (Pocatello, Idaho / R-SO) continued his hot-streak, leading the Saints with five total receptions for 76 yards and his ninth receiving touchdown of the season, while Gavin Vandenacre (Townsend, Mont. / R-SR) led Carroll with a game and season-best 92 yards on three catches. The Townsend-product nearly added 60 more yards and a score to the stat line, but an offensive pass interference call would negate the big play.
 
Carroll's first score of the game was a memorable one, as Ethan Triplett (Belt, Mont. / R-SO) fought through pass interference by his defender, and hauled in a one-handed grab on a 38-yard toss from Huot for his first career touchdown.
 
The Saints have a new season-leader in total rushing yards, as Beau Butner (Spokane Valley, Wash. / R-FR) finished with a team-high 74 yards on the ground. The speedy back became the second Saint this season to record three rushing touchdowns in a game, all coming in the opening half.
 
All said and done, the Saints racked-up 387 yards of total offense on the afternoon (271 pass, 116 rush).
 
Special Teams have been special on the Hilltop this season, and Saturday was no exception. Eddie Ballanco (Bozeman, Mont. / FR) had another perfect week, knocking down all six of his PAT attempts, while also banging through a 41-yard field goal. Michael Darling (Monroe, Wash. / FR) electrified a healthy contingent of Carroll fans who made the trip early in the game, bringing a punt return back 38-yards to set up a goal-to-go situation and Carroll's third score of the day.
 
Connor Sullivan (Kalispell, Mont. / R-SR), who led the NAIA in kickoff return average in 2025, proved that he's still one of the biggest threats on the field, housing a 91-yard kick return on the opening play of the second half.
 
Defensively, the Saints were led by matching eight-tackle performances by Kolbe Coey (Hayden, Idaho / R-FR) and Marcus Evans (Helena, Mont. / SR). Evans kicked-in one TFL, while Coey was also credited with one pass break-up.
 
Caden Hansen (Dillon, Mont. / R-SR) had one of his best performances of the season, finishing with seven tackles, one pass break-up, and a pair of TFL's from his spot in the secondary.
 
The nation's No. 2 team in forced fumbles leapt into the lead in the victory, with linebackers Gage Norslien (Lewistown, Mont. / R-JR) and Eli Aby (Laurel, Mont. / R-SR) each adding one forced fumble to their six-tackle days.
 
Norslien's forced fumble was a key moment in the game. The former prep quarterback was the last man standing between SU receiver Ivan Huerta and a 79-yard TD, slowing his progress with his left hand while punching the ball free with the off-hand to thwart a certain score and help Carroll retain their two-possession lead in the third.
 
Max Grady (Phoenix, Ariz. / JR) came down with his second career interception, putting a halt to another Simpson scoring opportunity early in the fourth with a leaping grab deep in the redzone.
 
Stacking wins as the Frontier Conference regular season winds down is the mindset, and although Saturday's game looked a little different than recent weeks, the Saints will head home to Helena with another big win in their pocket and a bye-week to prepare for a three-game sprint that includes road games at both Eastern Oregon and No. 1-ranked College of Idaho.
 
Carroll will now head into their final bye week of the season with an identical 6-1 record as last year's playoff squad, and shift their focus towards their final home game of the season, a 6 p.m. senior night matchup with Southern Oregon on October 31.
 
Be sure to visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of the senior night game, and for complete coverage of the Fighting Saints all season long.