carroll football

Saints have coaching confidence

When the Carroll College football team hosts Dickinson State (N.D.) on Saturday in the first round of the NAIA national playoffs, it’ll be a matchup of quite possibly the two top small college football coaches in the country.

Dickinson State’s Hank Biesiot enters as the winningest active coach in NAIA history with a 235-88 record, while Carroll’s Mike Van Diest is the winningest coach by percentage. He’s won 86.5 percent of his games with a 115-18 record, and five national titles.

The records, collected by Chad Waller of naia.org, were for coaches who have been with their program more than five years. Story

Saints’ dual QB situation working well

The baseball season might be over with, but the coaches in the Carroll College football program seem to have picked up some basic pitching strategy when dealing with the quarterback situation: they’ve got a starter and a reliever.

As it’s been working pretty well throughout the season, there’s no reason to change.

Dane Broadhead remains the starter with Matt Ritter as the reliever.

“We’ve started the same guy every week,” Carroll coach Mike Van Diest said Monday. “We’re not going to change what works.” Story

Prepped for defensive test

The Carroll College football team knows if it wants to win against No. 14 Dickinson State (N.D.) on Saturday, it’ll have to get it done on offense.

The No. 1 Saints (11-0) host the Blue Hawks (7-3) at noon in Nelson Stadium in the first round of the NAIA national playoffs.

The reigning national champs are looking to claim their sixth title in seven years.

Dickinson State brings with it the 18th-ranked defense, which has kept teams to an average of 292.4 yards and 20.3 points per game. Story

Carroll to host Dickinson in 1st round

Lisa Kunkel IR staff photographer - Carroll College's Brandon Day (34) runs to congratulate Zach Thiry, whose kick lifted the Saints to a 24-21 win over Montana Western at Nelson Stadium Oct. 11.

It's official and it's not much of a surprise - Carroll College will play host to North Dakota's Dickinson State in the first round of the NAIA football playoffs Saturday. The game, one of eight first-round contests announced Sunday afternoon, is scheduled to kick off at 12:07 p.m. at Nelson Stadium.

"It's good to know who you're going to play because you can talk about somebody specific," Saints coach Mike Van Diest said Sunday. "We can get to work and give the guys a detailed game plan."

Carroll, the defending national champion, will be aiming for its sixth title in seven years. Story

Carroll Football opens playoffs at home

2008 NAIA Football Championship Series
First Round Pairings | Saturday, Nov. 22

• Carroll (Mont.) College hosts Dickinson State (N.D.) University – 12:07 MST
• University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) hosts St. Ambrose (Iowa) University – 12 CST
• University of Saint Francis (Ind.) hosts Union (Ky.) College – 12 EST
• MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) University hosts Langston (Okla.) University – 1 CST
• Friends (Kan.) University hosts Northwestern Oklahoma University – 1:30 CST
• Morningside (Iowa) College hosts Baker (Kan.) University – 1 CST
• Lindenwood (Mo.) University hosts Lambuth (Tenn.) University -- 1:30 CST
• University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) hosts Shorter (Ga.) College – 12 EST

Scouting the Saints

AC/DC blasted out of the back of Alex Pfannenstiel's chameleon-colored 1995 Chevy Tahoe as hungry spectators huddled around Lamb and stacks of burgers and bratwurst waiting to cook.

It certainly had some of the old traditions for a college football game.

For the Carroll College football team, however, Tuesday's Cow Bowl was less about a big win, records or statistics, and more about opportunities.

Brought to Carroll by head coach Mike Van Diest from his alma mater, the University of Wyoming, the scrimmage that's played twice a year isn't for the players seen on the field during Saturday afternoons at Nelson Stadium.

Instead, it's for the scout team members, first- and second-year players who help the top lines prepare for a different team each week. Story

Carroll Football Playoff Ticket to Go On Sale Wednesday

Helena-MT. The Defending NAIA National Champion Carroll College Fighting Saints will begin the sale of home playoff tickets this Wednesday November 12th at 8:30am in the Carroll College PE Center. Tickets will first be available to season ticket holders only. All remaining tickets will be made available to the general public starting Monday November 17th at 7:30am. more

Carroll caps off perfect regular season

Chalk this one up to the Carroll College defense.

The No. 1 Saints (11-0 overall, 10-0 Frontier Conference) stuffed Eastern Oregon University (4-6, 4-6) for 110 offensive yards and finished up their regular season undefeated with a 28-7 win on Senior Day Saturday.

It’s the second straight unbeaten regular season for the Saints, who haven’t lost since Dec. 25, 2006 and have extended their winning streak to 26 games, including the 2007 NAIA national championship. Story

2008 parents of Seniors reflect on Carroll football

We always try and come up with a theme for the season and we found one that was especially appropriate for this year.  One that was full of potential and full of belief - "Legends of the Fall."  These "Legends" have brought to their tasks the intellect, the emotional investment, the focus and their spiritual belief to achieve their legacy.   For this, we thank their parents.

I have the opportunity each year to get to know our parents and I truly value the friendships made.  I asked some parents of our seniors to reflect back on their experiences with Carroll College football and I want to share some of those comments with you. Reflections