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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

Carroll men tough out win over Eagles

A 12-0 scoring run in the second half helped the Carroll College men’s basketball team to an 83-68 victory over Embry-Riddle Saturday at the Carroll P.E. Center. more

Bears beat Saints, punch ticket for nationals

The Carroll College soccer team battled Rocky Mountain College down to the wire in the Frontier Conference championships at Nelson Stadium, but missed out on qualifying for nationals after a 1-0 defeat Saturday. more

Saints have plans for Westminster

The Carroll College volleyball team has a chance for redemption, and it's coming at the biggest time of the season. The Saints (18-9 overall, 8-6 conference) head to Lewiston, Idaho, today to play Westminster in the opening round of the Frontier Conference tournament.

Carroll lost to the same team one week ago in three sets, 28-26, 25-23, 25-23, ending their regular season on a disappointing note. Story

Carroll Classic brings in big expectations

The floor in the Carroll College P.E. Center is going to take a pounding as both basketball squads spend this weekend at home.

The Saints' men, who went 2-2 in their exhibition games, open their regular season against MidAmerica Nazarene today in a rare 4 p.m. start.

It will be the second game of the Carroll Classic, an invitational that includes Embry Riddle (Fla.) and the University of Montana Western. The Saints play Embry Riddle Saturday at 8 p.m. Story

Gregory leads Saints harriers at Frontier championship

Taylor Gregory has a strong shot at running in the NAIA national cross country race later this month.

The Saints sophomore finished sixth individually to lead his men to a third-place finish at the Frontier Conference championship in Lewiston, Idaho.

“It’s not official but he’s qualified, he’s going to nationals,” said Carroll head coach Bill Ballinger. “It was one of his better races.”

Gregory finished the 8-kilometer course in 26:27.21, just three seconds behind Lewis-Clark State’s No. 5 runner, Grant Eldridge. Story