OFFENSE SHINES IN CARROLL VICTORY

HELENA — Scattered clouds above Nelson Stadium didn't produce rain Saturday, but the on-field play warranted a downward cascade of penalty flags flung skyward by Frontier Conference officials. A combined 25 penalties were accepted in a 3-hour span, 18 (for 133 yards) on Carroll College (5-1, 4-0 Frontier) in a 24-19 victory over Eastern Oregon. Up three scores and attempting to punt in the fourth quarter, Carroll was flagged twice consecutively for an illegal formation and once for a false start.

When the eventual punt was blown up by EOU (34, 3-2 Frontier), Carroll head coach Troy Purcell earned himself an unsportsmanlike conduct flag. All told, Carroll was penalized five times with about that many seconds removed from the clock. "I've never been in a situation like that before," Purcell said.



"Evidently it's our fault and we gotta get that fixed...

I guess we weren't close enough to the line of scrimmage...

"I'm not blaming anybody. We overcame some adversity today. Proud of our kids.

Thought the officiating was awesome." EOU's short field produced the Mountaineers' first touchdown, and a Jake Jeske fumble inside the 10-yard line two Carroll drives later breathed real life into a comeback attempt. Three times inside the 30, with EOU chasing a one-possession game and under two minutes to play, Carroll was flagged.

Once for unsportsmanlike conduct and twice for pass interference inside the five-yard line. EOU's Walker Camp pulled the Mountaineers within five with a score, but an unsuccessful twopoint attempt and ensuing onside kick sealed Carroll's fifth consecutive victory. "A victory is a victory," Carroll safety Braeden Orlandi said.

"You wish it'd be prettier, but in the Frontier Conference, you just gotta get out with a [win] whenever you can." Carroll's offense, while shut out on two fourth-quarter drives, played its best game of 2024. Jack Prka, the NAIA's completion percentage leader entering, threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns, his most since Sept.

16, 2023 (407 @Rocky). Carroll's 481 total yards is the Saints' most in a conference game since beating EOU 37-3, at home, in 2022. "He's playing at a whole different level right now," Purcell said of his quarterback.

"He's very, very conscious of getting us out of situations we can have negative plays in, getting us to the checks we need, and he's making the throws." The Saints' pace, or urgency, offensively was noticeably better Saturday, something Prka said kept EOU in its base coverages. Carroll's quickor no-huddle offense shined in a game-opening 6-play, 65-yard drive that jumpstarted a three-score onslaught.

"I was focused," Prka said. "We come out sometimes and don't have great third quarters. Started off a little rocky, then responded with a touchdown.

.. "As you're with your unit on offense, you develop a really special bond with those guys.

I just want them to do well, and I thought we did that today...

I'm really proud of these guys." Prka dropped a 44-yard dime to Townsend's Gavin Vandenacre for the former Bulldogs' second career touchdown in the second quarter. Lincoln Holmes, who recovered the game-clinching onside kick, hauled in an 18-yard rope from Prka a quarter later, essentially the game-sealing score.

Holmes, a redshirt freshman, broke out his version of The Ickey Shuffle (get some cold cuts) in the end zone, totaling 94 yards on four receptions. "Lincoln is hungry," Prka said. "He's really hungry and he loves football.

..He and [tight end] Carson Ochoa have a really special bond, kinda like a mentee-mentor relationship, it's awesome to see.

.. "He stayed at my apartment over the summer for a little bit.

We got to hang out and have some deep talks." Saturday was Carroll's biggest test, especially defensively, since the Saints' season-opener. Four times in the game's first three quarters, EOU managed 1st and 10 inside Carroll's 15yard line, but settled for just six points.

Twice, EOU faced 1st and goal in the second quarter and was limited to a field goal and turnover on downs. "It comes down to our bend-don't-break attitude and mindset that we have as a defense," Carroll defensive lineman Hunter Peck said. "You can hear us on the field, we're all yelling, 'bend, don't break.

' When something gets hard, man, we're not just gonna quit, we're gonna go a little bit harder." EOU quarterback Quincy Glasper threw for 302 yards and a pair of scores, but averaged just 2.6 yards on 21 carries, half his season average entering.

Wideout Malachi Spurrier notched his fifth 100-yard game of 2024, but was held from the end zone, as Carroll was credited with six sacks and nine TFLs in the victory. "It felt great," Peck, who booked two of those sacks and three TFLs, said. "We talked about it last night, celebrating with each other once we made a big play.

It felt great to do that today." Orlandi, Carroll's leading tackler entering play, tallied six and a pass break-up Saturday. More than that, he elicited numerous 'oohs' and 'ahs' from Carroll faithful with pad-cracking hits on EOU skill players.

"Mentality-wise, I don't think about it," Orlandi said. "I just kinda throw my body in there hoping for the best..

. "That's kinda what the guys use me for. Elijah [Larson], our corner, calls me Team Crash Out.

I take that role with pride and I love it." Five of the last six Carroll-EOU head-to-head matchups have now been decided by eight points or fewer. The only remaining undefeated team in Frontier play, Carroll's life suddenly turns difficult.

Three of the Saints' final four games are away from Nelson Stadium, all against current top-25-ranked programs. While Carroll controls its destiny with a straightforward path toward a conference championship, the Saints' mettle will be put to the test these next four weeks. "[We're] in about the same spot we were last year," Purcell said.

"We gotta find a way to finish. I believe in our guys, I believe in our coaches, I believe in this program. "We know what we're aiming for and we know we can reach it," Orlandi said.

"It's on us at this point." Email Daniel Shepard at daniel. and find him on X/Twitter @IR_DanielS.

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