SPORTS

College Football: Carroll College cruises to victory

Steve Schreck
sschreck@greatfallstribune.com

HELENA – Their desired journey to Daytona Beach, Fla., is one step closer.

And, though they will – if they take care of business and keep winning games – travel by air to get there, they are marching on the ground in the meantime.

The No. 1-ranked Carroll College Saints bludgeoned, buried and blanked the visiting Valley City State (N.D.) Vikings 49-0 in the first round of the NAIA playoffs Saturday afternoon at Nelson Stadium.

"Oh, yeah, I think we are in an upswing right now," said linebacker Dawson Osborn, who had an interception and a fumble recovery. "We are in a good position. I mean, all of our guys are focused. We are very healthy, and we are ready to go."

It felt like déjà vu Saturday. In 2011, the Saints defeated the Vikings 47-0 in the first round of the playoffs, also at Nelson Stadium. Carroll advanced all the way to the national championship game before losing to Saint Xavier (Ill.).

"I really think that we are taking steps forward, " said tailback Dustin Rinker, who rushed for 153 yards on 29 carries and had three scores. "I don't think we are ever going to be where we want to be, but we want to take those steps toward perfection. We talk about that every week, and I think we did that today."

The Saints defense – the best unit in the Frontier Conference and among the top in the nation – held the Vikings to only four first downs on the day. The Vikings crossed midfield just once, late in the fourth quarter. Valley City had more plays (50) than yards (47).

"I think we came out with great focus the whole game," Osborn said of the defense. "We had a good week of practice … and that usually translates to the game."

The Saints covered 305 yards with their legs. Backup tailback Jordan Pine – "the way (he) has been playing right now, that gives us a great extra guy back there," said Carroll head coach Mike Van Diest – ran for 90 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

Wind gusts reached 50 miles per hour Saturday, and it affected the passing game significantly. The Vikings' quarterback, Kurtis Walls, actually threw for negative yardage, if you can believe it: minus-9.

For Carroll, junior quarterback Mac Roche, who was 17-of-30 for 133 yards and a touchdown, commanded an offense that piled up 438 yards, ran 89 plays compared to the Vikings' 50 and dominated the time of possession (35:54 to 24:06).

"Well, the defense did a good job," Van Diest said. " … When you go up 14-0, I thought we had a lot of things go our way. The wind caused trouble. It gave them problems. I know the wind bothered our quarterback a little bit throwing the ball deep, but it was a great day for our running game: 300-some yards rushing is pretty awesome."

The head coach says this senior class' personality, intensity and leadership is a "difference right now."

It's a special group to be sure: the likes of Rinker, All-American linebacker Sean Blomquist (who caught a touchdown Saturday), wide receiver Anthony Clarke (who had a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown for the Saints' final score), the list goes on and on.

"Well, that's the fun part about it," said Van Diest, who is in his 16th season as the General on the sideline. "When you look at that senior class, that's the first thing, one of the players came to me, he says, 'Coach, we have one more week together.' And that's what you look at. You're so blessed to be with these guys."

The Saints haven't won a national championship since 2010. It's been a bit of a dry spell for a program that has six titles, all under Van Diest, since 2002.

Rinker, who is as experienced as they come, when asked how special it would be to close this season with a national championship considering the seniors around him, he smiled, then laughed for a few seconds.

"Yeah, that's the ultimate goal in the playoffs," Rinker said. "But we just have to take it like we have: one week at a time. We have the quarterfinals next week. I'm sure we are going to play a great team next week, and so that's what we have to focus on."