By HELENA — Archie LaFurge ran Saturday like a man who missed football. The rising redshirt junior running back from CMR High School blasted through several tackle attempts, bounced off others, and caught multiple passes out of the backfield during Carroll College’s annual spring game.
LaFurge split first-team reps with Jake Jeske during the two-hour event inside Nelson Stadium, all while sporting a heavy brace over his left elbow. Injured during fall camp last August, LaFurge missed the Saints’ entire 2025 season after pacing the roster in rush attempts (81) and ground yards (337) as a redshirt freshman.
“Man, it sucked,” LaFurge said of missing last season. “It was hard. I was coming into [fall camp] starting, having a really good fall camp. One week before our first game, I shattered my elbow pretty badly.
“It hasn’t affected me too much [this spring], other than I’ve got this big brace on. It’s just confidence getting back into the game. I feel pretty confident now.”
Running back Peter Minnaert, Carroll’s presumed starter, did not participate Saturday. LaFurge earned carries with each of the Saints’ top offensive units, working behind a first-team offensive line that returned four starters (Sam Keen, Ryan Fehr, Ben Larsen, Wyatt Sandford).
The new offensive line piece, redshirt sophomore Tavan McMaster, played left guard Saturday. Larsen played guard last season and bumped to tackle, replacing All-Frontier Conference West Division tackle Andrew Devine. The right side of Carroll’s offensive front remains the same from 2025.
LaFurge did fumble Saturday, but along with Minnaert and Jeske, represents the bulk of experienced backs currently on Carroll’s roster. Jeske punched in a short-yardage touchdown Saturday, capping a drive anchored by Kaden Huot’s connection with tight end Ty Wilkinson.
Beau Butner (5-10; RS FR) and Canaan Hays (6-foot; RS FR) supplied lengthy touchdown totes. Brody Boness (6-foot; RS FR) scored twice Saturday, each in short-yardage situations.
“Offensively, we had a few mistakes, myself included – I fumbled,” LaFurge said. “Offense came back and did the best we could.
“They’re learning, they’re doing the best they can. They’re some smaller, but speedy guys. Boness is a big ole power back. They’re learning and getting better every day.”
Second-team quarterback Hogan Carmichael, third-teamer Conner Willis and Maddax Ball all rushed for touchdowns Saturday. Willis slung an additional score to redshirt sophomore wide-out Maxxton Ray. Ball, a 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman from Wyoming, totaled two touchdowns. Wilkinson dropped a would-be touchdown from Huot.
Huot, who tossed 32 touchdowns and led Carroll to the NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 last season, found Wilkinson and LaFurge for several big gains through the air. Huot threw a scrimmage-ending score to Gavin Vandenacre Saturday. Vandenacre, a Townsend product, is the Saints’ top returning pass catcher (31 REC, 380 yards, 4 TDs) following the graduation of All-America tight end Carson Ochoa and wide-out Chris Akulschin. Lincoln Holmes, the Saints’ No. 3 receiver a season ago, does not appear on Carroll’s spring roster.
Huot was non-contact sacked by former Helena High teammate and second-year Saints linebacker Marcus Evans Saturday. Evans’ father, former Bengals head football coach Scott Evans, roamed Nelson Stadium’s sideline during the scrimmage, aiding Carroll’s defense.
Joe Dunning will coordinate Carroll’s defense this season, taking over for Randy Bandelow who became Rocky Mountain College’s head coach in January. Former Carroll National Champion Mason Siddick will coach the Saints’ defensive line and Okesa Smith returns to coach the defensive backs.
Capital graduate Henry Gross and University of Idaho transfer Dylin McIntyre also got to Huot Saturday. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Bridger Fleming sacked Carmichael. Kalispell Glacier product Mark Ahner registered a tackle-for-loss on Jeske. Lewistown graduate Gage Norslien did the same, stopping wide-out Connor Sullivan on a reverse.
“I thought we did really well,” Norslien said. “We kind of struggled putting all the pieces together, learning a whole new defense. We started to jell and we’re really coming together as a full unit.
“It just feels really good to earn my way up and start to take leadership of this defense. We’ve had a lot of great defensive guys in the past who have done a good job. I’m just trying to take over their role.”
Norslien made several impactful plays Saturday from his nickel/outside linebacker spot, including recovering LaFurge’s fumble. Maxwell Grady, a Saddleback Junior College transfer, and Ahner helped force the turnover.
Norslien booked 29 tackles, including two for a loss of yardage last season. He’ll help fill the defensive backfield void left by graduating cornerbacks Elijah Larson and Dax Graham, as well as safety Gunner Giulio. Braeden Orlandi, the NAIA’s top tackler last season, transferred to the University of Montana. Norslien, a redshirt junior, is Carroll’s third-leading returning tackler (Eli Aby, Henry Gross).
“I’ve always kind of thought that this is my role,” Norslien said. “Been difficult with the defense in the past. Last year, we played a true 3-safety look. Now, I’m closer to the line of scrimmage and I can use my bigger size to my advantage with those receivers.”
Jett Boyce, Evans and Zach McMurtrey all earned first-team reps at linebacker Saturday. Gross reprised his role at ROCK (stand-up defensive end). Fleming, McIntyre, Nolan Gallagher (6-foot; RS SOPH), Michael Bell (6-foot-3; RS FR) and TJ Hickmon (6-foot-2; RS SOPH) anchored the defensive front. Boyce intercepted a tipped pass.
Grady and Kalispell native Alex Hausmann played cornerback Saturday. Jacob Nemecek (6-foot-4; RS SOPH) and Kolbe Coey (6-foot; RS FR) played safety. Aby, the only returner among Carroll’s top-5 2025 tacklers, did not participate in Saturday’s scrimmage. Caden Hansen, a safety, also did not participate.
“We have a lot of young guys who are stepping up,” Norslien said. “Kolbe Coey, he’s filling major roles. We’re just putting pieces together and filling new spots.”
Coey, a redshirt freshman out of Coeur d’Alene High School, might be on the short list to replace Orlandi – if that is even possible. Coey currently backs up Norslien at nickel but is currently in line to start at boundary safety. Coey just completed his second spring with Carroll.
“Our defense, we had a day,” Coey said. “Throughout the preseason, we were all trying to get it put together with the new defense. We pulled it through today and played really good.
“Communication is the biggest [thing]. When we’re communicating well, and everybody is on the same page and we’re all in the right spot, we’re able to lock down and make some big hits. We’ve got to communicate, and if we keep that up, it’s going to be really good.”
Hausmann thrice defended Vandenacre-bound end zone passes. A redshirt sophomore, Hausmann played sparingly in 2025, but made his case Saturday for additional playing time.
“He’s always competing, always working,” Coey said of his defensive backfield teammate. “He has a good work ethic. He was locking down our best receiver – the tallest receiver. He didn’t let him have a single ball on his head. He’s a good player and he’s a good teammate.”
Important questions persist for the Saints entering 2026. Who will replace Akulschin and Ochoa? Who will replace Orlandi’s play-making ability? Who will step up on the defensive front?
Saturday offered a glimpse into the answers fall camp will more completely provide. The Saints’ 2026 season-opener, scheduled for Aug. 27 at home against MSU-Northern, is 124 days away.
Email Daniel Shepard at daniel.shepard@406mtsports.com
Written by Daniel Shepard, 406mtsports. Article and photo courtesy of Helena Independent Record
