By Feature photo: Carroll football players celebrating their victory against Arizona Christian University during Homecoming Weekend 2023. Photo collage credits: Carroll Marketing.
The Carroll College Fighting Saints football team hosted Arizona Christian University for the first time in school history on Saturday, Sept. 23, highlighting this year’s Homecoming Weekend.
The Arizona Christian Firestorm, who joined the Frontier Conference this season, made their way up to Helena from Glendale, Arizona. The Firestorm were a new challenge for the Saints, but Carroll came out on top by a score of 35-20.
“It was nice to get a homecoming win over Arizona Christian and welcome them to Montana and the Frontier Conference,” said Max Lehman, junior running back studying health science from Meridian, Idaho. “I thought we did a good job of staying the course and riding the ups and downs of the game to be able to finish the way we did in the 4th quarter and pick up a good team win.”
This win over the Firestorm marks Carroll’s fourth straight victory. The Saints are now 4-0 for the first time since 2013.
After the hard-fought win, the Saints also found themselves at No. 9 in the NAIA’s national rankings after being ranked No. 10 the week prior.
Carroll College kicked off the 2023 Homecoming and Family Weekend on Friday, Sept. 22, with a pair of games for the men’s and women’s soccer teams against Warner Pacific. The women’s team came out on top, defeating Warner Pacific 2-0, and the men fell short, losing 4-1.
“The game started off a bit slow, but we really picked it up in the second half,” said Molly Molvig, a junior defender on the women’s team studying nursing from Billings. “Our season is off to a great start, and that win really helped solidify our confidence.”
The women’s volleyball team also played on Friday against Rocky Mountain College. They unfortunately lost in three sets but will move on to face Montana Western on the 27th.
Friday’s athletics were followed by the Parent and Family Social. Families of students, alumni, and professors all gathered to celebrate and kick off the weekend in an exciting atmosphere.
Friday night was closed out by a performance of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, which took place in the FLEX Theatre.
“This is my last show at Carroll, and I could not ask for a better group of people,” said Kyra O’Reilly, senior ensemble member majoring in cultural history from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. “This show is filled with so much excitement, heart, and joy.”
The show will run through Oct. 8, and tickets can be purchased here.
Saturday kicked off with the Athletic Hall of Fame Breakfast, where some of Carroll’s finest athletic alums were honored and inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
This breakfast honored former football players Bubba Bartlett and Chance Demarais, Men’s Basketball player Andy Garland, Women’s Basketball player Alysha Green, a former member of the Men’s Golf team Jim Mee, the 2008 Carroll Football Team, and the 2011-2012 Men’s Gold team.
After a Rosary led by Father Tyler at Mary’s Grotto, Carroll fans headed to the PE Center Parking Lot for the tailgate party before the football game.
This football team’s never-before-seen matchup versus Arizona Christian University, the exciting soccer and volleyball games, the parent and family social, campus tours, and the incredible performance at the FLEX Theatre all came together for an eventful weekend for the Carroll community.
“This is definitely one of the funnest times of the year,” said Deanna Lord, a sophomore elementary education major from Phoenix. “It’s great to be able to watch so many of our sports teams compete, and the mood across campus is just great. I think everyone loves Homecoming Weekend.”
