By The Carroll College Fighting Saints Football team started up their 2023 spring ball with an early practice at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21.
The Saints held practice in the gym for the first two weeks coming back from spring break due to field conditions, but overall, they still found ways to get better with the limited space.
“I think despite the tough weather conditions the team still found ways to get better by getting live reps and being able to run routes at full speed,” said Jaden Harrison, senior receiver and business major from St. George, Utah.
The Saints held three practices a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays along with lifts on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Saints 2023 Spring ball consisted of 15 practices over five weeks with a spring game that was held Saturday, April 22.
“I think that working new concepts and keeping our fundamentals strong as well as trust and team chemistry helped get us better during spring ball,” said Jack Prka, junior quarterback and education major from Coeur d’Alene.
Both offense and defense showed strengths during the spring game. The Saint’s offense found ways to get the ball in the endzone twice, but their defensive team was able to make numerous redzone stops. Garret Stone, a freshman wide receiver and business management major from Great Falls, was able to make an acrobatic catch for one of the touchdowns during the spring game.
“Getting to play in the spring game was a great feeling,” said Stone. “It was my first time in a real, game-like setting, and playing with my boys was a lot of fun.”
The Fighting Saints made sure to utilize their spring ball to polish up every aspect of their game in preparation for their 2023 fall schedule which begins Sept. 2 against Montana Tech at Alumni Coliseum in Butte.
