College of Idaho Clinches Frontier West Title With 49-41 Win Over Carroll

The College of Idaho football team secured the Frontier West championship and an automatic berth to the NAIA Football Championship Series on Saturday, defeating No. 12 Carroll (MT) 49-41 at Simplot Stadium.

The victory moves the No. 2-ranked Yotes to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play, maintaining an unblemished record with only one game remaining on the regular-season schedule.

According to a game recap published by the athletic department at yoteathletics.com, the result was fueled by a dominant offensive performance and a historic day from quarterback Caden Young. The team amassed 553 yards of total offense, relying heavily on a rushing attack that accounted for 398 of those yards.

Young’s individual effort was the centerpiece of the win. He rushed for 292 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries while completing 14-of-21 passes for an additional 155 yards and three scores. His rushing total sits just five yards shy of the school’s single-game record of 297, established by Tom Winbigler against British Columbia in 1948.

The game was a back-and-forth affair that tested the Yotes’ consistency. While The College of Idaho opened the scoring in the first quarter with a four-yard run by Rylie Byington, Carroll responded to keep the pressure on throughout the afternoon.

Young’s 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and his 27-yard touchdown pass to Trezell Patterson provided the Yotes with a 21-7 lead at the half.

The Saints narrowed the margin in the third quarter following a punt return touchdown, but the Yotes answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by an eight-yard scoring pass to Tanner Sittser. Despite Carroll pulling within one possession multiple times, the Yotes maintained their composure. Young’s 73-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a final four-yard score by Byington with less than five minutes remaining kept the lead out of reach for the visitors.

Defensively, the Yotes recorded four sacks, with Elton Saole-Su’e credited for one. Chase Brown paced the team with nine tackles, and an interception by Trey Jorgensen in the second quarter proved critical in stalling a Carroll scoring drive.

The Yotes will conclude their regular season on the road against Southern Oregon University on November 14. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. MT. The matchup serves as the team’s final preparation before shifting focus to the national championship pursuit in the NAIA Football Championship Series.