Frontier Notebook: Frontier football is halfway home

The football season goes by fast, and the stretch run of the Frontier Conference is now officially here, as the league passed the halfway mark last weekend.

And while nothing is remotely clear in the Frontier’s title race, the picture slowly started to unfold with a couple of games last weekend, and a few games this weekend that might make things even less cloudy.

In Dillon last Saturday, UM-Western had a chance to keep its nose out in front of the chase for the Frontier title, but those hopes slipped away as Southern Oregon, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, turned away the Bulldogs in overtime. It was Western’s second straight conference loss at home, and the win left SOU still in a first-place tie in the league standings.

Just up the road in Helena, Carroll College’s chances of a repeat took a serious hit when Eastern Oregon stole a win at famed Nelson Stadium. The Mounties scored three straight touchdowns and intercepted the Saints twice in the fourth quarter to spring a huge upset.

And finally, in another close battle, Montana Tech gave itself a big chance to claim the league’s crown when the Orediggers came from behind to beat Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Tech, which moved up to No. 13 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, is tied with SOU atop the league standings.

While those three games last weekend will have lasting implications on the league championship, this weekend is another big one.

SOU can really put itself in a great position if it beats No. 11 Carroll in Ashland, Oregon. Another loss would probably end Carroll’s hopes of a title and a playoff berth, but the Saints did hand the Raiders their only loss of the season back on Sept. 5 in Helena, so the game is a huge one for both teams.

Meanwhile, Tech’s title hopes will rest on two huge road games in the coming weeks. The Orediggers have to go to Helena to play the Saints next Saturday, and they close out the season with a trip to SOU Nov. 14.

Like Carroll, Western is still alive in the race, but the Bulldogs, ranked No. 22 this week, probably can’t lose another game the rest of the way if they want to have a chance at a Frontier crown, or an at-large berth in the NAIA playoffs.

Candidates

Since the league has reached the halfway mark in the season, it’s time to take a look at who’s got a shot at some of the Frontier’s top awards come late November.

For the first time in a long time, the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award is wide open thanks to no more Austin Dodge at SOU. And one running back has really started to make a case for the honor, as Tech junior Nolan Saraceni has really emerged from the shadow of the great Pat Hansen. Saraceni is averaging close to 160 yards per game, and with every game he seems to get better and better. And the Montana State University-Northern defense gets the challenge of trying to slow Saraceni down this Saturday in Butte.

MSU-N’s Zach McKinley is having another big year despite the Lights’ offensive struggles, and he and Carroll quarterback Mac Roche were probably the top two choices for offensive MVP when the season started.

Now, however, others have emerged. RMC QB Chase White and WR Andre McCullouch, EOU RB Jace Billingsley and SOU running back Melvin Mason have also certainly thrown their hat in the ring for MVP honors.

On the defensive side of the ball, a number of players are having big seasons, and it’s likely the Frontier, which has been very defensive-minded this season, will produce a wealth of NAIA All-Americans.

Northern’s Tyler Craig is once again having a huge season, as he has five sacks and eight tackles for loss. Western’s Reno Ward has six sacks, while linebackers A.J. Wilson and Joe Coker are tackling machines. As expected, Montana Tech linebacker David Meis is also having an impactful season as well, while EOU linebacker Gary Posten is producing some eye-popping numbers, too.

But, as good as players in the front seven have been, some defensive backs might have something to say about the defensive MVP this season. Carroll’s James Dowgin has been as good as it gets in the secondary, as has C of I’s Nate Moore, and SOU’s Carrington Jones. But like the offensive MVP, the defensive award is still very much up for grabs.

So, too, is the Coach of the Year award. Obviously, what Craig Howard has done with the Raiders in the post Dodge era is impressive, but the turnaround at Tech by head coach Chuck Morrell can’t be ignored. The Orediggers won just one game a year ago, and now they sit atop the Frontier standings, and with a few more wins, will be a lock to make the NAIA playoffs.

Honors

EOU quarterback Zach Bartlow was named the Frontier Offensive Player of the Week. In Eastern’s 28-21 upset conference road win at Carroll College, Bartlow was 13 of 20 passing for 108 yards. He also rushed for a season-high 105 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

SOU linebacker Devvan Gage was named Defensive Player of the Week. In Southern Oregon’s 37-30 overtime conference victory over then No. 16 Montana Western, Gage recorded 11 unassisted tackles and one tackle for loss. He made one of SOU’s four goal-line stops in overtime to seal the win over Montana Western.

Montana Tech kicker Matt Berg was named Special Team’s Player of the Week. In Tech’s 38-33 conference road win over Rocky Mountain College, Berg was 5 of 5 in extra points and 1 for 1 field goals (43-yards).