2017 Frontier Conference Football Preview: The Most Powerful League in the Country

If there are any doubts lingering about how good and how deep the Frontier Conference is in football, they should be all but erased.

In recent years, the league has produced a national champion in Southern Oregon and has gone three straight years now of having a Frontier team in the NAIA semifinals – with Eastern Oregon accomplishing that feat just last fall.

Fast-forward to this fall, and over half of the Frontier, five teams in all, were voted into the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll, with two of those teams, Montana Tech and EOU, ranked inside the Top 10.

The league is as strong and healthy as it's ever been and that's going to make for a very interesting next three months. From Ashland, Oregon, to Billings, from Helena to Havre, from Dillon to LaGrande, Oregon, and from Caldwell, Idaho, to Butte, the Frontier Conference is going to produce some of the most exciting football in the NAIA again.

But, there may be a problem with that too. With so many good teams in the Frontier, and with the unusual schedule the league plays, the question remains: Will the league beat up on each other so bad that no team will have a chance to really make a deep playoff run this season? In other words, are there too many good teams in the Frontier right now?

Time will tell, but one thing's for certain - the march to the conference title is going to be an all-out brawl this season and whoever is left standing in November will have certainly earned it.

Here's a team-by-team breakdown of the 2017 Frontier Conference in its predicted order of finish according to the Frontier Preseason Coaches Poll.

Montana Tech

Orediggers

2016: 10-1 overall, 9-1, Frontier Champion, lost in NAIA QF

Head Coach: Chuck Morrell (7th Season)

Stadium: Alumni Coliseium

Preseason Rank: 6th

Outlook: The Orediggers appear to be the cream of the Frontier crop. But they'll be the first to tell you that nothing is guaranteed. Tech was stunned at home in the NAIA quarterfinals last fall, and, on top of that, graduated All-American running back Nolan Saraceni and a host of top defensive players. So, even being picked to win the league this season, there' still work to do. Tech returns start QB Quinn McQueary, a total offense machine, as well as junior WR Dion Williams. Those were two of Tech's 13 All-Conference selections a year ago, and with a stout offensive line, Tech should still be one of the top offenses in the league, even without Saraceni. Defense may not be a concern either. Tech head coach Chuck Morrell is a wizard with his defenses, and with Tyler Sanders (DL) leading the way, as well as All-American DB Andre Brown anchoring the back end, Tech will again be stingy. Kicker Derrick Holt will also be a big piece to the Oredigger puzzle this season, and if McQueary can stay healthy, and Tech's tremendous recruiting classes over the last three years rise up and fills needed spots, the Orediggers won't just win the Frontier, they'll be poised to make a deep playoff run. The 'Diggers open the season Aug. 31 against Carroll and will also have key home games against EOU and a season-ender against Southern Oregon, which could decide the Frontier title.

Eastern Oregon

Mounties

2016: 10-3 overall, 8-2, 2nd in Frontier; lost in NAIA SF

Head Coach: Tim Camp (9th Season)

Stadium: Community Stadium

Preseason Rank: 7th

Outlook: Last year was a dream season for the Mounties. They may have finished second in the Frontier, but by the time the NAIA semifinals rolled around they were the only Frontier team left standing. EOU had a record-setting season, in the W-L column, and by being one of the top offensive teams in the country. Then graduation happened. Gone is All-American QB Zach Bartlow, 1,000-yard rusher Alfred Gross, and key members of EOU's great offensive line. So going into a new season, there's plenty of question marks on offense. The Mounties have four QB's vying for their starting job, but they do return a pair of star WR's including Calvin Connors, also one of the top return men in the country. With so much lost to graduation, it will be hard for EOU to match last year's offensive pace. The Mounties also graduated a ton from their defense too, but they are strong at linebacker and in the secondary. Still, with so many new faces on the depth chart, and a rough road schedule that includes a season-opening trip to rival Southern Oregon, as well as visits to C of I and Montana Tech, all before September is over, the Mounties will be hard-pressed to match last year's success story.

Southern Oregon

Raiders

2016: 5-6 overall, 5-5, 4th in Frontier

Head Coach: Charlie Hall (1st Season)

Stadium: Raider Stadium

Preseason Rank: No. 25

Outlook: After a dominant three-year run, which included an NAIA national championship and a runner-up finish, the Raiders stumbled in 2016. Then, in the offseason, legendary head coach Craig Howard passed away. The effects of the loss of Howard, who was truly beloved in Ashland, will be felt for quite some time. But another Ashland figure, Charlie Hall, steps in to help the Raiders return to prominence. And with a loaded roster that includes star QB Tanner Trosin, who missed last year with an injury, running back Rey Vega, one of the best offensive lines in the country, a bevy of weapons at WR, the Raider offense should be right back to being one of the most lethal attacks in the country. This season the offense won't overshadow the defense at SOU. The Raiders are absolutely loaded defensively with potential All-Americans in Devon Gage and Isiah Carter at LB, and a stacked secondary which includes stars Keegan Lawrence, Oshay Dunmore and AJ Cooper. Yes, SOU's defense could be even better than its offense this season, and if that turns out to be a fact, than the rest of the Frontier may just be looking up at the Raiders when it's all said and done. The first big test will come right away with SOU opening the season against arch rival EOU, while a late-season trip to Tech could be the determining game in who wins the Frontier this season.

Carroll College

Fighting Saints

2016: 4-6 overall, 4-6 in Frontier, T5th

Head Coach: Mike Van Diest (17th season)

Stadium: Nelson Stadium

Preseason Rank: RV

Outlook: Back-to-back 4-6 seasons have certainly shook up the proud Carroll College fanbase. After a decade-plus of NAIA glory, winning just eight games in two years seemed unthinkable at one time. One of the culprits for that has been Carroll's inability to generate a true ground game, once the Saints' bread and butter. Over the last two years, Carroll has finished last and sixth in the Frontier, respectively in rushing offense, and the Saints are hoping that RB's Ryan Walsh and Major Ali can turn that around this fall. They're also hoping that their starting QB can stay healthy for a change. Tanner Gustavsen is the starter this season, but for the last two, Carroll has had a revolving door due to injury. Gustavsen is a dual-threat standout, and with one of the best WR's in the country in Connor Fohn at his disposal, Carroll's passing game should help take pressure off the running game. On the other side of the ball, the Saints could be very stout this season. Beaugh Meyer and Alec Basterrechea are a big DL combo, while David Anderson is one of the top returning LB's in the Frontier. Carroll also has a strong secondary, so defensively, the Saints should be stingy. As always, expectations are high in Helena as Carroll remains the most polarizing team in the Frontier. This is a big season for them as they try to march their way back to a Frontier throne they sat on for so many years. The Saints will also find out a lot about themselves as they open the season at hated rival Montana Tech, with a night game on Aug. 31.

UM-Western

Bulldogs

2016: 7-4 overall, 6-4, 3rd in Frontier

Head Coach: Ryan Nourse (2nd Season)

Stadium: Vigilante Stadium

Preseason Rank: 19th

Outlook: For the last five or six years, it seems as though Western is always picked as the darkhorse in the Frontier title chase. And while the Bulldogs did have an outstanding season a year ago, they just can't seem to get over the hump and win a game or two that would truly push them into title contention. And it will be tough for head coach Ryan Nourse's club to do that this season. Western has been one of the top defensive teams in the Frontier over that stretch, but graduation has hit the Dawgs hard and their defense may be a bit more inexperienced this fall, though it still has yet another great LB in Jason Ferris, as well as DB Zach Janis. Offensively, UM-W returns its leading rusher in Hunter Thomsen, who is poised for a 1,000-yard season this fall. J.D. Ferris also returns at QB, and he's a dual-threat guy. However, Western really wants to pound the ball on the ground, something the Dawgs have been pretty good at. So if Western can find new faces to shore up a very proud defense, then it will continue to be a menace in the Frontier. However, with the league being so top-heavy this season, it remains to be seen if UM-W has enough firepower to hang with the top four. The Dawgs open the season Aug. 26 with a game against C of I, before traveling to Big Sky Conference power Weber State. Key home games also include SOU on Sept. 16 and a visit from rival Tech Oct. 7.

College of Idaho

Yotes

2016: 4-7 overall, 3-7, 7th in Frontier

Head Coach: Mike Moroksi (4th Season)

Stadium: Simplot Stadium

Preseason Rank: N/A

Outlook: The Yotes enter their fourth season of existence with high expectations. Like Western, many have picked the Yotes to be a surprise team each season since football was started back up in Caldwell. And, at times, the Yotes have looked that way, including last year with big wins over Carroll and SOU. However, at other times, C of I continues to feel the effects of being a new football team in a loaded Frontier Conference. However, this fall, C of I does finally have a lot of veteran experience, including star tight end Marcus Lenhardt and defensive back, two-time All-American Nate Moore. The Yotes' success will always depend on the running game, as they continue to run a spread, triple-option attack. Fifth-year senior RB Zach Garzoli will be counted upon to carry a heavy load this season, but DI transfer Mike Kirby should also see plenty of action. However, the key will be the quarterback position, which is unsettled going into fall camp, and is between Darius James-Peterson, the Yotes leading rusher last season, and freshman Tyler Cox. Whoever gets the nod will be called upon to make the C of I offense hum, and when it hums, it's very hard to stop. The Yotes also have a favorable home schedule, with SOU and EOU coming to Simplot Stadium in September and Tech coming in November, so they certainly have a chance to make some headway this season.

Rocky Mountain College

Battlin' Bears

2016: 4-7 overall, 4-6, T5th in Frontier

Head Coach: Jason Petrino (2nd Season)

Stadium: Herb Klindt Field

Preseason Rank: N/A

Outlook: There's one thing second-year RMC head coach Jason Petrino doesn't want to go through in 2017, the same ending to the season the Bears head in his first year at the helm. After a strong start, Rocky lost its last four games to finish 4-6 in the Frontier, and a slide like that, which injuries played a part in, needs to be avoided this season if RMC is going to jump back into the top half of the league standings. Rocky, which is always a strong offensive team, must also find a replacement for star QB Chase White. So the ground game, led by a healthy Jade Olsen and sophomore up-and-comer Sam Sparks may be a focal point this season. The Bears will also look to an athletic and talented defense, with LB's Chase Bertelsen and Billy Williams, DL Ryder Rice and DB Keenan Fagan, to anchor the team while the offense finds its footing. And if the Bears want to compete for a spot in the top half of the league this fall, they'll need to win key games, including back-to-back home tilts against Tech and C of I, as well as an Oct. 21 visit from Carroll College. RMC opens the season with its traditional non-conference game against Dickinson State.

MSU-Northern

Lights

2016: 1-9 overall, 1-9, 8th in Frontier

Head Coach: Aaron Christensen (3rd Season)

Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium

Preseason Rank: N/A

Outlook: The Lights are now into their third year with Aaron Christensen at the helm. And while the going has been tough, as Northern has gone 1-20 over the last two seasons, optimism around the program remains high. For the first time in five years, the Lights begin a new season without Zach McKinley and Tyler Craig, two future Northern Hall of Famers. So there are big shoes to fill. B.J. Roberts and Trey Blanchard will likely get the call at RB, while Northern also has a four-way battle at QB that won't probably be settled until the Lights' opening game at Rocky Sept. 2. MSU-N does have strengths on both sides of the ball returning, though. The Lights have a big offensive line and depth at the WR position, led by Sam Mix and tight end Kagen Khameneh. They also have a strong core of linebackers led by Garet Fowler. And kicker Tommy Langley is one of the most reliable in the Frontier. Still, this season, and any success the Lights will have will come down to pretty much one thing - scoring. The last two years, Northern has finished last both in points scored and points allowed, and while Northern is making progress with its depth and talent, the Lights need to score more and be a little more stingy defensively to truly make progress this fall. Games to watch that will test that this season include a Sept. 9 home game against Montana Tech, as well as visits from Carroll and SOU Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, respectively.