Frontier Notebook: Yotes closing in on historic title

Two weeks and eight games is all that remains in the 2019 Frontier Conference' regular season. And for the College of Idaho Yotes, they can put away their first Frontier title with one more big win.

The Yotes will put their unbeaten record on the line Saturday when they host the Montana Western Bulldogs. If C of I beats the Bulldogs, they will clinch their first-ever Frontier championship.

The game is also effectively an elimination game for Western. If the Bulldogs lose to the Yotes inside Simplot Stadium, then not only does Western not have a chance to at least share the Frontier title, but they would essentially be out of playoff contention, too.

Speaking of the NAIA playoffs, Montana Tech is very much in that hunt. Sitting at 6-2 in the Frontier, the Orediggers have a very good chance of reaching the playoffs should they win out. That task starts Saturday with a rivalry game at much-improved Carroll College in Helena. If Tech prevails and beats Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 16, the Diggers would very much be a team at least on the playoff bubble at 8-2.

Tech is also still mathematically alive to earn a share of the Frontier title. But for that to happen, the Diggers would need Western to beat C of I this Saturday, and MSU-Northern to do the same to the Yotes Nov. 16.

Carroll, meanwhile, can't win a Frontier title this season, but not only can the Fighting Saints spoil Tech's playoff hopes this Saturday with two wins, they also could finish as high as second in the final Frontier standings, and earn the proud program's first winning season in three years. To ensure a winning season, Carroll needs to beat Tech Saturday, and Eastern Oregon Nov. 16.

Leading the Way

With two games left in the Frontier season, it's pertinent to take a look at some of the top leaders in the league individually.

Offensively, Western's Jon Jund has been the top quarterback in the league all season, averaging 268 yards per game. Jund has thrown for 2,057 yards and also averages 300 yards of total offense per game. He's also thrown 25 touchdowns against six interceptions. To put that in perspective, C of I's Darius-James Peterson's 16 touchdowns is second best.

Speaking of the Yotes, they have some outstanding leaders, including running back Nick Calzaretta, who is tops in the Frontier in rushing with 124 yards per outing. He's also scored eight TDs on the season. Carroll freshman Matthew Burgess is the only other back in the Frontier averaging more than 100 yards per game.

Montana Tech's Trevor Hoffman continues to lead wide receivers. Hoffman has had a breakout 2019, averaging more than seven receptions per game, while hauling in 40 passes for 820 yards this season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Western's Jason Ferris is running away with the tackle title for the second year in a row. Ferris averages 13 stops per game and has 96 total tackles. Northern junior Jaren Maki is next with 80.

The Lights also have an interceptions leader in safety Hunter Riley. He's tied for the lead with four picks this season. Rocky's Mason Price leads the Frontier in sacks with 6.5, while Tech's Carter Myers and Western's Joe Caceido each have 12.5 tackles for loss.

Could it snow?

The Frontier has probably had more games played in the snow this season already than in the last two seasons combined. And more is likely to happen down the stretch, including in Havre.

The last time Southern Oregon came to Blue Pony Stadium, the Raiders had to play the Lights in a blinding snow storm. SOU is on its way to Blue Pony Stadium this week, and snow is predicted for Havre several days this week, including a possible 1-3 inches during Saturday's game between the Lights and Raiders.

Of course, the Lights already played in a blizzard this season, when they hosted Montana Tech in the now famous Sept. 28 snow game.

NAIA Coaches Poll

Rn. Prv. Rec. Pts.

1 1 Morningside (Iowa) [17] 8-0 392

2 2 Marian (Ind.) 7-0 371

3 3 Kansas Wesleyan 9-0 358

4 4 Grand View (Iowa) 9-0 350

5 5 Northwestern (Iowa) 8-0 327

6 6 College of Idaho 8-0 321

7 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 8-0 309

8 8 Cumberlands (Ky.) 8-0 285

9 9 Evangel (Mo.) 8-1 271

10 10 Keiser (Fla.) 7-0 247

11 11 Saint Xavier (Ill.) 6-2 244

12 13 Benedictine (Kan.) 7-2 224

13 16 Saint Francis (Ind.) 6-2 201

14 15 Concordia (Mich.) 6-2 196

15 17 Reinhardt (Ga.) 8-2 170

16 18 Southeastern (Fla.) 7-1 159

17 19 Montana Tech 6-2 148

18 20 Baker (Kan.) 7-2 122

19 12 Ottawa (Ariz.) (AZ) 8-1 121

20 21 Dickinson State (N.D.) 7-2 109

21 14 Siena Heights (Mich.) 7-2 99

22 22 Langston (Okla.) 6-2 81

23 23 Sterling (Kan.) 7-1 76

24 24 Montana Western 6-2 48

25 RV Indiana Wesleyan 6-2 32

Receiving Votes: Valley City State (N.D.) 7, Carroll (Mont.) 4 and Dordt (Iowa) 3.