Frontier Conference Notebook: C of I is the last of the unbeatens in loaded Frontier

George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor

[email protected]

Now there’s only one. After Montana Tech’s loss at home to Rocky Mountain College last Saturday, there's now just one team left in the Frontier Conference with an unblemished record. However, for the league itself, that might be a good thing.

College of Idaho now sits alone atop the Frontier standings at 3-0, and while there’s a long way to go, teams like Western, Rocky, Tech and even Carroll College, still have a chance at the playoffs, if there isn’t too much carnage.

The best chance the Frontier now has of getting two teams in the playoffs is for one of the remaining one-loss teams to beat College of Idaho, and whether it be the Yotes, or another, for the league to end up with two teams finished at 9-1 in the Frontier. If that happens, and they’re both ranked high enough, the league could finally get over the hurdle of getting two teams in the NAIA playoffs come November.

Some of that however, depends on the rankings as well. Right now, C of I is only ranked No. 11 in the new NAIA Coaches Poll, which means, while undefeated, the Yotes and the rest of the Frontier, aren’t getting a lot of respect from voters. Western is also ranked No. 17, and has a win over a non-conference, ranked opponent, meaning the Bulldogs are sitting pretty good as well, while Rocky moved back into the Top 25, and Tech fell out, though the Diggers and Fighting Saints are receiving votes.

Typically, to be considered for an at-larger berth a team usually must be ranked inside the NAIA Top 20 in the final regular season poll.

Elimination Games

The playoffs are a long way off, but Carroll is already in a position where, a loss at home to C of I next week will eliminate the Saints from at-large consideration, provided they beat Southern Oregon at home this Saturday. Oct. 1 is actually a huge day for the Frontier’s playoffs hopes, as Rocky and Western face off in Dillon, with the loser of that game all but out of at-larger berth consideration. The same is probably true for Montana Tech on Oct. 8. If the Orediggers fall at C of I that day, they’ll also have two losses and will be out of playoff contention, with the exception of earning the leaguer’s automatic berth.

So the way the schedule is shaking out, the Frontier’s two-team playoff picture will be pretty clear by the time the league’s annual bye week comes Oct. 15.

Wampler Doing it Again

It’s early, but, MSU-Northern’s Dylan Wampler is already having a huge season, much like he did a year ago. Wampler led the league in total tackles a season ago, and now, he’s doing it with sacks. Three games in, Wampler already has 4.5 sacks, which is tops in the Frontier. He’ hasn’t forgotten about the tackles either. He already 27 this season, which is third in the conference, and he’s also picked off one pass.

Wampler is certainly the star of a young, but much-improved MSU-N defense, which is coming off a game where the Lights held Western’s potent offense to just 35 points, while forcing three turnovers.

Frontier Honors

C of I running back Hunter Gilbert was named Frontier Offensive Player of the Week. Gilbert is a 5-foot-9, 195-pound, redshirt sophomore running back from Tigard, Oregon

In No. 17 College of Idaho’s come-from-behind 42-24 road win over Southern Oregon, Gilbert rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. The three rushing TDs in a single game was the most since Nick Calzaretta against Montana Western in 2021.

Carroll’s Zach Spinoff was named Frontier Defensive Player of the Week. Spiroff is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound, junior defensive back from Helena. In (RV) Carroll College’s come-from-behind 25-23 road win over Eastern Oregon, Spiroff recorded four tackles, two interceptions and a blocked PAT and return for a safety.

Carroll’s Spencer Berger was named Frontier and NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week. Berger is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound freshman kicker, from Billings. In (RV) Carroll College’s come-from-behind 25-23 road win over Eastern Oregon, Berger was two for two points after touchdown and three for three field goals. He kicked the game winning 33-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining in game.