Frontier Notebook: Thrillers set up a wild final two weeks

Now, there’s only two — as in two weeks left in the Frontier Conference’ football season, and nothing is set in stone.

After a stunning loss at Montana Western, the College of Idaho bounced back last Saturday to stay in first place in the Frontier standings, while the shakeup this week happened in Billings, where the Montana Tech Orediggers outlasted Rocky Mountain College in an NAIA Top 25 showdown. The Orediggers’ 20-17 win in Billings vaulted them into a second-place tie in the league standings, and likely ended any chance Rocky has of reaching the NAIA playoffs.

On the other hand, the playoffs, and the Frontier title are still a very real possibility, not only for Tech, but also for Carroll College, which won its third straight game by beating Eastern Oregon in Helena, 37-3. Carroll now really controls its own destiny as the Fighting Saints travel to Southern Oregon this Saturday, then play at College of Idaho Nov. 12. That game could potentially be for a share of the Frontier championship. Tech, too, has its fate in its own hands, with a home finale against arch rival Western this Saturday and a road trip to winless MSU-Northern to wrap up the regular season Nov. 12.

Busting Loose

Carroll’s three-game winning streak was spurred on by Saturday’s performance from wide receiver Chris Akulschin. A freshman from Gig Harbor, Washington, Akulschin had four touchdown catches in Saturday’s win over Eastern Oregon. Askulschin is part of a young Carroll offense, that includes sophomore quarterback Jake Prka and junior running backs Matt Burgess and Duncan Kraft.

Races are On

With two weeks left, the races continue to league leaders.

On offense, SOU quarterback Blake Asciutto leads the league in passing at 233 yards per game, while Tech’s Blake Counts is the leading rusher at 97 yards per outing. Tech’s Trevor Hoffman’s six receptions per game also leads the conference.

On defense, SOU’s Jake Regino leads the league in tackles at 11.5 per contest, while Tech’s Keyshawn James-Newby is tops with 7.5 sacks. Rocky’s Kaysan Barnett and EOU’s James Mendoza are tied for the league lead with four interceptions apiece.

Frontier Honors

Akulschin was named the Frontier Offensive Player of the Week. C of I’s Jacob Arms was named Frontier Defensive Player of the Week. In No. 12 College of Idaho’s 28-24 home win over Southern Oregon, Arms returned an interception 57-yards for a touchdown which tied the score and returned the momentum to the C of I side. He also recorded eight tackles (six unassisted, two assisted).

Montana Tech kicker Ryan Lowry was named Special Teams Player of the Week. In No. 23 Montana Tech’s 20-17 road win over No. 24 Rocky Mountain College, Lowry was two for two in extra points and kicked two field goals including the game winner over the Bears.