The Pioneers hung with #2 Carroll College in the first half on Saturday, but the second half was all Saints and MNU's season ended with a 34-13 loss in Helena in the second round of the NAIA Championship Series.
MNU marched down the field on their opening drive and had a first and goal from the one opportunity. But the Carroll defense held firm, not only keeping the Pioneers out of the end zone, but keeping them off the scoreboard as the short field goal was missed. The Pioneer defense was nothing short of great in the first quarter, as MNU outgained Carroll 110-12. An Eric Hronek 37-yard field goal put the Pioneers up 3-0 early in the second quarter, and the defense continued to dominate the action.
The first-half momentum shifted when Carroll was able to get a safety in the second quarter. The MNU defense still held firm, and the Saints were unable to get anything going. The Pioneers gave Carroll the ball inside the 5 after a muffed punt late in the half. And the Saints managed a last-second field goal to take a 5-3 lead into the locker room.
Carroll's running game came to life in the second half and dominated the remainder of the game. The Saints busted open a 42-yard run in the opening drive, and Carroll eventually found the end zone (and 2 point conversion) to take a 13-3 lead. MNU responded with another long drive but could only manage 3 points. Carroll's ensuing drive resulted in a long touchdown pass out of the Wildcat formation, and the Saints went up 20-6.
The Pioneers got right back into the game when Ashford Johnson broke through for a 41-yard touchdown run to make it a one-score game at 20-13. But the fourth quarter proved to be too much for MNU. Carroll scored on consecutive drives of more than 10 plays apiece, pushing the score to 34-13 and successfully keeping the MNU offense off the field.
Tyler Herl was 19-37 for 182 yards. Ashford Johnson rushed 12 times for 59 yards and a touchdown. And Jared Elmore caught 8 passes for 110 yards.
Jake Duren led the defense with a season-high 19 tackles (1.5 TFL for 3 yards). Brady Croucher also had a big game with 12 tackles (1.5 TFL for 6 yards).
The Pioneers finish with a 10-2 record (only two losses vs. undefeated Final Four teams).
