November 20, 2025
HELENA, Mont. – The 2025 Frontier Conference Football West Division All-Conference teams and individual awards have been announced Thursday. The award recipients are selected by the seven head coaches in the West Division, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.
Quarterback Michael Palandri of Montana Western was voted as the Frontier West Division Player-of-the-Year. He was named Frontier Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Palandri led the Frontier West Division with an impressive 313.8 passing yards per game and threw 33 touchdown passes. He was 205-of-306 for a completion rate of 67 percent.
As of Thursday, Palandri ranks fourth in the NAIA in passing yards per game and tied for fourth in touchdown passes.
Eli Nourse of UMW was selected to Frontier West Offensive Player of the Year. He is second in the NAIA with 119.2 receiving yards for the Bulldogs. He caught 10 touchdown passes this season.
It was the fourth time in the last five seasons that a Montana Western athlete was named to the Frontier Conference Offensive Player of the Year (Jon Lund in 2021 and 2022, followed by Palandri in 2023).
Jacob Westburry of Montana Western was chosen as the Long Snapper of the Year for Frontier West Division.
Braeden Orlandi of Carroll (Mont.) was named to Frontier West Defensive Player of the Year. Prior to the postseason action on Saturday, he leads the West Division with 11.1 tackles per game this season. He racked up 111 tackles (47 solo, 64 assist) for the Fighting Saints.
He also caught an interception and a forced fumble for CC. It was the second straight year that Carroll had a Defensive Player-of-the-Year, their third time in the past four seasons (Garrett Kocab in 2022 and Hunter Peck in 2024).
Ashton Patterson of College of Idaho was voted as the Offensive Lineman of the Year for the West Division.
CI’s Mike Moroski was selected as Frontier West Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to the division title with a 6-0 record. The Yotes also qualified for the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) with a first-round bye with a No. 8 national seed, hosting a playoff contest on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Moroski’s assistant Chris Jewell was named the Frontier West Assistant Coach of the Year.
College of Idaho collected a total of 12 athletes on the First- and Second- Team All-Conference. Carroll, who finished second in the West Division with 5-1 record, landed 10 athletes (1 athlete with two positions on all-conference team) on first and second teams.
The honorable mention athletes are also listed below.
2025 Frontier Football Postseason Awards – WEST DIVISION
Frontier Player of the Year: Michael Palandri – Montana Western
Frontier Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Nourse – Montana Western
Frontier Defensive Player of the Year: Braeden Orlandi – Carroll (Mont.)
Frontier Offensive Lineman of the Year: Ashton Patterson – College of Idaho
Frontier Long Snapper of the Year: Jacob Westburry – Montana Western
Frontier Assistant Coach of the Year: Chris Jewell – College of Idaho
Frontier Coach-of-the-Year: Mike Moroski – College of Idaho
| 2025 All-Frontier Football First Team - WEST DIVISION |
| OFFENSE |
| Pos |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Michael Palandri |
Montana Western |
R-Sr. |
Maple Valley, Wash. |
| RB |
Rylie Byington |
College of Idaho |
So. |
Nampa, Idaho |
| RB |
Fresh Ison |
Southern Oregon |
Gr. |
Oakland, Calif. |
| OL |
Ashton Patterson |
College of Idaho |
Sr. |
Turlock, Calif. |
| OL |
Andrew Devine |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Sr. |
Wasilla, Alaska |
| OL |
Parker Valderrama |
Simpson (Calif.) |
So. |
Bakersfield, Calif. |
| OL |
Nathan McClelland |
College of Idaho |
So. |
Richland, Wash. |
| OL |
Wyatt Sandford |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Jr. |
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho |
| TE |
Carson Ochoa |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Sr. |
Yorba Linda, Calif. |
| WR |
Eli Nourse |
Montana Western |
Jr. |
Dillon, Mont. |
| WR |
Chris Akulschin |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Sr. |
Gig Harbor, Wash. |
| WR |
Seth Shook |
Montana Western |
R-So. |
Richland, Wash. |
| DEFENSE |
| Pos |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Tyler Walker |
Montana Western |
R-Sr. |
Dillon, Mont. |
| DL |
Gabe Foster |
Southern Oregon |
Sr. |
Gardnerville, Nev. |
| DL |
Sam Cadenas |
Eastern Oregon |
Sr. |
Hermiston, Ore. |
| DL |
Forrest Suero |
Carroll (Mont.) |
Sr. |
Helena, Mont. |
| DL |
Tucker French |
College of Idaho |
Jr. |
Boise, Idaho |
| LB |
Brett Tommasini |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Sr. |
Eagle, Idaho |
| LB |
Jace Fitzgerald |
Montana Western |
R-Sr. |
Dillon, Mont. |
| LB |
Nehemiah Medrano |
Eastern Oregon |
Jr. |
Prosser, Wash. |
| LB |
Elton Saole-Su'e |
College of Idaho |
So. |
Kapolei, Hawaii |
| DB |
Braeden Orlandi |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-So. |
Valley Springs, Calif. |
| DB |
Jason Grant |
Eastern Oregon |
Sr. |
Toppenish, Wash. |
| DB |
Tanner Steele |
College of Idaho |
R-Jr. |
Vale, Ore. |
| DB |
Dee'Shon Swafford |
College of Idaho |
R-Sr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| SPECIAL TEAMS |
| Pos |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| K |
Maclain Burckley |
Montana Western |
R-Fr. |
Billings, Mont. |
| P |
Ethan Cutler |
Eastern Oregon |
R-Jr. |
Eagle, Idaho |
| Specialist |
De Shawn Smith II |
Arizona Christian |
Sr. |
Sacramento, Calif. |
| 2025 All-Frontier Football Second Team - WEST DIVISION |
| OFFENSE |
| Pos |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Kaden Huot |
Carroll (Mont.) |
Jr. |
Helena, Mont. |
| RB |
Jakob Humphrey |
Montana Western |
R-Jr. |
Walla Walla, Wash. |
| RB |
Ty Cole |
Arizona Christian |
So. |
Omaha, Neb. |
| OL |
Ethan Larson |
Montana Western |
R-So. |
Deming, Wash. |
| OL |
Dawson Packwood |
College of Idaho |
Gr. |
Clarkston, Wash. |
| OL |
Douglas Jackson |
Montana Western |
R-Sr. |
Butte, Mont. |
| OL |
Dylan Christman |
Montana Western |
R-So. |
Helena, Mont. |
| OL |
Damian Cabada |
Arizona Christian |
Sr. |
Eastvale, Calif. |
| TE |
Torey Watkins |
College of Idaho |
Sr. |
Snohomish, Wash. |
| WR |
Brandon Barthel |
Southern Oregon |
Sr. |
El Dorado Hills, Calif. |
| WR |
Travis Marieiro |
College of Idaho |
Jr. |
Tracy, Calif. |
| WR |
Tyler Creswick |
Eastern Oregon |
So. |
Portland, Ore. |
| DEFENSE |
| Pos |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Denavion Ali |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Sr. |
Denver, Colo. |
| DL |
Devin Crow |
Montana Western |
R-So. |
Kennewick, Wash. |
| DL |
Matthew Iwamizu |
College of Idaho |
R-Sr. |
Grants Pass, Ore. |
| LB |
Willie White |
College of Idaho |
R-Jr. |
Homedale, Idaho |
| LB |
Raiden House |
Southern Oregon |
So. |
Citrus Heights, Calif. |
| LB |
Eli Aby |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Sr. |
Laurel, Mont. |
| LB |
Keegan Muffich |
Montana Western |
Sr. |
Butte, Mont. |
| DB |
Connor Dunlea |
Montana Western |
R-Fr. |
Malin, Ore. |
| DB |
Spencer Kuffel |
Southern Oregon |
Jr. |
Tigard, Ore. |
| DB |
Michael Lenke |
Eastern Oregon |
R-So. |
Burbank, Wash. |
| DB |
Aukai Grace |
Southern Oregon |
Sr. |
Waipahu, Hawaii |
| DB |
Gunner Giulio |
Carroll (Mont.) |
R-Jr. |
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho |
| DB |
Mason Priddy |
College of Idaho |
Jr. |
Vancouver, Wash. |
| SPECIAL TEAMS |
| Pos |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| P |
Maclain Burckley |
Montana Western |
R-Fr. |
Billings, Mont. |
| Specialist |
Brandon Barthel |
Southern Oregon |
Sr. |
El Dorado Hills, Calif. |
| 2025 All-Frontier Honorable Mention - WEST DIVISION |
Arizona Christian: Nate Pele-Tukumoeatu (TE)
Carroll (Mont.): Henry Gross (LB), Connor Sullivan (Specialist)
College of Idaho: Caden Young (QB), Corban Freese (WR), Jacob Sisson (DL), Chase Brown (LB), Trey Jorgensen (LB), Aleki Noyes (DB), Josh Horn (P)
Eastern Oregon: Brody Macmillan (RB), Deacon Pace (OL), Simione Olakauatu (OL), Conner Long (DL), Tyler Exline (DL), Cole Martin (LB), Sosaia Raass (DB)
Montana Western: Aidan Lammers (RB), Brady Mounts (DB)
Southern Oregon: Trevor Jaasko (WR), Bryson Kievit (DL)