November 9, 2026

HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference announced its eleventh edition of the 2026 Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Football Players of the Week Monday following the latest round of conference action on Saturday, Nov. 7.  Recipients from College of Idaho, Valley City State (N.D.), and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) were listed.

Offensive Player of the Week
Caden Young – College of Idaho
Quarterback – Senior – Emmett, Idaho

Young delivered a record-threatening performance to lead second-ranked College of Idaho to a 49-41 victory over No. 12 Carroll (Mont.) Saturday, helping the Yotes secure the Frontier Conference West Division title for the second straight year and earned the automatic bid to the NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) playoffs.

He rushed for a career-high 292 yards on 19 carries, averaging 15.4 yards per attempt. He finished just five rushing yards shy of tying the school's single-game rushing record established in 1948.

Young scored two rushing touchdowns, including a 73-yard scoring run, and added 155 passing yards after completing 14 of his 21 attempts (66.7 percent). He threw three touchdown passes without an interception.

Young accounted for 447 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in the victory.

This is Young’s second career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

Defensive Player of the Week
Gavin Gerhardt – Valley City State (N.D.)
Senior – Defensive Back – Valley City, N.D.

Gerhardt anchored Valley City State's (N.D.) defensive effort in a 35-21 Frontier East Division victory over Montana State-Northern Saturday.

He registered a game-high 15 tackles, including 12 solo stops and three assisted tackles. He also recorded a pass breakup in the victory.

Gerhardt helped the Vikings limit the Lights to seven points through the first three quarters, allowing Valley City State to build a commanding advantage.

This is Gerhardt’s first career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Jayson Cady – Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
Defensive Back – Freshman – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Cady delivered the game-saving play in Rocky Mountain's (Mont.) thrilling 33-30 Senior Day victory over Dakota State (S.D.) Saturday.

With Dakota State attempting a potential game-tying 29-yard field goal as time expired, Cady broke through and blocked the kick to preserve the Battlin' Bears' three-point victory.

Cady also made a significant impact defensively, recording seven total tackles, including four solo stops and three assisted tackles. He added a pass breakup to his performance.

This is Cady’s second career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference weekly award.
 

	Offense	Defense	Special Teams
No. 11 - Nov. 9	Caden Young - College of Idaho	Gavin Gerhardt - Valley City State (N.D.)	Jayson Cady - Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
No. 10 - Nov. 2	Chase Nelson - Eastern Oregon	Nehemiah Medrano - Eastern Oregon	Maddox Kihne - Dakota State (S.D.)
No. 9 - Oct. 26	Rylie Byington - College of Idaho	Jayson Cady - Rocky Mountain (Mont.)	Jordan Legg - Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
No. 8 - Oct. 19	Tray Hettick - Dakota State (S.D.)	Payton Howe - Eastern Oregon	Connor Sullivan - Carroll (Mont.)
No. 7 - Oct. 12	Ya'J Vance - Simpson (Calif.)	Brody Jenness - Dickinson State (N.D.)	Casey Kautzman - Montana Tech
No. 6 - Oct. 5	Javonte King - Rocky Mountain (Mont.)	Ryan Racht - Dickinson State (N.D.)	Eddie Ballanco - Carroll (Mont.)
No. 5 - Sept. 28	Kaden LaPlaunt - Montana Western	Tamareon Foster - Dakota State (S.D.)	Trezell Patterson - College of Idaho
No. 4 - Sept. 21	Caden Young - College of Idaho	Monte Pettichord - Eastern Oregon	Gage Norslien - Carroll (Mont.)
No. 3 - Sept. 14	Kallen Gutridge - Eastern Oregon	Kellan Beller - Montana Tech	Nik Halvorson - Dickinson State (N.D.)
No. 2 - Sept. 7	Eli Nourse - Montana Western	Christian Hansen - Montana Tech	Josh Horn - College of Idaho
No. 1 - Aug. 31	Tray Hettick - Dakota State (S.D.)	Asher Feddes - Montana Tech	Josh Horn - College of Idaho