Saints’ “Bash Brothers” defensive tandem makes impact in

first-round playoff game

HELENA - Life is good for the Bash Brothers. Carroll College safety and Polson local Ted Morigeau combined forces with fellow safety Brian Strobel to create a formidable defensive backfield for the Saints and help lead them to the second round of the NAIA playoffs.

Last week, the "Bash Brothers" each notched a first half interception in Carroll College's 47-0 victory over Valley City State.

"The nickname was something that started my freshman year when I was redshirting," Morigeau said. "One of the senior safeties called Brian and I the ‘Bash Bros.' off of the Mighty Ducks movies."

And much like the Mighty Ducks Bash Bros. Morigeau and Strobel like to bust some heads.

"Brian and I are pretty physical," Morigeau said. "It's just how we play."

Morigeau was an all-state player for Polson High School before going to Helena to play for the Saints. He has certainly shown his worth out on the field.

Last season, Morigeau was the starting safety for Carroll College as a junior and recorded 47 tackles, two sacks and one interception. He also earned All-Academic honors from the school.

However, the best feeling probably was winning the 2010 NAIA state championship with the Saints, the school's sixth national title.

"It's a cool feeling," Morigeau said. "Not too many guys can say they've played in the national championship game and they are national champs."

It was probably all the sweeter after Morigeau went through some serious adversity two years ago. He suffered a seizure while his team was in the national semifinals. After struggling with illness and seizures throughout the spring, Morigeau was diagnosed with Lyme disease - the most common tick borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere.

The infection can be eliminated and treated pretty routinely if found early, but can cause serious problems if treatment is delayed.

Luckily, Morigeau was back on the field last year as the Saints advanced to the NAIA National Championship game where they defeated the University of Sioux Falls in defensive fashion, 10-7.

This season, the team came in being ranked as the top program in the country but had some self-admitted hiccups in the early part of the season, uncharacteristically losing a league game to unranked Eastern Oregon.

"We hadn't lost a conference game in a couple of years," Morigeau said. "But we've improved so much since the beginning of the season."

Carroll College went on to win their 12th straight Frontier League title and made the postseason for the 20th time. For a senior like Morigeau, that means every Saturday in the playoffs extends his college football career by one more game.

"I just try taking it like any other game," Morigeau said. "But it means a little more, you just try to go out there and do your best and play your hardest."

Morigeau said that it's the way Carroll plays - like every game is their last - that has helped them succeed.

"We always lead the league in effort," Morigeau said. Morigeau showed plenty of effort this season as he notched 55 tackles, two interceptions and two blocked kicks. The former Polson Pirates snagged his first-half interception against Valley City State last Saturday by playing solid defense and jumping on the ball.

While in a hyrbid cover four defense, Morigeau shadowed one of opposing receivers running a post and he was able to pick it off and ran it down the field for 15 yards.

"The quarterback didn't see me coming in to the play," Morigeau said.

For a defensive player, there's nothing better than creating a turnover.

"That's like scoring a touchdown for the defense," Morigeau said. "The team that has the least amount of turnovers is going to win the game."

Now Carroll College (11-1) prepares for their second round matchup against Azusa Pacific, which will happen at Nelson Stadium at 12:07 p.m. in Helena.

And chances are the Bash Bros. - Morigeau included - will have something to say about the outcome of the game.