Plans changed very quickly for the Carroll College football team after hearing it wouldn’t be playing its NAIA quarterfinal playoff game with Northwestern Oklahoma State.

The Rangers revealed Tuesday afternoon that three ineligible student-athletes had played in two regular season contests and last week’s first-round playoff game with Friends (Kan.).

Northwestern forfeited all three games as well this weekend’s with Carroll, which will receive a bye to the semifinal round.

With word his team wouldn’t be playing, head coach Mike Van Diest canceled practice for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

There will be optional conditioning workouts and even a few players hanging around to watch some game film, but other than that, “nothing as far as football,” Van Diest said.

Many of the younger players are taking the opportunity to spend extra time over Thanksgiving with their families. A number of freshmen were able to book flights scheduled for Tuesday night.

“They’re excited about it. Most of them all had plans anyway, so it worked out good,” Van Diest said. “Traveling will be a little bit better. That was kind of nice for them.”

This is the second bye in three weeks for the Saints. Van Diest has been adamant in the past that he would prefer playing every weekend to keep his players sharp, but this break could benefit the Saints, who plan to start their third different quarterback, Matt Ritter, of the season.

Freshman quarterback Dane Broadhead will have surgery after an MRI revealed torn ligaments in his left knee, an injury he received in the first quarter of last weekend’s 35-18 win over Dickinson State.

Ritter filled in well, throwing two touchdown passes and running for another to snag the Offensive Player of the Game.

The Saints had already lost junior Gary Wagner in the second game of the season due to a broken ankle.

Since Broadhead’s injury, a number of former quarterbacks who are starting at different positions have taken snaps, but none with much success.

On Tuesday, Jon Von Eschen was throwing to receivers as Ritter’s backup.

The sophomore from Rockford, Mich., who had surgery on his throwing arm after backing up Wagner during the spring season, wore a uniform, helmet and pads for the first time this season.

“We wanted to see if he could still throw a spiral with shoulder pads on,” Van Diest said.

Von Eschen has been rehabilitating the shoulder and Van Diest said that the quarterback has been resting it for the approximate amount of time necessary before playing.

“It’s about right on schedule, it wasn’t certainly planned for the season,” Van Diest said. “We’re just going to test him out. I don’t want to put a player out there and chance it.”

Assistant Sports Editor Jeff Windmueller: 447-4-65 or jeff.windmueller@helenair.com