Five fumbles and three interceptions thrown and it seemed there was just one question needing to be answered: "Was the ball that slick?"

"I don't know, not too many people touch the ball before I do, so it was pretty dry," said Carroll College center Bryson Pelc. "Maybe I was spitting on the ball or something."

The Saints had three turnovers -- two interceptions and a fumble -- while Eastern Oregon University gave up five on four fumbles and one interception in Carroll's 38-3 rout of the Mountaineers on Sunday.

Despite perfect weather conditions, each team's receivers had trouble making catches. Both of Carroll's interceptions came after a Saint initially had a hand on the ball. The Mountaineers, meanwhile, couldn't seem to make a handoff without bobbling the ball.

Why were there so many turnovers? For Carroll it can be summed up by sloppy play. For the Mountaineers, it's an option offense that youngsters have trouble running.

"We've got to catch the ball," said Carroll College Mike Van Diest after witnessing his team's two interceptions 13-for-24, 175-yard passing game. "We've just got to focus. We've got to catch it and then try to run with it. Today we didn't play as well as we should have."

As for EOU, "with the option, a lot of times the ball's in the air or they're deciding to hand it off on the dive or if the quarterback wants to keep it," said Saints senior defensive end Phil Lenoue. "The ball's a little looser and we came after it, and I think we did an exceptional job trying to rip it out today. You get a fumble recovery and you give the offense a chance to score."

The Saints recovered two fumbles in the first five minutes leading to touchdown runs for running back Sean Herrin. Their own fumble, coming when Mountaineers defenders knocked the ball loose from senior quarterback John Barnett, led to their only points, a field goal in the first quarter. In the third quarter, three straight drives, beginning with Carroll's, ended with interceptions. Both of the Saints' turnovers came in the opponents' red zone.

Meanwhile, senior cornerback Marcus Miller made a spectacular catch to steal a pass away from EOU's top receiver, James Mayfield.

"I was in a deep coverage so I was able to just zone turn it and read the quarterback," Miller said. "I saw him drop back so I just started running.

"Once he aired it out I figured I was faster than him so I got down there."

In the end, the winner of the turnover battle also won the game. Nick Gilchrist and Brandon Day recovered the first two Mountaineer fumbles, while Lenoue recovered two more that would keep the Saints rolling later in the game.

Nose tackle Mike Paffhausen and linebacker Owen Koeppen had two forced fumbles apiece.

Rodell Razor and Jeff McNally had EOU's interceptions while Seath Kimball was credited for their forced fumble.