Nolan headed for MSU, Woods to Carroll

Two Columbia Falls Wildcat seniors are taking their football talent to the college football field next season.

Mackey Nolan has signed a letter of intent to attend Montana State University in Bozeman, while Nathan Woods will play at Carroll College in Helena.

Recruited as a punter, Nolan said he’ll be red-shirted for the 2009 season.

The 6-foot, 185-pound Nolan will be the understudy of senior Eric Fisher, who led the Big Sky Conference in punting as a junior.

Nolan was an all-conference running back, linebacker, kicker and punter his seniors season at CFHS, and was one of three Northwestern A Conference Players of the Year. He was an all-state punter.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Woods was all-conference first team at offensive tackle as a senior, and earned a berth on the all-state team. He joins a Saints team that won NAIA national championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Nolan and Woods were selected to play in the 63rd Montana East-West Shrine Game July 18 in Great Falls — Nolan as a linebacker and punter, and Woods as an offensive tackle. Nolan is an alternate for the Badlands Bowl, set for June 20 in Miles City.