Raiders take out Lights on Homecoming

The Montana State University-Northern Lights hung in as well as anyone in the Frontier Conference has against Southern Oregon. But in the end, it wasn't enough. The No. 7 Raiders outscored the Lights 24-7 in the second half to pull away, 45-24 Saturday at rainy Blue Pony Stadium.

For Northern, it was a fourth straight loss in conference play, while the Raiders (4-0, 5-0) remained unbeaten on the season.

But things looked different for a time.

The Lights struck first on a long touchdown run by Zach McKinley, while SOU star quarterback Austin Dodge threw a pair of first-quarter TD passes. Jordan Rueschhoff connected on a short field goal early in the second quarter to make the score 14-10, then the Lights took their first and only lead of the day when Travis Dean hooked up with Trevor Baum for a 26-yard score with 2:55 left in the first half. Dodge answered though, taking SOU to paydirt in less than a minute, and the Raiders went into half leading 21-17.

Dodge, who broke the NAIA record for most career touchdown passes on Saturday, added another big strike in the third quarter, along with a 42-yard Aldrick Rosas FG, while MSU-N was held scoreless in the period. SOU went into the fourth leading 31-17 and the Lights couldn't recover.

Northern's defense played well in spite of the final score. MSU-N sacked Dodge twice and Kami Kanehaluia had an interception, the game's only turnover. The MSU-N offense also rolled up 465 yards, while McKinley totaled 178 yards yards rushing and two scores. Dodge threw for 417 yards and five touchdowns, and his 18-yard scoring strike to Dylan Young in the fourth quarter was the one that broke the NAIA record for career TD passes.

The Lights (0-4, 1-4) now have a bye before traveling to the College of Idaho Oct. 11.

For full coverage from Saturday's game, see Monday's Havre Daily News.