2015 Frontier Preview: Secondary play is key in Frontier football

In football, the defensive secondary is the last line of defense so to speak. And in a league with so much offensive firepower every, teams that do well in the Frontier Conference always seem to have a strong secondary.

And 2015 should be no different, as the top teams in the Frontier will be led on defense by outstanding play in the secondary.

At Montana State University-Northern, the secondary has some shoes to fill, but the glue in back has returned for his senior season.

Senior Malcolm Manuel (5-9, 170) returns to help an otherwise young MSU-N secondary, which will be without the productive Butch Hyder at safety. Manuel, when healthy, was one of the top cornerbacks last season, as he had two interceptions and 21 tackles.

Manuel is part of a strong list of outstanding safeties and corners in the Frontier entering the fall, but no defensive back is as accomplished as Carroll College’s James Dowgin (6-2, 190).

As a sophomore, Dowgin earned NAIA All-American honors for the Fighting Saints after totaling 69 tackles and three interceptions. Dowgin’s athletic ability is unquestioned, but he’s also known as a hard hitter, and is excellent in run support, and, along with senior cornerback Matt Wymore (5-10, 187), who was a First-Team All-Conference performer a year ago, Carroll once again has one of the strongest secondaries in the league.

Eastern Oregon head coach Tim Camp has an outstanding secondary to worth with this season as well. Corner Byron Benson (5-9, 189) is back after racking up five INTs as a junior a year ago. Safety Adam Bese (5-11, 195) is also back after totaling 57 tackles a year ago, while corner John Payne (5-7, 160) is also expected to have a breakout season.

College of Idaho had the youngest team in the league a year ago, but the Yotes return two stars in the secondary. Sophomore safety Cory Brady (5-11, 175) paced the Frontier a year ago with six picks, as well as a team-high 64 tackles. Junior corner Nate Moore (5-9, 170) also gives the Yotes an excellent defender in the passing game.

And the top players don’t stop there.

UM-Western senior Ben Sulser (6-0, 175) had 44 solo tackles from his safety position a season ago, while Montana Tech junior safety Gunnar Kayser (6-4, 200) had 35 tackles of his own last season. Southern Oregon senior Karrington Jones (6-1, 190) is also a lock down defender and the leader of the secondary for the defending NAIA national champions, and he was an All-Conference standout a year ago.

Special Teams

Of course, special teams play always seems to have a big impact on Frontier football games year-in and year-out, and some top performers from a year ago return.

MSU-Northern is breaking in an all new kicking game after All-Conference standout Jordan Reuschhoff graduated.

The top kicker from a season ago returns to the league however in Southern Oregon’s Aldrick Ross (6-2, 195), while Montana Tech’s Matt Berg (5-9, 180) is also one to watch this season.

SOU also has a returning All-Conference punter in Thomas Giddens (6-2, 200), while UM-Western sophomore George Sherwood (6-3, 215) also has a booming leg.

In the return game, watch for do-everything senior Jace Billingsley on kickoffs this season. The 5-9, 185-pound Eastern Oregon star racked up over 1,000 yards in kick returns last season, and earned All-Conference honors in the process. On punt returns, Tech’s Alec Brey (5-11, 175) was also an All-Conference performer a season ago.

Editor's Note: This is the seventh installment in the Havre Daily News' series on the top returning players in the Frontier Conference. The final installment will feature the top running backs in the league in Monday's HDN.