Lights on the road to play defending NAIA champs

The Montana State University-Northern Lights want to win in the worst way. But perhaps more important than that, the Lights need to build confidence, and the way to do that is to play better.

But standing in the way of all that is a 1,300-mile trip to Ashland, Oregon, and the defending NAIA national champion Southern Oregon Raiders. Northern (0-3, 0-4) and the fourth-ranked Raiders (2-1, 2-1) will hook up Saturday at 2 p.m. M.S.T.

And while Northern's losing skid to start the 2015 season hasn't been easy, including being shut out on offense for two straight games, the young Lights won't lay down for anyone, and new head coach Aaron Christensen says he sees bright spots, even in the midst of struggle.

"I know it sounds strange, but I think we improved from last week," Christensen said following last Saturday's homecoming loss to UM-Western. "Offensively and defensively. I think we played better. Of course, the goal is to win these games, but we'll look at the film and see that we got better this week. It's not where we want to be, but I do think we got better, and we'll take that it and build off it."

The goal is to win, but right now, Northern needs to get some positive momentum rolling, especially offensively. There's no denying the Lights have talent, led by All-American candidate Zach McKinley at running back. The junior standout is averaging 111 yards rushing per game, and with fellow junior Mario Gobatto, the Lights will continue to lean on their veteran running game.

However, that's easier said than done. MSU-N has struggled mightily in the passing game, and moving the chains has been a constant issue. Northern averages just 47 yards passing, and is converting on just 22 percent of its third downs, and those are factors that are allowing opposing defenses to key on the Lights' usually-potent rushing attack.

So, on Saturday, MSU-N will look to take steps forward on offense, and the Lights get to do it against a somewhat inexperienced SOU defense. Through three games, the Raiders are allowing just over 30 points and 408 yards of offense. SOU also allows 190 rushing yards per game, so MSU-N will look to exploit that this week.

But getting better on offense is just half the battle, because, after all, Northern is going up against one of the top offensive teams in the country year-in-and-year-out. But the Raiders are a little different than in the past four years. Gone is four-time All-American quarterback Austin Dodge and the crazy passing attack that Craig Howard's teams have been known for the last four years. This season, despite having great wide receivers like Matt Retzlaff, the Raiders have had to adjust to life with new quarterbacks like Tanner Trosin and Kamerun Smith.

And that has led to SOU turning to its ground game, and in particular, junior Melvin Mason. An All-Conference performer, Mason is averaging 98 yards per game, and is an equally dangerous threat catching passes out of the backfield. Sean Tow is another good running back, and that duo helps SOU average a whopping 250 yards per game on the ground.

Still, SOU's offense isn't the high-flying act Frontier defenses have grown accustomed to playing against. The Raiders average 33 points and 428 yards per game - a far cry from where they were at a year ago. But, make no mistake, the Lights will still have their hands full, and pressure from defensive ends Tyler Craig and Jordan Brusio, who have a combined six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss this season, will be key in helping a young MSU-N secondary.

Stopping the run will also be big, and for that, the Lights will turn to junior Pat Barnett up front, as well as linebackers Tucker Dunn and Jesse Morales, both of whom are playing very well this season.

But, no matter which way the Lights find to succeed against SOU, that's the goal, just to find success. Northern is in a rebuilding year no doubt, and the Lights are taking it one game at a time, one practice at a time. And they're hoping to take a big step forward against the defending national champs on Saturday.

The Frontier Conference game between the Lights and Raiders will kick off at 2 p.m. M.S.T. Saturday in Ashland, Oregon. Northern is idle next Saturday, and the Lights will host College of Idaho on Oct. 10 at Blue Pony Stadium.

In Oregon

MSU-Northern Lights (0-3, 0-4) at No. 4 SOU

Raiders (2-1, 2-1)

Saturday 2 p.m.

Ashland, Oregon

Streaming: http://www.msun.edu/athletics

Radio: 92.5 KPQX FM

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