Lights visit struggling Fighting Saints

One would have to go way, way back in history to find a time when the Montana State University-Northern football team played an un-ranked Carroll College. But that’s exactly the case in Northern’s only meeting with the Fighting Saints this season.

On Saturday afternoon, Northern (0-7, 0-8) will trip to famed Nelson Stadium to take on a reeling Carroll College squad (3-4, 3-4). And by reeling, the Saints are on an unprecedented three-game losing streak and have already been eliminated from NAIA playoff contention.

Still, a struggling Carroll team will be a tall order for the Lights, who are still trying to find that balance they need to win.

Two weeks ago in Butte, Northern’s defense surrendered just two offensive touchdowns to the high-powered Montana Tech Orediggers. But the MSU-N offense still sputtered. Last weekend in Blue Pony Stadium, the roles were reversed. The Lights had their best offensive game of the season, but on defense and special teams, Northern surrendered 72 points in a 42-point loss to Eastern Oregon.

“We improved on offense,” head coach Aaron Christensen said. “But we’re still looking for that consistency. We haven’t put a game together for four quarters. It can’t just be a play here or a play there that we do well. It’s got to be on every play.”

Perhaps Northern can find that consistency this Saturday, in a place the Lights have never won. Offensively, Jess Krahn had his best day at quarterback for the Lights a week ago, while Jake Messerly and, Seth Roemmele and tight end Kagen Khameneh all made big plays in the passing game. And if the Lights can find more consistency in their passing game, against a Carroll defense which is just fifth in the Frontier Conference in total defense, then, things will open up even more for running back Zach McKinley, who is averaging 111 yards per game.

But, finding a rhythm against Carroll’s staunch secondary won’t be easy. The Saints have as good a safety as there is in the NAIA in James Dowgin, as well as some athletic corners. However, Northern could also use the run to open up the pass. Surprisingly, even with a talented group of linebackers, led by Shayne Durbin, Carroll is last in the conference in rushing defense, and the Saints just gave up a record-setting performance to Tech’s Nolan Saraceni in a 42-7 loss to the Orediggers last Saturday in Helena.

Defense will also be the key to the Lights’ success in Helena, because there’s no doubt, Carroll’s offense has sputtered this season, and the Saints are really struggling as of late.

Senior quarterback Mac Roche is still a dangerous threat, having thrown for 14 touchdowns this season. But, injuries to the likes of star wideouts Dylan Simac and Connor Fohn have hampered the Saints’ passing game. What’s worse, Carroll has been shockingly bad at running the football in 2015.

The run game has also been Carroll’s bread and butter under legendary head coach Mike Van Diest, but the Saints just haven’t been able to replace all-time leading rusher Dustin Rinker. Now, Carroll comes into Saturday’s game averaging a league-worst 98 yards rushing per game, with Dylan Green averaging just 45 yards on the ground as Carroll’s leading rusher.

Those numbers bode well for a Northern team which, behind a stout line of Tyler Craig, Pat Barnett and Jordan Brusio, as well as linebackers Tucker Dunn and Jess Morales, has been good against the run at different times this season.

Still, as much as Carroll has struggled this season, something Saints fans just aren’t used to, the Lights have had even more struggles. Despite good signs from the offense last week, Northern comes into the start of back-to-back road games averaging just nine points and 244 yards of offense per outing. The Lights also need to shore up their special teams as they’ve given up four special teams touchdowns in the last two weeks. And on top of it all, they’re going into a stadium where they’ve never won, and are playing an angry Fighting Saints team.

So, the odds are likely still stacked against the young Lights. But, Christensen continues to stay the course, and he likes where his team is going right now.

“They don’t stop working, the effort is great,” Christensen said. “And you can see it getting better. We’re going in the right direction. We’re getting better, and that’s what we will continue to strive for. To be better than we were last week.”

The Lights and Saints will kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday in Helena. Northern will also be on the road next Saturday to take on UM-Western. That game will kick at 6 p.m. in Dillon due to a Dillon High School playoff game earlier in the day.

Struggles

MSU-Northern Lights (0-7, 0-8) at Carroll College

Saints (3-4, 3-4)

Saturday 1 p.m.

in Helena

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

Radio: 92.5 KPQX FM

Twitter: Twitter/Havredaily