Lights ready to fight Bears for a win

It’s been a long season for the Montana State University-Northern Lights. But, it’s also a season that’s gone by fast in many ways. And now, the 2015 Lights have one more chance to win before the curtain closes on a difficult year.

On Saturday, the Lights (0-9, 0-10) will host Rocky Mountain College (3-6, 4-6) in the regular season finale, and like in 2014, when Northern beat RMC in Billings to end the season, the Lights are looking to end this campaign in the same way. Kickoff is set for noon inside Blue Pony Stadium.

  “It’s a big game for all of us,” MSU-N senior cornerback Malcolm Manuel said. “Not just for the seniors but for all of us. Because we’re rebuilding, getting this last win would be big, especially for the guys coming back next year. So for us, myself, Matt, Logan and Jeff, we’ve been playing this sport for a long time and we’re going to just go leave it out there on the field.”

In order for the Lights to end their 10-game losing streak, they’ll need to play the best four quarters of football they’ve played all season. The Battlin’ Bears come to Havre fresh off an upset win over Carroll College last Saturday, and the same Rocky team is coming that shut out the Lights 46-0 back in September in Billings.

However, first-year Northern head coach Aaron Christensen insists the Lights’ team that will take the field Saturday isn’t the same team that was shut out at Herb Klindt Field.

“We’ve improved a lot since the last game against them (Bears),” Christensen said. “These guys have really stuck with it, they’ve learned and they’ve grown. We’re a much better football team than we were when we played them the first time.”

The Lights have improved, but, those improvements haven’t been enough to get the young Lights, who boast just four seniors, into a position to win a game yet. And the task will be daunting yet again this Saturday. Northern comes home after losing 52-6 last Saturday night in Dillon. The Lights average just eight points per game on offense, and are surrendering nearly 50 points per game on defense. Conversely, Rocky comes with the top passing offense in the league, and a balanced defense, which allows under 30 points per contest.

“They’re (Bears) a very good football team,” Christensen said. “They have been in a lot of close games this season, and they have been on the short end of the stick in a couple of them. They are the best passing team in the league, their quarterback is very good and (Andre) McCullouch is one of the best wide receivers in the country.”

McCullouch (6-1, 195) is indeed one of the best in the NAIA. He’s an NFL prospect and, over the last four years, he’s had five 100-yard receiving games against the Lights. Add to that former Shelby standout Chase White (6-3, 213) has really come into his own at quarterback, as he’s averaging 255 yards passing and has thrown 14 touchdowns, and the Bears will give Northern’s young secondary, led by Manuel, and the steadily improving Logan Sprouse, as well as leading tackler Garrett Jericoff, who has a team-high 84 tackles, all they can handle. RMC also starts a big offensive line, and running backs Kodee Varner (6-0, 195) and Jade Olsen (5-7, 190) are both dangerous on the ground, as well as catching passes in RMC’s explosive offense.

But, facing a good offense is nothing new to the Lights, and they’ll look to their front four, Tyler Craig, Jordan Brusio, Pat Barnett and Lane Urick to get pressure on White. And if they can do that, it will help MSU-N’s secondary tremendously.

What will also help Northern’s defense slow down the fast-paced Bears is a breakout performance from the Lights’ offense. The last time the Lights played at home, they had their best day of the season offensively, in a loss to Eastern Oregon. And against a solid RMC defense, led by nose tackle Brendan Johnson (6-1, 285), an outstanding group of speedy linebackers and veteran safety Eric Buer (5-9, 180), the Lights are hoping for similar results.

Of course, Northern will continue to lean on its running game, led by junior Zach McKinley, who is just 25 yards shy of a third straight 1,000 yard campaign, as well as fellow junior Mario Gobatto. But, in order for the running game to be successful, the Lights will need a strong outing from quarterback Jess Krahn, who’s thrown for 1,345 yards and seven touchdowns, and a beat up receiving corps. Look for sophomore Seth Roemmele to step us, as well as tight end Kagen Khameneh.

“There’s no doubt we have to go out and put points on the board,” Christensen said. “We’ve gotten better every week on offense. But we have to score some points. We’ve got to establish the run, and we have to eliminate turnovers and lost yardage plays. They (Bears) have a really athletic defense, but I think we’ve gotten much better offensive since that first game against them. Jess is much more comfortable now, and our line his protecting him a lot better. So, I think we can have a successful day offensively.”

And success, putting a W in the column, is exactly what the Lights are gunning for. It’s their last chance to do so before a long offseason, and Saturday is also senior day. So, while Rocky is a very good football team, despite its sub .500 record, the Bears are coming to Havre to face a Lights’ team motivated and excited for this one last game this fall.

“Our guys will be fired up,” Christensen said. “It’s been a tough year, but one thing these guys have done is they’ve kept playing hard and kept working hard. They played very hard at Western last week, and they’ll come out and do the same this week.

“These guys want to get a win,” he continued. “And it’s their last opportunity to do that. So, they’ll be fired up and ready for this game.”

Saturday’s regular season finale between Northern and Rocky Mountain College kicks off at noon at Blue Pony Stadium. Manuel, Matt McKeen, Logan Mayernik and Jefferson Aumua will have their senior day honors before kickoff.

Senior Day

MSU-Northern Lights (0-9, 0-10) vs RMC Battlin' Bears (3-6, 4-6)

Saturday Noon

Blue Pony Stadium

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

Radio: 92.5 KPQX FM

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Game Day Inside