Turn on the Lights

There has been a lot of excitement surrounding the Montana State University-Northern football team the last three weeks. The Lights held a spirited and competitive fall camp, full of enthusiasm, unity and hard work.

Now however, it's time to take all the Lights have done and put into a real game.

That game comes Saturday when the Lights (0-0) open the season, and Frontier Conference play with a road trip to Rocky Mountain College. Kickoff between the Lights and Battlin' Bears (0-1) is set for 1 p.m. at Herb Klindt Field.

And Northern, which has won just one game in the last two season, couldn't be more excited to get the season started.

"We're really looking forward to game week," senior tight end Kagen Khameneh said. "This camp has been great. The attitude, the effort, the chemistry of our team, it's been the best fall camp since I've been here for sure. But we're ready to play a real game, too. So we're excited."

And there's a lot to be excited about. Northern's offense looks explosive with a new starting quarterback in junior college transfer Tommy Wilson, and a bevy of wide receiver talent, including Khameneh, Sam Mix and Donovan Garner, among others. The Lights will also play their first game in four years without graduated star Zach McKinley, but starting running backs Trey Blanchard and B.J. Peters are excited about the challenges ahead.

A new-look Lights' defense, which returns just five starters in linebackers Garet Fowler and Alec Wagner, defensive tackle Elijah Dennison and defensive backs Cory Lee and DeQuiny Bergen, will also get its first test of the year as well.

However, the Lights won't be playing a first-game team Saturday, as the Battlin' Bears have already been tested in what was a 43-28 loss at Dickinson State back on Aug. 24.

In that game, Rocky's offense, featuring starting quarterback Jacob Bakken, as well as running backs Jade Olsen and Sam Sparks, tallied up the yards against DSU's defense, but, turnovers and miscues kept the Bears from getting any closer on the scoreboard. On the ground, the Bears rushed for nearly 200 yards, so that will be a focus for the Northern defense this weekend.

Offensively, Northern will look to get off to a fast start, but, RMC has outstanding defenders, led by the likes of linebacker Chase Bertelsen. Against a revamped and pass-happy DSU offense, the Bears still allowed just 396 yards and 237 through the air. Rocky's run defense was even better, but the Bears couldn't stop the Blue Hawks from turning RMC mistakes into points.

So, there's no doubt the Bears, of second-year head coach Jason Petrino, will be a tough season-opener for the Lights, especially on what will be a hot day in Billings, in a game that is RMC's home-opener, and against a team fresh off a disappointing defeat.

But Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said, an opening game like this one, is as much about what the Lights do as it is what their opponent does.

"In games like this, especially with two teams who have a lot of new players, it's going to be about limiting mistakes," Christensen said. "For us, this is going to be the first game for a lot of our younger and new guys, and we know there's going to be mistakes. We just need to make sure we limit them, and move on from them.

"Big plays are going to be a factor, too," he added. "We've worked hard this fall and emphasized not giving up too many big plays on defense, and making more big plays on offense."

Christensen noted one other factor in a first game that could end up being in Northern's favor - special teams. The Lights have one of the top returning kickers in the Frontier in Tommy Langley, and he could be called upon in critical moments on Saturday, in what should be a tight game.

"Special teams is big, especially early in the season," Christensen said. "It's important every game, but early on, you really have to make sure your special teams is sound, because mistakes there can really change a game. So that's going to be another big factor in this game."

No matter the factors, or who has the edge, Saturday is going to be a big, big day for the Lights. They are picked to once again finish last in the Frontier this season, but the attitude in fall camp has been nothing like a team planning on finishing last. Instead, the Lights are excited, rejuvenated and motivated. And while they're a young team, and the program is still rebuilding, Northern is certainly ready to win, and win this season. And that starts Saturday at RMC.

"I do believe we're a better overall football team right now," Christensen said. "We see it every single day in practice. I think this team can accomplish plenty this season. Now, we have to go out on Saturday's and do it. We have to go out and execute. We have to cut down on mistakes, make more big plays, limit the big plays we're giving up, not turn the ball over, score when we're in the redzone, make tackles when we are supposed to, all of it. We have to be consistent and we have to execute."

MSU-N and RMC will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. in Billings. The Lights will then face Montana Tech in their home opener next Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Blue Pony Stadium."