Home Debut: Lights host powerful Diggers

The Montana State University-Northern Lights took a lot of positives away from their 32-25, last-minute loss to Rocky Mountain College in their season-opener last Saturday.

After all, the Lights took the lead twice in the fourth quarter and had a shot to beat the Battlin' Bears in their house in the final seconds of the game.

But for Northern's home opener, the Lights have a much more formidable task ahead of them.

On Saturday afternoon, Northern (0-1) kicks off its home schedule with a visit from NAIA and Frontier Conference powerhouse Montana Tech (1-0). Kickoff between the Lights and No. 6 Orediggers is set for 1 p.m. inside Blue Pony Stadium.

"They're ranked where they are for a reason," MSU-N head coach Aaron Christensen said of the Orediggers. "They look like they're a very complete football team. Offense, defense, special teams and coaching, they have everything you need to be a very good football team."

Indeed. Last Thursday night, the Orediggers rolled to a 45-28 season-opening win over arch rival Carroll College. Tech amassed over 500 yards of offense, held Carroll to less than 400 yards and, in general, looked the part of a national championship contender.

Meanwhile, in Billings last Saturday, Northern impressed for much of the contest - a game in which Rocky was able to steal at the end via a Sam Sparks 86-yard kickoff return for a score with less than two minutes left.

On offense, Northern out gained RMC, with first-year starter Tommy Wilson throwing for three scores and rushing for one more. Wilson completed passes to nine different receivers, while running back Trey Blanchard added 75 yards on 17 carries in Northern's first game without Zach McKinley as its starting tailback in four years.

Defensively, the Lights struggled a bit against the run, but they dominated in pass coverage, and from a scoring standpoint, they surrendered just three offensive touchdowns. Led by senior linebacker Garet Fowler, the Lights were strong on that side of the ball for much of the game, too.

"Any time you're in the fourth quarter with a lead, or in the final minute with a chance to win the game, you know you've played well," Christensen said. "And I thought we played well at times on both sides of the ball. We did some really good things. We just have to do a better job of finishing the game."

Of course, finishing against the Orediggers will be a bit tougher.

Tech is led by senior quarterback Quinn McQueary (6-3, 200), who threw for nearly 400 yards on Carroll last week. McQueary is a dual-threat standout who can hurt teams in a variety of ways. Receivers Dion Williams (6-1, 190) and Sean Sullivan (6-3, 200) are both home run threats in the passing game, while Tech also boasts a monstrous offensive line.

And just in case Frontier coaches were hoping Tech's vaunted running game would fall off with the graduation of all-time leading rusher Nolan Saraceni, enter Dickinson State transfer Jed Fike, who rushed for 137 yards against Carroll in his Oredigger debut.

"Their ('Diggers) offense looks really good," Christensen said. "They didn't look like it was a first game. They have a very athletic and talented quarterback, they have a big offensive line and they play with a lot of tempo and pace. So they're going to be a challenge for sure."

Defensively, the Orediggers had holes to fill this season, and it looks like they've done so nicely. Tyler Sanders (6-2, 275) is a beast in the front, while rush end Brock Beede (6-5, 265) is as talented as they come. Linebacker Brock Polley (6-2, 215) and defensive backs Reid Siderius (6-3, 200) and returning All-American Andre Brown (5-10, 180) are speedy and dangerous ball hawks in the back end.

"They're a physical defense," Christensen noted. "They have a big D-line, they have speed and they play very fundamental football. Anything you get against their defense, you've earned it because they're so well-coached and they just don't make a lot of mistakes."

And that's what Northern is up against Saturday, a seemingly well-oiled Tech machine, that under now veteran head coach Chuck Morrell, looks poised to do a lot of damage in the Frontier Conference this fall.

Yet, the Lights are brimming with confidence after a strong opening performance and knowing that they have talent and depth on their side, - more so than at any point that they've faced teams like the Orediggers since Christensen arrived, now some three years ago.

So while the challenge Northern faces Saturday is a big one, and, they will need to clean up many of the little mistakes, like special teams miscues that hurt them in the loss at Rocky, the Lights are more than excited to get inside Blue Pony Stadium and see what they can do against the Orediggers Saturday afternoon.

"When you have a game like we just had, you want to get right back out on the field and go again," Christensen said. "That's how our guys are feeling. They're excited to get back out there, especially with it being our home opener.

"Tech will be a tremendous challenge for our football team," he continued. "They're very good. But our guys are excited for the opportunity and excited about playing at home. They'll be fired up for sure."

Saturday's game between the Lights and Orediggers gets underway at 1 p.m. in Blue Pony Stadium. Northern will then hit the road again, visiting Carroll College next Saturday.

Home-Opener

MSU-Northern Lights (0-1, 0-1) vs #6 Montana Tech Orediggers (1-0, 1-0)

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Blue Pony Stadium

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

Radio: 92.5 KPQX FM

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