Tech offense proves too much for Lights

After just two plays in Saturday's MSU-Northern home opener at scorching hot Blue Pony Stadium, the Lights had a 6-0 lead on the sixth-ranked Montana Tech Orediggers. It came on Northern's second play from scrimmage when Tommy Wilson hit Marvin Williams for an 8-2-yard touchdown strike.

From there however, it was all Quinn McQueary, Jed Fike, and the Orediggers as they steamrolled the Lights 70-27 Saturday afternoon in Havre.

Tech racked up 800 yards of offense, scored 35 unanswered points in the first half, and Fike rushed for over 200 in just his second game as an Oredigger, as Tech improved to 2-0 in the Frontier Conference, while Northern fell to 0-2. The Orediggers also had 39 first downs and broke three offensive school records in the contest.

"They're a very good football team," Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said of the Orediggers. "They have it rolling right now."

The Orediggers did have it rolling on offense, and there was little the MSU-N defense could do to stop them. McQueary ran for two scores and threw for three touchdowns to state the Diggers to a 35-6 lead, before Northern got back in the board when Wilson hit Williams for a 19-yard touchdown. Wilson also threw a 17-yard TD pass to Seth Roemelle just before the half ended making the score 42-20.

Bryce Missey would come in an add a touchdown pass of his own for the Lights, who did rack up over 400 yards on the vaunted Tech defense. But, it was too little too late, as the Diggers seemingly went up and down the field, wearing a young Northern defense out on a hot and smokey day in Havre.

The Lights did cause three Tech turnovers, including interceptions from Dylan Kelley and DeQuincy Bergen, as well as a fumble recovery by Alec Wagner. But, McQuearey and company were just too much for Northern to overcome. Northern did roll up over 500 yards of offense, with Wilson throwing for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns.

"We did some good things today," Christensen said. "But we have to play better. We didn't play well enough. We have to keep getting better."

The Lights will head back out on the road next week, traveling to Carroll College, which is also off to an 0-2 start after losing at home to Rocky Mountain College on Saturday.

For full Northern coverage, see Monday's Havre Daily News.