Frontier Notebook: In Helena, somebody will get their first win

What a seven days it was for the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears.

After a season-opening loss to Dickinson State in August, the Bears have had a whirlwind of emotions. They needed an 86-yard Sam Sparks' kickoff return to secure a home-opening win over Montana State University-Northern back on Sept. 2. And even that play, in the final minute, almost wasn't enough as Northern drove for the game-winning touchdown, and the Bears had to intercept a Tommy Wilson pass in the end zone to stave that off.

Seven days later, the Bears had to go to Helena to play in Carroll College's home-opener. Having not beaten Carroll in Helena in almost two decades, Rocky seemed to be up against great odds. But that's why they play the games, and all Rocky did in Helena was dominate the Fighting Saints, 40-14.

RMC controlled the game from start to finish, and the outcome was never in doubt in the second. So, now at 2-1, with only a loss to nationally ranked DSU on its resume, the Bears received votes in this week's NAIA Coaches Poll, and truly appear to be a team on the rise.

One reason for that is Rocky's running game. For years under head coach Brian Armstrong, the Bears had one of the most feared passing attacks in the NAIA. But under second-year head coach Jason Petrino, it appears the Bears' strength has shifted to the run. Jade Olsen is averaging 105 yards per game, while Sparks is totaling 65 per outing. And quarterback Jacob Bakken is averaging 45 yards per game with his feet. As a team, the Bears are rushing for 260 yards per through three games.

Couple the running game with what appears to be a vastly-improved defense, and with a team that continues to make huge plays on special teams, and now, you can add the Bears to the ever-growing list of team's on their way up in the Frontier Conference.

Of course, the Bears will really find out what they're made of when they host fifth-ranked Montana Tech this Saturday at Herb Klindt Field

Somebody's Got to Win

It's not often that the MSU-Northern Lights go into Carroll's Nelson Stadium to face a winless Carroll College squad. In fact, before Saturday, it's probably never happened before.

But that's where the Fighting Saints are at right now, having lost at Montana Tech and home to RMC ahead of Saturday's home game with the Lights.

Carroll, which is coming off back-to-back 4-6 seasons will no doubt be fired up to see the Lights given what's happened the last two weeks, but the Fighting Saints have some things they need to shore up - and it starts with the run game.

Once the most vaunted rushing attack in the Frontier, Carroll sits seventh in the Frontier in rushing heading into Saturday's game with Northern. The Saints are averaging just 112 yards per game, with Ryan Walsh leading the charge at a mere 43 yards per contest. The Saints' offense is also averaging three turnovers per game so far. This is another area where Carroll used to really dominate - the turnover battle.

The Saints are also seventh in the league in scoring defense, which won't sit well with veteran head coach Mike Van Diest. Through two games, Carroll has given up 88 points, and over 1,000 yards of total offense.

So there are some things Northern will hope to exploit. MSU-N will look to shut down the Carroll run game, and a young Lights' defense is coming off a game in which Montana Tech rushed for nearly 400 yards. But between linebackers Garet Fowler, Alec Wagner and Steven Fernandez, the trio has 71 tackles thus far. Fowler leads the Frontier with 27 stops.

Continuing to slow down Carroll's run game will be big for the Lights, but so will Northern's passing attack. Tommy Wilson is averaging 329 yards per game through two starts, and 16 different Lights have caught a pass so far this season. If the Lights can put some pressure on Carroll's defense with their up-tempo passing game, they'll no doubt have a chance to leave Nelson Stadium with, not only their first win of the season, but also their first-ever win in Helena.

Sunday Game

If anyone was wondering where the score from the UM-Western/Eastern Oregon game was last Saturday night, or why it was actually played on Sunday, one word sums it up - smoke.

Yes, Montana isn't the only state choked with smoke right now, and last Saturday, the air quality in LaGrande, Oregon, was very bad, so the game was moved to Sunday afternoon. The air didn't completely clear up for the contest, but it was good enough that the Mounties and Bulldogs got the game in at Community Stadium, with EOU pulling off a 27-24, come-from-behind win.

Smoke has been a big issue for all of the Frontier Conference thus far. Northern's home game with Montana Tech last Saturday had poor air quality, while Butte and Helena have been extremely smoky so far this season. In Nampa, Idaho, the College of Idaho has also had to alter practice plans this fall due to extremely bad air quality.

NAIA Players of the Week

Two Frontier players have been named NAIA Player of the Week, as well as Frontier Player of the Week.

Tech senior QB Quinn McQueary snagged both awards after a spectacular performance last Saturday in Havre. The 6-3 senior quarterback led the Oredigger offense to a record setting performance against Northern. McQueary went 21 of 31 passing for 359 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. The Manhattan, Montana-native also had a catch on the day with a 33-yard reception from Dion Williams.

Rocky kicker Griff Aimes was also named NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week. Aimes, a senior from Newport Beach, California, helped the Battlin' Bears to a 40-14 win at Carroll on Saturday. Amies scored 16 points in the game making all four of his field goal attempts and all four of his PAT attempts.

Southern Oregon's Tre Holmes was named the Frontier Defensive Player of the Week.