Lights aiming for a happy homecoming

For the Montana State University-Northern football team, every Saturday is a chance to show the program is taking steps in the right direction. But after dropping 10 consecutive games dating back to last season, the best way to move forward, would be with a win.

The last time the Lights tasted victory, it was over Carroll College, via a 28-14 win over the Fighting Saints last September. However, it has been more than a calendar year since MSU-N has found the win column, which is something it hopes to change Saturday inside Blue Pony Stadium against the University of Montana-Western. Kickoff for Northern's homecoming game is set for 1 p.m.

"I think it would be big," Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said on the possibility of his team knocking off the Bulldogs. "Every week is a big deal. But they are coming here and we are at home, so this is really a game we would love to win. We have all put in a lot of hard work, all the players and all the coaches, so it would be great to see all that stuff pay off."

While the Lights (0-3) come in as the last winless team in the Frontier, the Bulldogs aren't far ahead of MSU-N, as Western enters the game with a 1-3 overall record and a 1-2 mark in conference play. Yet, after winning its season-opening game against the College of Idaho, Western has lost three straight, including back-to-back losses to Eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon the past two weeks.

"The biggest thing with Western, is they want to come in and play physical football," Christensen said. "So we really need to make sure we match that intensity and that physical style of play."

One issue that both teams have in common leading up to Saturday's game is a lack of offensive production. Northern is seventh in the Frontier in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game, ranking just ahead of Western, which is averaging just 17 points, thanks in large part to a 63-0 shutout at the hands of Weber State in the second game of the season. Yet, even in three conference outings, the Bulldogs have averaged just 22.7 ppg, putting them in a tie for fifth.

Western may try to establish the run against the Lights, who rank last in the Frontier with 333.7 rushing yards per game allowed, but for the Bulldogs, who are averaging just 77 yards per game on the ground, it might be easier said than done.

"The one thing that they want to do is run the ball," Christensen said. "So we are really going to need to make sure we play assignment football. There isn't one thing necessarily that we need to do to stop it, we just need to take care of all the little things and make sure we execute."

The top ball carrier for the Bulldogs will be Hunter Thomsen, who has run the ball 79 times this season for 264 yards (3.2 average) and one touchdown. Thomsen, who also has four receptions for 35 yards this season, will be the primary threat on the ground, but in the air, Western will rely on a pair of talented receivers in George Sherwood (19 catches, 248 yards) and Nate Simkins (13 catches, 193 yards). Bennett Gibson will be the signal caller for Western and thus far, he has completed 55.7 percent of his passes to go along with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is also averaging 208.3 passing yards per game.

"It's a pretty simple formula for success," Christensen said. "We just need to play sound football defensively, we need to be physical and we need to tackle. It's not complicated."

Defensively, the Lights are surrendering 543.3 yards per game, which ranks dead last in the conference, but offensively, Northern has been much improved and despite averaging just 18.3 a game, MSU-N ranks fifth in the league in total offense with 382 yards per game.

The passing offense, which currently averages 273 yards per game, good enough for third in the Frontier, has been steadily improving under the direction of starting quarterback Tommy Wilson, who is averaging 270 yards per game through the air, while also throwing six touchdowns and five interceptions. The quarterback also has one touchdown run.

"So far, I think Tommy has done a really good job for us," Christensen said. "I think we have seen a lot of our skill guys improve and I think one of the differences from last year to this year, is some of the depth that we have at those positions."

Wilson has played well so far this season, but he has gotten help from wide receivers such as Marvin Williams, who has 16 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns, as well as Beau Wilhelm, who has five receptions for 118 yards and one score himself. Seth Roemmele has been another productive pass catcher with 11 catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

When Northern wants to run the ball, Trey Blanchard will see the bulk of the carries. So far in 2017, he has run the ball 33 times for 197 yards, with a long run of 68. He is averaging a solid 5.8 yards per attempt and 64 yards per game.

Defensively, the Lights most successful attribute has been their ability to intercept the ball, as they have five picks in three games, with two of them going to Dequincy Bergen. The Northern defense has also recovered two fumbles, which gives it seven forced turnovers on the season. However, one big problem, is that the Lights have yet to register a sack, something that will need to change in a hurry for an MSU-N defense that is giving up an average of 45.3 points per game.

"Playing at home, it would be a big deal if we could come out with a win," Christensen said. "And that's what we plan on doing."

Northern and Western will meet in MSU-N's homecoming Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Blue Pony Stadium. The Lights travel to Mayville State for a non-conference game next Saturday.

Homecoming

MSU-Northern Lights (0-3, 0-3) vs UM-Western

Bulldogs (1-2, 1-3)

Saturday, 1 p.m.

at Blue Pony Stadium

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

Radio: 92.5 KPQX FM

Twitter: Twitter/Havredaily

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