Lights ready to just play football

Jake Eldridge has been here before. Here is getting the Montana State University-Northern Lights ready for a football game after a sudden change at the top of Northern's coaching tree.

For the second time in his tenure at Northern, Eldridge is now the interim head coach of the Lights, following Aaron Christensen's resignation on Wednesday. And while Christensen's sudden decision to step down after just under three years as Northern's head coach has certainly put stress on the MSU-N football team, Eldridge says things must be as business as usual as possible, because after all, the Lights have three games left – the first of which comes Saturday when Northern (0-7, 1-7) takes on Carroll College (2-5, 2-5). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Blue Pony Stadium.

"We've talked about controlling what we can control, and that's playing football," Eldridge, who has been Northern's defensive coordinator for eight seasons, said. "That's what we're focused on, the one and only thing we can control, and that's us, and what we do."

Northern's home game against the Fighting Saints, who the Lights beat last September in Havre, doesn't just come on the heels of Christensen's departure, but also seven days after one of the most difficult losses in school history. Last Saturday, the Lights fell at Montana Tech 93-19, and the week that has followed has certainly been tumultuous. However, and perhaps surprisingly, Eldridge said the week of preparations leading to Saturday's game against the Saints, who topped the Lights 34-3 last month in Helena, has gone better than anyone could expect.

"Practices have been really good," Eldridge said. "The guys are working their tails off trying to get ready to play a game. They've been focused and positive all week. Being on the field is the most important thing, and they're excited to get back on the field Saturday."

When the Lights do take the field, they'll certainly be underdogs, even against a Carroll squad that has struggled to regain its footing in the Frontier Conference, and is facing the prospect of a third straight losing season.

But even with the struggles throughout the fall, the Saints are not struggling in the same ways the Lights are. The Christensen situation aside, Northern is also dealing with major injury issues, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where last week, Eldridge started eight players who are either freshman or red-shirt freshman.

"With everything that's happened, one thing I don't think anyone realizes is how many crucial injuries we've had," Eldridge said. "Especially on defense. We were always a young defense this season, but now, I think we've lost seven guys who started that first game to injury. So now we're really young, and it's tough."

That young defense, led by senior linebacker Garet Fowler, who leads the Frontier Conference in tackles, will have its hands full with a Carroll offense that appears to be picking up steam. For much of the year, Carroll was ranked near the bottom of the Frontier in most offensive categories, and while the Saints struggled to score with freshman quarterback Reese Hiibel (6-2, 175) having to take over for injured senior Tanner Gustavsen, they were still able to stun Rocky Mountain College last week 16-3. And Carroll's once-proud running game is one of the reasons for the upset, as bruising tailbacks Major Ali (5-7, 200) and Ryan Walsh (6-2, 195) have now combined for over 800 yards on the season, with Ali rushing for 111 last week.

"They're (Saints) getting their running game going now," Eldridge said. "They have a really big, physical offensive line. Just like they have on the defensive side of the ball. They are really starting to dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball. They're really getting better up front and it shows."

Indeed. Where Carroll is really making progress is on defense. Make no mistake, holding Rocky to three points was a chore, and a great showing by the Saints. Of course, having star defensive end Alec Basterreachea (6-2, 250) healthy again has made a big difference, especially playing in front of a very talented linebacker group that includes David Anderson (6-0, 220), who has 52 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, as well as Reece Quade and Parker Bernhardt. Safety Tucker Johnson (6-1, 200) anchors the back end of a Carroll defense that is now first in the Frontier in rushing defense, third in scoring (24 ppg) and fourth in total defense (379 ypg), all numbers that have progressively gotten better over the last few weeks.

"They (Saints) are doing good things right now," Eldridge said. "Their defense looks really good. They're playing physical football on both sides, and that's what you expect from a Carroll team."

And going up against a stingy Carroll defense, one that is gaining confidence to boot, won't be easy for a Northern offense that started the season red hot, but has really tailed off in recent weeks. The Lights come in averaging just 17 ppg, but over their last three tilts, that number is down to 12 ppg. Still, a healthy Trey Blanchard running the football, and a very talented group of wide receivers, led by freshman Marvin Williams, certainly gives the Lights hope that they can get things moving again, whether Tommy Wilson, Bryce Missey or Dylan Cook is operating at quarterback. All three have seen time in recent weeks.

But no matter what the Lights do Saturday, and over the course of their final three games, they'll do it together. The program is once again faced with adversity, but when the Lights take the field Saturday they'll still be united, and perhaps, even more motivated given the events of the last seven days.

"We have great kids in this program," Eldridge said. "The guys we have out there on the practice field every day, they're giving us everything they've got. They've been through a lot, and they're out there wanting to compete and they're going to compete their tails off on Saturday, and for these last three games. I know they'll do that. They're going to try as hard as they can to be successful. I'm just really proud of these guys."

Saturday's game between the Lights and Saints kicks off at 1 p.m. inside Blue Pony Stadium. It's the first of back-to-back home games for the Lights, who host Southern Oregon on senior day Nov. 4.

Moving On

MSU-Northern Lights (0-7, 1-7) vs Carroll College Fighting Saints (2-5, 2-5)

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Blue Pony Stadium

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

Radio: 92.5 KPQX FM

Twitter: Twitter/Havredaily