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Havre youth learns the game from new Northern football coaches
Havre 8th-grader Connor Johnston throws a pass during Tuesday's session of the MSU-Northern Lights Football Camp. Johnston was part of Northern head coach Andrew Rolin's first camp of his Lights' career. The camp ran Sunday-Tuesday at the MSU-N practice fields.
Andrew Rolin has undertaken a lot of firsts since taking the job as head football coach for Montana State University-Northern, but Tuesday at the Northern practice field, he completed another, as the Lights summer football camp came to a close.
In all, Rolin and the Lights hosted a few different camps this week with high school kids participating on Sunday, followed by elementary and middle school players Monday and Tuesday.
"It's been great," Rolin said. "We have had a good number of kids come out. We had some talented kids come out during our high school camp so that was good to see. It's great that these guys can get some one-on-one instruction from some college coaches and I think they are all having a lot of fun and that's what it's all about."
On Tuesday, the players hit the Northern practice field at 9 a.m. and took part in a three-hour camp that focused on fundamental drills, as well as some competitive contests. During the first part of the day, players went through and learned each position from each respective position coach. Then, other skills such as tackling, carrying the football and throwing were taught as well.
"We try to keep it fun and mix it up a bit," Rolin said, "but we also try to stress those fundamentals and give every kid a chance to learn every position."
One youngster who was in attendance to take part in the football festivities was Havre's own Connor Johnston, a 13-year-old attends Havre Middle School and will be an eighth-grader next fall.
Johnston, who played both safety and wide receiver last season for Havre Middle School, said he caught a touchdown pass and notched an interception last fall for the Mustangs. Tuesday, following practice, he caught up with the Havre Daily News, after the camp concluded, for five questions.
HDN: What did you like the most about camp?
Johnston: "I liked the tackling drills. I like to hit people."
HDN: Are you a big football fan? Do you have a favorite team?
Johnston: "Yes. I like the Philadelphia Eagles."
HDN: Who is your favorite player?
Johnston: "Carson Wentz.
HDN: What did you learn today that you didn't know before?
Johnston: "I didn't know how to play defensive line. I have never played that before."
HDN: How was it working with the coaching staff?
Johnston: "It was a lot of fun. They taught me a lot."
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