Lights look for some homecoming magic against surging Saints

It's been a rough two weeks for the Montana State University-Northern Lights. And while the opponents don't get any easier, the Lights are looking for a little homecoming magic to get them back on track.

Again, it won't be easy, but Northern (0-2, 1-2) is certainly excited and fired up for its 2018 homecoming game. Saturday, the Lights will welcome Carroll College (1-1, 2-1) to Blue Pony Stadium for a Frontier Conference showdown. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

"It has been a tough couple of weeks," Northern head coach Andrew Rolin said, referring to the Lights' 53-7 and 55-3 losses to Rocky Mountain College and UM-Western. "But we have another opportunity to do something about that. It's time to step up. We can't just keep talking about it, we need to step up and do it."

Stepping up against Carroll will be yet another stern test for the young Lights. And make no mistake, the Lights are young, especially on defense, where Northern is allowing 46 points and nearly 500 yards of total offense this season. In MSU-N's opening win over Mayville State started eight defenders who were either sophomores or younger. But with recent injuries to the defensive line, the Lights have gotten even younger over the last two games.

"We're definitely young on defense," Rolin said. "We're playing a lot of freshmen, so obviously, that bodes well for the future. I feel like we have a lot of talented guys who are going to get better and better every single week. But at the same time we're also making freshman mistakes. And a lot of the big plays we're giving up right now are a result of those mistakes. So, we just have to work hard to fix those things, and execute like we know we can. And we'll get there."

The Lights, of course, do have bright spots on defense, particularly Chase Gilbert, who has two interceptions in his last two games. As expected, red-shirt freshman defensive tackle Justin Pfiefer is having a strong start as well, and cornerbacks Caymus Thomas and Devariej Criss are playing well on the outside.

But once again, Northern's young defense will be up against a stern test Saturday afternoon. Carroll's offense got off to a very slow start, as the Saints scored just 10 points in their first two games. But a big win over NCAA DIII Linfield College last Saturday has the Saints coming into Havre with a lot of momentum. And while Carroll's offensive numbers don't jump off the page, as the Saints average just 16 ppg, less than 400 yards of offense, and less than 130 yards rushing, they have the makings of a team ready to explode. The Saints have junior running back Major Ali, running behind a big offensive line, and they have dangerous threats in wide receiver in Shane Sipes and Troy Arntson, for young quarterback Koby Killoy to throw to.

"Carroll has had its struggles offensively," Rolin said. "But I see a team that has a ton of talent, a team that has a big, physical offensive line, and a lot of playmakers. So that's what we have to be prepared for. A team that's going to come out and be disciplined and a team that wants to execute their game plan. So we need to be the same way defensively. We need to be gap sound and tackle really well."

And being sound and solid is something Rolin fully expects from Carroll's defense, which allows just 16 points and 104 yards rushing per game. The Saints are led by defensive tackle Beaugh Meyer, linebackers Reece Quade and Chase Bowen and star defensive backs McBride Galt and Parker Bernhardt.

"Carroll will bring a typical Mike Van Diest defense in here," Rolin said. "They'll be extremely well-coached, disciplined, physical and gap sound. They will execute, they won't make a lot of mistakes. And they have a lot of really good, tough football players on that defense."

Indeed, Carroll's defense has been stingy, and with the Saints' receiving a forfeit win over Rocky, Carroll is building momentum at the perfect time. So Northern's job offensively will to be to put a kink in that momentum. Northern will first try and do that with its big offensive line, and Jett Robertson, who averages 105 yards per outing. But the Lights will also need to move the chains through the air, and Tommy Wilson, and veteran receivers like Seth Roemmele, Bryce Bumgardner and Sam Mix, will need to do that this week.

"We need to get back to executing offensively," Rolin said. "That's really what it comes down to. We have to all do our jobs offensively. We just have to come out and execute. If we do that, if we do what we're supposed to do, the rest will take care of itself."

Of course, executing offensively, defensively and on special teams is a big part of what the Lights will have to do to upend the suddenly rejuvenated Saints, who beat Linfield 20-14 last Saturday in Helena, but they'll also need to channel the emotions they'll have for what is sure to be an exciting homecoming game in front of a big crowd at Blue Pony Stadium, a crowd that will include many members of the 1998 MSU-N team, the team that started football at Northern again 20 years ago.

"Our guys are excited for this game," Rolin said. "They're fired up for it. We have a lot of things we need to do better. We know we have to get better, and it's time to step up and start doing that. So they'll be ready for this one. It's homecoming and a very good football team is coming in here for this game."

Rolin's players aren't the only ones excited for this game. He, too, is looking forward to the matchup because it's his first against the legendary program that has been the flagship of the Frontier for more than two decades now.

"I'm excited to play Carroll," Rolin said. "I'm from California, and when I was younger, and when I was in college, I didn't know a lot about the Frontier Conference back then, but I knew about Carroll. I have so much respect for Coach Van Diest and what that program has been about for so long. So I'm excited and our guys are excited for this one."

Saturday's homecoming game between the Lights and Fighting Saints kicks off at 1 p.m. inside Blue Pony Stadium. The Lights are back on the road next Saturday when they travel to Butte to take on Montana Tech.

Homecoming

MSU-Northern Lights (0-2, 1-2) vs Carroll College

Saints (1-1, 2-1)

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Blue Pony Stadium

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

Radio: 92.5 KPQX FM

Twitter: Twitter/Havredaily