2019 Frontier Conference Football Preview Series: Receivers, Tight Ends

There have been, at times over the years in the Frontier Conference where wide receivers and tight ends go a little overlooked. That's because one, the guys throwing them the ball get a ton of attention, and two, the Frontier always seems to produce star running backs who also steal the show.

However, pass catchers have always shined around the Frontier, and 2019 will be no different. And though the Montana State University-Northern Lights will be a young team once again this season, head coach Andrew Rolin, a former quarterback himself, believes the Lights' WRs and TEs this season stack up very well to the rest of the league.

"We have some experience at wide receiver," Rolin said. "And that is one of our strengths."

Indeed, Northern returns its top four pass catchers from last season, including senior Bryce Bumgardner, who torched the league for 65 catches, 871 yards, three scores and an average of nearly 80 yards receiving per game. Also back is junior Marvin Williams, who caught 32 balls, sophomore Keagan Stroop, and running back Jett Robertson. Add to that several key transfers at WR, and one of the most promising young tight ends in the Frontier in sophomore Jared Eisenbarth, who caught 10 passes and one touchdown in his true freshman season, and the Lights should shine very bright through the air this fall.

Of course, Northern won't be the only squad in the league that has some outstanding talent at WR and TE, even though stars like Dion Williams (Montana Tech), Brendan Kelly (EOU), Max Gray and Darneail Jenkins (RMC), Eric Dawson (Carroll) and Bronson Ader (SOU) have all moved on.

At Carroll, the Fighting Saints have arguably one of the fastest players in the Frontier at WR in junior Shane Sipes. Injuries slowed Sipes down some a year ago, but expect big things from him this fall. Montana Western's Walker McKitrick is also back after catching 49 passes for 893 yards, as well as 10 touchdowns. RMC returns junior Lucas Overton at WR after he had a breakout 2018 season, with 53 catches for 803 yards, while College of Idaho has a Top 10 receiver back from a year ago in Connor Richardson. Head coach Mike Moroski is also high on Hunter Juarez and Keegan Crafton, as they'll catch balls from star QB Darius-James Peterson. EOU will look to Phoenix Millhollen to pick up the slack left by Kelly, while Jason Shelley should be the go-to-guy at Southern Oregon.

Tech lost one of the all-time greats in school history in Williams, who led the Frontier in receiving for two straight years. However, the Diggers and new offensive coordinator Kyle Samson could have the next great star at WR in Butte, as red-shirt senior Ontario Johnson is primed for a breakout year.

There are also plenty of stars waiting to emerge at TE this season, too.

Rocky lost Jenkins, who had NFL talent, but the Battlin' Bears will look to former Billings Central star Holden Ryan to fill the void. Ryan was one of the top recruits in Montana when he graduated from Billings Central, and chose the University of Montana Grizzlies. However, injuries robbed Ryan of his time on the field at UM, but now, he's giving football one more try with his hometown Bears.

Dawson was a two-time First-Team All-Conference performer for Carroll and a big loss, but new head coach Troy Purcell, who coached TEs at Idaho, will look to senior Sam Stratton to step up. EOU has a strong TE in Connor Falk, who could have a big season as well, while Western's Brandon Hunter, C of I's Tyler Reay and Tech's Nate Sander are also ones to watch

This is the fifth installment of the Havre Daily News' annual series on the top players in the Frontier Conference. For a look at the top defensive backs, see Tuesday's HDN.