Coming Home: Mason Dionne is a Light

After being away from Havre for almost two years, Mason Dionne will return to the Hi-Line as he transfers to Montana State University-Northern from the University of Montana Western to play football for the Lights.

Dionne previously played football at Havre High School, so he is looking forward to his homecoming.

"I am excited. Love the dudes here, I love the coaches here. I think it's going to be great," Dionne said. "Can't wait till the season starts and we win some games."

Dionne decided to transfer because he did not feel like things worked out for him at Western and he missed playing running back. He reached out to MSU-N head coach Andrew Rolin to see if he could transfer. Rolin had recruited Dionne when he came out of high school, so he jumped at the opportunity to add him to his program.

"From a physical standpoint, he's a big, strong runner. From a running back standpoint, he's a physical football player," Rolin said. "He's a tough kid, he works hard and really wants to be part of this program."

Dionne decided to transfer to MSU-N because he was familiar with their coaching staff and believes the Lights have a bright future.

"I chose MSU-N because I know the coaches," Dionne said. "I know that these coaches care about their players. I know they are building something amazing here and I want to be a part of it."

Along with playing for the Lights, Dionne looks forward to reuniting with friends and family. Not only does he get to spend more time with his mother who still lives in Havre but he also gets to play football again with his high school teammates, Kasee Henderson and Noah Nitz. Henderson is an offensive lineman and Nitz plays tight end for the Lights.

In his senior year as a Blue Pony in 2019, Dionne earned a Class A all-state selection and received Eastern A first-team honors on both offense and defense. While the Lights recruited him right out of high school, he decided to sign with Montana Western because he wanted a new experience.

"I wanted to get out of Havre. I wanted to meet new people, to see new things," Dionne said. "Western was a great experience and also was the best place for me school-wise."

Dionne signed with Western as a linebacker. Even though he also played running back in high school, he chose to play as a linebacker at Western because the school had a history of producing good players at the position thanks to the coaching of defensive coordinator Rob Goode.

"I knew Western has made some great linebackers. Coach Goode knows how to make you a great linebacker," Dionne said.

However, he never got a chance to play for the Bulldogs as their 2020 fall season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic and they opted out of the Frontier Conference's spring 2021 season.

Dionne will move on from playing linebacker and sign with the Lights as a running back. Even if he did not decide to switch positions, Rolin would have signed him anyway because he believes Dionne can make the team better regardless of position.

"We recruit football players. I like guys that play both sides of the football and we're going to find out what makes a team best whether that's at running back or linebacker," Rolin said. "He's going to start at running back to add some depth to our room but we're going to put him in the best position for him to be successful."

It still has not been determined when Dionne will be able to suit up for the Lights. The next time Dionne puts on football pads, it will have been at least two years since he last played so he will have some nerves. But once the ball is kicked off, he thinks he will get adjusted quickly.

"(I'll) probably (feel) a lot of nervousness but once it starts it's go time," Dionne said.

Unlike Montana Western, the Lights did play an abbreviated season this spring. Even though they went 0-4, Rolin believes the experience they gained will prove beneficial when they return to play this fall. Whenever he does suit up again, Dionne is ready to do whatever it takes to help the Lights win some games.

"Whatever the team and coaches want from me is what I will give them," Dionne said.