Lights fall in unique road game against SOU

After a delay of a week of their game against Southern Oregon University because of fires and poor air quality near Ashland, Oregon, the Montana State University-Northern football team finally got the chance to play the Raiders this past Saturday. However, the Lights and Raiders had to play at Autzen Stadium in Eugene where the University of Oregon play their games. While the Lights got the chance to play at such a high-profile stadium, the trip ended with a 42-7 loss to SOU.

“We just didn’t play well in all three phases of the game,” MSU-N head coach Andrew Rolin said. “We beat ourselves throughout all four quarters. When we’re clicking we’re clicking, but it was just too many self-inflicted wounds that put us in bad situations.”

The loss dropped the Lights to 0-2 on the season and the Raiders improved to 1-1. The game was also the first meeting between the Frontier Conference foes since 2019 as SOU opted out of this past spring season. While the teams got the chance to play at Autzen Stadium, fans were not allowed as part of the agreement with University of Oregon to play there. While Rolin believes playing on such a high-profile venue was good for his kids, the excitement died down once the ball was kicked off.

“It was neat for our kids. It is a good experience but once that first kickoff goes, it’s still 120 yards by 53 and a half,” Rolin said.

The game started with a punt on the Lights’ opening drive and when the Raiders got the ball, they made sure to set the tone. They opened their drive with a 21-yard completion from quarterback Matt Struck to Adrik Lamar that got the Raiders to the MSU-N 44-yard line. The Raiders then converted a fourth down later in the drive when Struck found Christian Graney open on a drag route who took the ball to the MSU-N 15-yard line. Two plays later, Struck found Lamar wide open in the left corner of the end zone for the 7-0 lead with 8:40 left in the first quarter.

A few punts later, the Raiders got the ball and again marched down the MSU-N three-yard line. But on third and goal, Struck lost the ball when he tried to run it in and MSU-N defensive back Isaiah Paul recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchback.

However, the Lights could not use that turnover to change momentum as they went on to punt the ball back to the Raiders. SOU eventually got to third and five on the MSU-N 39-yard line where Struck hit Bryce Goggin on a slant that went all the way to the end zone for the 14-0 lead.

Just like in their season opener against College of Idaho, the Lights responded after they fell behind 14-0. Once they got the ball back, the Lights got their running game going to move the chains. But their biggest play came when quarterback Kaymen Cureton found Jake Horner deep for a 33-yard gain down to the SOU 36-yard line. Later on the drive on third and 11, Cureton connected with Izayah Boss on a screen pass that Boss took 38 yards for the score.

“We were just in a rhythm. I think we just did our job,” Rolin said about their lone touchdown drive in the game. “We executed consistently, we didn’t have penalties and we created an explosive play. That’s what it takes to score, that’s what it takes to have a successful drive.”

While the offense finally got it rolling, the MSU-N defense could not do their part. Only four plays into the next SOU drive, Struck hit Ben Graziani deep down the middle for a 37-yard touchdown to make their lead 21-7. The play was one of many for Struck as he finished the game with 326 passing yards.

“Their quarterback played well. We had a couple of missed assignments in our secondary where they made some big plays and you can’t do that,” Rolin said. “It just comes down to us executing when it matters. I think we have to do a better job of that.”

The Lights were not able to get on the scoreboard in their last drive of the half. However, they forced the Raiders to punt on the opening possession of the second half. But when they got the ball back, an overthrown pass from Cureton was intercepted by Devin Holden and returned to the MSU-N 18-yard line. The Raiders capitalized with another touchdown pass from Struck to Goggin to make their lead 28-7 with 9:57 left in the third.

After another MSU-N punt, SOU scored again with Struck’s fifth touchdown pass of the game when he connected with Lamar for a 70-yard score halfway through the third. Over the last quarter and a half, the Lights failed to make a difference on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, SOU extended their lead to 42-7 with a touchdown run from Struck.

In his second game starting for the Lights, Cureton completed 39.3 percent of his passes for 117 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also led the team with 52 yards on the ground on 13 carries. While Cureton has only led the Lights on three scoring drives so far this season, Rolin expects him to improve moving forward.

“After this game, he’s going to look back and watch the film,” Rolin said. “He’s going to make some improvements. The ability’s there. He’s a great leader, he’s a great kid, he’s just gotta clean up some stuff in his execution.”

With two double-digit losses to start the season, Rolin knows his team has plenty to work on moving forward. He also knows he does not have that much time before their next game as they will play at the University of Montana, Western this weekend. They began their work Sunday which Rolin refers to as the day of honesty.

“You get to watch the film, and the film never lies, and figure out where you can get better as coaches and as players,” Rolin said. “That’s our job as coaches but also the players need to step up and they understand that they know where they need to improve and they’ll do it this week. We’re going to have to as a team.”

MSU-N football will next play on the road at UMW this Saturday at 1 p.m.

MSU-N 0 7 0 0 - 7

SOU 7 14 14 7 - 42

1st Quarter

SOU - Matt Struck 15 pass to Adrik Lamar (Ruiz kick)

Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards

2nd Quarter

SOU - Struck 39 pass to Bryce Goggin (Ruiz kick)

Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards

MSU-N - Kaymen Cureton 38 pass to Izayah Boss (Getts kick)

Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards

SOU - Struck 37 pass to Ben Graziani (Ruiz kick)

Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards

3rd Quarter

SOU - Struck 2 pass to Goggin (Ruiz kick)

Drive: 3 plays, 18 yards

SOU - Struck 70 pass to Lamar (Ruiz kick)

Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards

4th Quarter

SOU - Struck 4 yard run (Ruiz kick)

Drive: 9 plays, 51 yards

MSU-N SOU

First Downs 14 23

Rushing 34-81 43-148

Passing Yards 153 346

Total Offense 234 494

Kick Returns 5/41 2/44

Punts 8/33.4 3/32.7

Penalties 7/49 9/80

Possession 27:23 28:17

INDIVIDUAL

RUSHING - MSU-N, Kaymen Cureton 13-52, Izayah Boss 12-30, Marvin Williams Jr. 1-2, Dorian Miles 4-1; SOU, Hykeem Massey 12-61, Tyvauntae Deloney 5-25, Christian Quirarte 9-24, Avery McCuaig 4-18.

PASSING - MSU-N, Kaymen Cureton 9-23-117-1-1, Devonte Armstrong 3-6-36-0-0; SOU, Matt Struck 22-34-326-5-0, Hykeem Massey 1-1-15-0-0, Kaeden Frazier 1-1-5-0-0.

RECEIVING - MSU-N, Jake Horner 4-51, Tyrese Rios 3-43, Izayah Boss 2-42, Dorian Miles 2-11; SOU, Bryce Goggin 9-128, Adrik Lamar 4-111, Ben Graziani 1-37, Christian Graney 4-32.

TACKLES - MSU-N, Hunter Riley 10, Blake Lien 10, Dylan Wampler 10, Joshua Rose 9; SOU, Ty Glumbik 8, Drew Schuler 5, Champ Robertson 5, Murphy McDowell 5.