Frontier Notebook: Battlin' Bears seem to be on the rise

Many Frontier Conference teams had their annual bye week early this season. But there were two very unique games on the slate last weekend.

The Montana State University-Northern Lights had their Sept. 2 game at Southern Oregon moved back one week due to poor air quality in Ashland, Oregon, from western wildfires, but a week later, things were still bad, so the game was moved to Eugene.

Yes, Northern and SOU played their Frontier Conference game, won but the Raiders 42-7, inside famed Autzen Stadium on the University of Oregon campus. The experience was a great one for both teams, although, no fans were allowed as part of the agreement with the U of O. A spike in COVID-19 cases was the reason the game was played without spectators, but fans will be back in Autzen this weekend when Oregon faces Stony Brook.

Fans were in attendance last Saturday when then un-ranked Montana Western knocked off No. 11 Dickinson State in a huge non-conference showdown. The game had NAIA playoff implications for sure, and gives a huge boost to Western, and the Frontier.

The game also signaled, hopefully, a return to more games between the North Star and Frontier, something, especially with DSU, that used to be so much more frequent.

Western moved up to No. 20 in the newest NAIA Coaches Poll, and the Dawgs will host the Lights Saturday in Dillon.

Bears Building

Of the many teams off to a good start this fall, none are looking better than Rocky Mountain College. After a couple of bumpy seasons, it looks like the Battlin' Bears are back.

Rocky is 2-0 coming out of the bye week, thanks to a prolific passing attack, led by healthy quarterback Nate Dick and star receivers Lucas Overton and Donoven Sellegren. Dick is a hometown product who originally went to the University of Montana, but now, after two injury-filled years, is shining at quarterback for the Bears. Rocky also has a stellar defense, led by a slew of talented veterans, especially at linebacker, and that all adds up to a 2-0 start in the Frontier and a No. 24 ranking in the new NAIA Coaches Poll.

Frontier Honors

Southern Oregon's Matt Struck was named the Frontier and NAIA Offensive Player of the Week. In Southern Oregon's 42-7 conference win over MSU-Northern, Struck was 22 of 34 passing for 326 yards and five touchdowns. He rushed for 15 yards and one touchdown on seven carries. Western linebacker Joe Caicedo was named Frontier Defensive Player of the Week. In Western's 42-30 come-from-behind, upset road win over No. 11 Dickinson State, Caicedo recorded seven solo tackles, one tackle for loss (-6 yards), one quarterback sack (-6 yards). SOU kicker Cesar Ruiz was named Frontier Special Teams Player of the Week. In Southern Oregon's 42-7 conference win over MSU-Northern, Ruiz was a perfect 6 for 6 PATs.