Northern football hosts Simon Fraser University in program first

Over the past few seasons, the Montana State University-Northern football team has played several non-conference opponents to break up Frontier Conference play. The Lights have hosted teams such as Arizona Christian University and Mayville State University at Havre over the past few years.

The Lights only played Frontier Conference opponents in their shortened spring season. Now MSU-N will host Simon Fraser University this weekend at Tilleman Field. As Simon Fraser and MSU-N are set for a home and home over the next two seasons, MSU-N head coach Andrew Rolin looks forward to hosting the Canadian school.

“I thought it would be a fun opportunity to get a home and home with them,” Rolin said. “We’ve got kids from Canada. We’ve got kids from the Seattle area so it’s fun to have them come out here and play us.”

Simon Fraser is located in Burnaby, British Columbia, in the Vancouver area. Simon Fraser is the only Canadian school competing in NCAA football. Simon Fraser joined the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II and plays American-rules football. The other schools in that conference are Central Washington and Western Oregon.

This game will be the first meeting between Simon Fraser and MSU-N. Simon Fraser head coach Mike Rigell reached out to Rolin about setting up a home and home series between the two teams. The Northwest Athletic Conference lost Humboldt State and Azusa Pacific University when they dropped their football programs so Simon Fraser was looking for opponents to play which led them to the Lights.

Not only will the Lights host Simon Fraser this weekend, but the contract between the two schools has scheduled another game between the two teams next season. However, the Lights will have to travel to Burnaby to play Simon Fraser at Terry Fox Field next year.

MSU-N and Simon Fraser will play each for the first time this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Tilleman Field.