Game Day Notebook: MSU-N D keeps taking the ball away

Despite the loss, the Lights had some bright spots on the defensive side of the ball. One of those bright spots was junior linebacker Dylan Wampler. He was all over the field against Simon Fraser University as he led the team with 11 total tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. He now has 73 tackles through seven games this season.

But he also tried his best to help the Lights offense as he recorded three takeaways against SFU. On SFU's opening drive of the game, Wampler intercepted a tipped pass. This takeaway resulted in a MSU-N field goal. In the second half when the Lights were trailing, Wampler did his best to keep them in the game. On SFU's opening drive of the half that reached MSU-N territory, Wampler forced and recovered a fumble.

Later in the game when SFU had the game in hand, Wampler still tried to give his team a chance. In MSU-N territory, SFU fumbled again. Wampler picked up the ball for his third takeaway of the game and he returned it to SFU territory to give his offense one last chance to score.

Lights offense hits a wall

At the end of September, it looked like the MSU-N offense had found its groove. In back-to-back weeks against Montana Western and Rocky Mountain College, the Lights offense scored 28 points. In their game against RMC, it was almost enough to win their first game of the season.

But the MSU-N offense has been on a slide the past few weeks. In the loss to Montana Tech to start the month, the Lights only scored 13 points. At halftime of that game, MSU-N head coach Andrew Rolin benched quarterback Kaymen Cureton who had started the first five games of the season. Devonte Armstrong started the second half against Tech and scored a touchdown.

Armstrong then started the Lights' next game on the road at Carroll College. However, the MSU-N offense failed to score a point in a 34-0 loss. Armstrong then got the starting nod for the second straight week against SFU. However, the offense only scored three points. Over the course of the game, the Lights went for it on fourth down seven times. However, they were not able to convert any of them.

MSU-N has not made Tilleman Field home yet

The Lights' new stadium Tilleman Field was originally meant to open in fall 2020 but it was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lights played their first two games in their new stadium this past spring season but they had to do it without fans. It was not until late August did the Lights finally get to open their stadium to fans. However, they have yet to give their home crowd a win.

So far at Tilleman Field, the Lights are 0-6 in their new home. MSU-N has had a couple of chances to pick up wins in the new stadium. In their first game in the stadium, the Lights had a 21-7 lead at halftime against Rocky Mountain College. However, the Bears came back to win.

The Lights have played some competitive games at Tilleman Field this season. In their season opener against College of Idaho, the Lights only trailed 21-14 heading to the fourth quarter. But several turnovers in the fourth quarter allowed the Coyotes to pull away. Last month, the Lights had a 28-24 lead over RMC late in the fourth quarter. But the Bears scored a late touchdown to pull out a victory. The Lights will have two more chances to win at Tilleman Field over the next two weeks when they host Eastern Oregon and then Montana Western.

SFU kicker makes history

On the other sideline on Saturday, SFU placekicker Kristie Elliot continued to make history. The North Vancouver woman was initially a track athlete at SFU before walking on. Her work eventually earned her a scholarship on the team, making her the first Canadian woman to earn an NCAA scholarship.

She has continued to make history with her play this season. In SFU's game at Linfield University last month, she was the first Canadian woman to score points in an NCAA football game when she made two extra points. Against MSU-N Saturday, she was the first Canadian woman to make a field goal in an NCAA game when she made a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter. She also made three out of her four extra point attempts against the Lights.