Game Day Notebook: Kaymen's comeback part of a very special day for Lights

A comeback win in overtime, breaking a streak, and so many other fasctors were special to the Montana State University-Northern Lights Saturday at Tilleman Field.

And the 22-20 win over Eastern Oregon should be especially sweet for quarterback Kaymen Cureton after the past few weeks. Coming into the season, the transfer quarterback from Eastern Kentucky won the starting job against three other quarterbacks.

Cureton started the first five games of the season for the Lights but was unable to lead them to victory. After a poor performance in the first half against Montana Tech earlier this month, Cureton was benched at halftime and Devonte Armstrong played the second half. Armstrong then started the next two games against Carroll College and Simon Fraser University but could not lead the Lights to victory.

Cureton got the starting nod against the Mountaineers Saturday. However, he had to lead an offense that would be short handed as starting running back Izayah Boss was unable to suit up for the contest.

In the first half, Cureton threw two interceptions and completed less than half of his passes. But he stuck with it and showed why he should remain the starter as he completed four of his seven passes in the second half and overtime, including a touchdown in the first overtime period. He also made a big impact on the ground as he scrambled for yards and first downs throughout the afternoon. He also ran for a touchdown as well as the go-ahead two point conversion in the fifth overtime period.

MSU-N D shines bright

Despite the team's struggles this season, the Lights defense has been a strength. One thing that the Lights defense has been especially good at this season has been taking away the ball and that was no different against the Mountaineers this past Saturday.

On the opening drive of the game, linebacker Dylan Wampler intercepted a pass by EOU quarterback Kai Quinn. It was the second game in a row where the linebacker intercepted a pass and was his fourth takeaway in the past two games.

In the second quarter, defensive back Isaiah Paul intercepted another pass from Quinn. The interception was Paul's sixth of the season, good for first in the Frontier Conference and tied for second in NAIA football. Several other Lights took away the ball for the first time this season.

Cornerback Joel Hadley intercepted a pass in the third quarter that set up an MSU-N field goal. Linebacker Blake Lien also recovered an EOU fumble in the fourth quarter.

Northern held the Mounties to just 35 yards rushing, while also forcing EOU All-American QB Kai Quinn out of the game.

First look at new OT Rules

With the Lights and Mountaineers tied, 20-20, after two overtime periods, fans at Tilleman Field Saturday got the chance to see the new NCAA/NAIA overtime rules play out. Starting with the third overtime period, each team would just get a two-point conversion attempt in each period.

With only one play to score in each period, neither team was able to put the ball into the end zone in the third and fourth overtime periods. In the fifth overtime period, Cureton ran it in himself from three yards out for a 22-20 lead. The Mountaineers failed on their initial attempt in the fifth overtime but an MSU-N penalty gave them another shot to convert and extend the game. However, they could not capitalize on the second chance.

The Frontier Conference thriller was not the only NCAA game Saturday to showcase the new rules. At Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, the Illinois Fighting Illini and Penn State Nittany Lions played nine overtime periods Saturday afternoon. Illinois pulled through for the 20-18 win to upset No. 7 ranked Penn State.

Breakthrough in the Frontier

The win for the Lights Saturday was a momentous occasion as it was their first win in the Frontier Conference in five years. The last win came Sept. 17, 2016, when the Lights defeated Carroll College, 28-14, at home. Since then the Lights had lost 47 straight conference games heading into Saturday. The win also snapped an overall 21-game losing streak for the Lights since they last won Aug. 31, 2019, against Arizona Christian University.

The win also marked many other firsts for the program. In his fourth year leading the program, MSU-N head coach Andrew Rolin picked up his first conference win. After opening their new stadium in the spring season, the Lights won their first game ever at Tilleman Field.