SNAPPED: Lights 22, Mountaineers 20

The dreaded streak is no more.

It had been a long five years since the last time the Montana State University-Northern football team had won a Frontier Conference game. The Lights had been close to breaking through in the shortened spring season and this fall, but were not able to get over the hump.

But the Lights finally broke through for a 22-20 win over Eastern Oregon University at Tilleman Field Saturday. And it only took them five overtimes to do it.

"It just shows the resilience of this team. Anyone could have given up right there, not this team. This team is tough. This team's resilient," MSU-N head coach Andrew Rolin said. "Nothing in our past had anything to do with today and I told them you show up and do your job and the rest will take care of itself and they did it today."

The Lights and Mountaineers entered the fifth overtime period tied 20-20. According to new football rules, instead of going for touchdowns or field goals, both teams get one chance at a two-point conversion starting with the third overtime. The Lights got the ball first and scored with a three-yard run from quarterback Kaymen Cureton.

The Mountaineers then got their chance to score but the pass went incomplete. However, a defensive pass interference penalty on the Lights gave EOU another chance at the one-yard line. Again, EOU's pass went incomplete and MSU-N secured the victory.

"The thing about our defense is we're literally a brotherhood," senior defensive lineman Justin Pfeiffer said about the defensive effort Saturday. "We're a really close group and we toughed it out and we kept going and kept our heads high when things went down. We kept pushing and pushing and came out on top."

The win was the Lights' first in conference play since Sept. 17, 2016. It was also the first win for the Lights in their new Tilleman Field. The win Saturday was sweet for many of the players, especially the seniors who had been on the team during that entire stretch of time.

"It's exciting to be a part of it and say that we won a game in our new stadium," Pfeiffer said. "I've been here five years since we got a conference win so it's a pretty emotional deal."

Even though it is his first year with the program, transfer quarterback Cureton knew how important the win was to the program and was glad to be a part of it.

"It's just amazing for all of the guys that have been here for years," Cureton said. "Just to see the reaction on our faces and to be a part of this, to be welcomed like I've been, it was just amazing."

On the first drive of the day, the MSU-N defense made its mark early on as linebacker Dylan Wampler intercepted a pass from EOU quarterback Kai Quinn near midfield. The Lights offense was able to drive to the EOU 26-yard line but were unable to convert on fourth down.

Once they got the ball back, the Mountaineers got a drive going to reach the red zone. But a sack from defensive lineman Colter Szymoniak on third down forced EOU kicker Zachary Cahill to kick a 40-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead just halfway through the first quarter.

The teams would then exchange empty possessions. On the Lights' next drive, Cureton's pass was intercepted by linebacker Solo Taylor near midfield. The Mountaineers punted on their drive and recovered a muffed punt to keep possession. But they could not capitalize on the turnover as Cahill missed a 37-yard field goal wide right.

On the next MSU-N drive, Cureton's pass was tipped up in the air and intercepted by defensive back Brennan Pope. The Mountaineers then converted that takeaway into a score as Nathan Reed ran it in for the six-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.

When they got the ball back, the Lights finally got their offense rolling. On the drive, Cureton connected with his receivers Tyrese Rios and Jake Horner for big plays. He also ran the ball himself to pick up yards. After the Lights got to the one-yard line, Cureton snuck it in to make the score 10-7 with just under four minutes left in the first half.

"Kaymen's tough. He made some mistakes but he bounced back and nothing stopped him today," Rolin said about his quarterback. "He's a guy that you can trust when it counts and he did that today."

Both teams went three and out on their opening drives of the third quarter. On their second drive of the second half, the Lights were able to move the ball thanks to some plays from Cureton. The Lights eventually had to settle for a 42-yard field goal from Sawyer Zook to tie game, 10-10, just halfway through the third.

On the next EOU drive, MSU-N cornerback Joel Hadley intercepted a pass from Quinn to give it back to the Lights offense at the EOU 25-yard line. But again, the Lights had to settle for a field goal from Zook for a 13-10 lead with just under a minute left in the third.

The MSU-N offense stalled out in the fourth quarter as all three drives ended with punts. After Carson Bohning replaced Quinn at quarterback, the Mountaineers drove down the field and Cahill made a 48-yard attempt to tie the game, 13-13. The Mountaineers also got the last possession of the game but their Hail Mary attempt as time expired went incomplete.

The Lights got the ball first to start the first overtime. They wasted little time as Dylan Vongphachanh ran for 20 yards on the first play of the overtime to make it first and goal. Three plays later at the two-yard line, Cureton completed a jump pass to tight end Devin Carmona in the end zone for the lead.

Cureton has faced much adversity through the last month of the season. After starting the first five games of the season, Devonte Armstrong started at quarterback the last two games against Carroll College and Simon Fraser University. In his first start in several weeks, Cureton started the game with two picks in the first half. As the team came back to win, Cureton credits his team for motivating him to play better down the stretch.

"I just want to fight for these guys. I just want to be able to win," Cureton said. "We've got great teammates. It's easy to bounce back."

When EOU got the ball back, the MSU-N defense continued to play well to make it fourth and 15 at the MSU-N 30-yard line. But the Mountaineers were able to convert and Reed scored a four-yard touchdown to tie the game, 20-20.

After a scoreless second overtime period, the rest of the game unfolded under the new NCAA/NAIA rules. With only one play to score in each overtime period, both teams failed to break through in the next two periods. In the fifth overtime, Cureton kept the ball himself for the two point conversion. The Lights defense then kept EOU out of the end zone for the win.

"One hundred percent trust," Wampler said about the defense's mindset on the final play of the game. "All 11 guys out there. Don't care, just trust them."

Cureton completed 50 percent of his passes for 78 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. But his biggest impact came on the ground where he ran for 39 yards and a touchdown as well as the go-ahead two-point conversion. Running back Canaan Smith led the Lights with 48 rushing yards on the day.

Many players on the MSU-N defense had great days. Five different players recorded a sack, including Chase Gilbert with his two sacks. Gilbert also led the team with 11 tackles. Along with Wampler and Hadley, defensive back Isaiah Paul grabbed an interception for his sixth of the season.

With the win, the Lights improved their record to 1-7 this season and 1-6 in the Frontier Conference. Heading into this season, Rolin was hoping that the Lights would make a jump in his fourth year leading the program. The Lights had played competitively in several games this season but were unable to break through. With their win over the Mountaineers, Rolin wants his team to appreciate being able to break through.

"It's just going out and getting the fruits of your labor and everything you put in," Rolin said. "For these guys, I'm just glad to celebrate with them and smile with them and they deserve everything they got today."

The Lights will play their final home game of the season when they host Montana Western at Tilleman Field next Saturday at 1 p.m.