After first week of camp, the Lights are coming along

The Montana State University-Northern football team is hard at work at fall camp in preparation for the 2022 fall season beginning in a few weeks. After one week of camp, MSU-N head coach Jerome Souers believes the Lights are coming along well.

"In regards to where we were a week ago, today we're miles ahead of that point with miles to go," Souers said. "I'm excited that we actually are making good progress and with all the work that's ongoing, I think the attitude and the mentality is pointed in the right direction."

As the Lights learn and grow through camp, players such as defensive lineman Colter Szymoniak have noticed the changes.

"I think the defense is coming together," Szymoniak said. "We're working to build some team bonding and get some good relationships built."

As a redshirt senior, Szymoniak is one of several veterans on the MSU-N football team. Souers believes the veteran players for the Lights have done well in fall camp so far considering the fact he worked with them through the spring and the summer. However, he knows the Lights will need their many recruits to improve and keep up with the veterans.

"Right now, we have veterans and we have new guys so we're trying to close that gap between the two groups," Souers said. "As soon as we can close the gap, we'll have more of a team."

On Thursday at Tilleman Field, the Lights' practice wrapped up their first week of fall camp. They started the day with typical drills that they have already done which focus on throwing, catching and blocking. Later in the practice, the Lights did some newer drills that focused on the offensive line handling defensive pressure.

As they have done the past few practices, the Lights ran some drills with the offense going against the defense. Quarterbacks Brenden Medina, Kaymen Cureton and Chase Fields worked on the passing game in 3-on-3 drills and 5-on-5 drills. Medina did well as he completed seven of nine passes with a couple of deep balls. Cureton went 4-for-7 with a dropped pass and Fields went 3-for-4 with a drop.

The Lights capped off the day with 11-on-11 drills. Just like Tuesday's practice, the Lights started 11-on-11 drills with running plays. This time out, the Lights did not fumble the ball on their running plays.

The Lights did not throw the ball much in their 11-on-11 drills. Medina completed both of his pass attempts, both of them screen passes. He also fumbled an exchange with his center on one snap. Cureton took some snaps but did not get a chance to throw the ball. The one time he dropped back, a defensive line made contact for a sack.

As the Lights move forward with their fall camp, Souers will look to introduce more concepts and situational drills to get the team prepared for the season. While the Lights have progressed, Souers and his coaching staff will evaluate the Lights this weekend to determine what they need to do going forward to meet their goals. Whatever the coaches decide on, Szymoniak just looks forward to continuing getting ready for the upcoming season.

"(I look forward to) just getting better every day," Szymoniak said. "We have three things to focus on in every practice so if we just focus on those three things, then by the end of the camp, we'll be more ready than we've ever been."