Lights fall to Firestorm in last-second heartbreaker

In the desert, the Montana State University-Northern Lights had a chance to get a coveted Frontier Conference opening win. Instead, they left Phoenix, Arizona, heartbroken.

The Lights lost to Arizona Christian University 21-20 on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona. 

Northern tallied 244 yards of total offense — 171 in the air — while the Firestorm accounted for 256, of which 179 yards were on the ground. The Lights scored their first touchdown in the first quarter keeping Arizona scoreless. Both teams scored in the second quarter to take the game to 13-7 going into halftime. The Lights scored in the third quarter pushing the score to 20-7. The Firestorm pushed the tempo in the fourth quarter to score 14 to take the game by one.

ACU (2-1), playing in its first season of Frontier football, scored in the final seconds of the game to send the Lights home with a tough loss.

Northern quarterback Oakley Kopp went 18 for 28 through the air for 171 yards. Mason Dionne carried the ball 27 times for 58 yards. Cael White had four catches on the afternoon for 71 yards. Spencer Lehnerz led the team in tackles with nine. Brady Smelser added eight tackles. Lucas Thacker had 1.5 sacks.

Arizona Christian University quarterback Tyler Duncan completed 11 of 19 passes for 77 yards. Duncan also led the team in rushing yards of 77. Justin Wright carried the ball seven times for 45 yards. Dion Gilbert had three catches for 27 yards. Cade Lambert had their only touchdown. The Firestorm defense was led by Cameron Tibbetts with 17 tackles. Ortiz and Meier added nine tackles each.

The Lights are 1-2 overall season and 0-1 in the Frontier Conference. Arizona Christian is 1-0 in the Frontier Conference after winning their first-ever league game. 

The Lights host Carroll College Sept. 30. Northern has a bye this week.