Lights fall in home opener

It was finally time for the Montana State University-Northern football team to make its 2024 home debut. But on Festival Days weekend in Havre, Arizona Christian’s first visit to Northern was anything but festive.

In the Frontier Conference opener for both teams, the Firestorm beat the Lights 31-10 last Saturday at Tilleman Field in Havre. The loss dropped Northern to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the Frontier.

Northern did get 109 yards on the ground be former Havre Blue Pony Mason Dionne, but, the Lights couldn’t overcome a fast start by ACU. The Firestorm scored 17 first-half points to lead 17-0 at intermission. The Lights did rally, however.

With 8:17 left in the third period, the Lights got on the board with a 15-yard touchdown pass by Ashton Platt. Just two minutes later, Northern struck again when the Lights got a 30-yard field goal to make the score 17-10 at the end of three.

From there, the Firestorm answered with two drives in the fourth stanza to salt the game away, and pick up their first win of the season. ACU rushed for 285 yards on the day, while Lucas Thacker led the Northern defense with 10 tackles and former Big Sandy Pioneer Brayden Cline tallied two sacks.

Northern returns to the road to face Carroll College next Saturday. The Lights have their second bye in three weeks this weekend.