Game Day 10-18-2019

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The BIG man in the middle

Northern senior center Darius Alexander-Jones has NFL aspirations, and there's no doubt, he possesses the skills the league is looking for Aarron Thompson

Havre Daily News sports gferguson@havredailynews.com Football is one of America’s major pastimes and the sport is upon season 100 at the national level. The pigskin has been a major part of American culture and history, with the National Football League being the biggest influencer. The legends that have played in the NFL or been a part of its lengthy history have made their mark upon the league. For the players who have made the journey to the NFL, many have come from different backgrounds. Some break out at the collegiate level to hear their name announced in the first-round of the NFL Draft, others fall back into the later rounds and some are never drafted but signed as undrafted free agents. The state of Montana has graced the NFL with some talent, as well. Standout wide receiver Marc Mariani was drafted in the sev-

enth-round of the 2010 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans and became a return-man for the team. Trumaine Johnson was drafted in the third-round in 2012 and has become a notable player among the New York Jets. Both players played at the collegiate level at the University of Montana. The Montana State University-Northern football team has not seen very many players go to the national level. The only recorded player to play in the NFL from MSU-N is Bob Lanning, a defensive end drafted in 1968 by the Pittsburg Steelers. But, there is a Northern player who has dreams of playing in the NFL one day, a center that has been in the conversation about being one of the best centers in the Frontier Conference. That standout center is senior Darius Alexander-Jones, the man in front of the quarterback, the man who pushes the Northern offense forward, literally. MSU-Northern head coach Andrew Rolin is grateful to have Alexander-Jones as a leader on his team. “He’s a team-captain of ours, so he’s highly regarded by our team, as he was voted by his team,” said Rolin. “He’s a leader. From an on-the-field standpoint he plays physical, smart and he makes all our calls. He’s a guy I can rely on and I think that’s the best compliment you can get from me, that he’s reliable and he’s tough. That’s everything you look

■ See Center Star Page 6

Montana State University-Northern

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern senior center Darius Alexander-Jones has become arguably one of the best offensive linemen in the Frontier Conference, and in less than two season with the Lights. He and the Lights return home to host Rocky Mountain College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

2018 record: 0-10, 1-10 Head coach: Andrew Rolin

Location: Havre, Mont.

Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium

Nickname: Lights

Streak: The Lights are looking to snap a 33-game Frontier Conference losing streak, and win their first home game since last August.

Colors: Maroon and Yellow 2019 record: 0-5, 1-5

Saturday, October 19 Blue Pony Stadium 1:00 p.m.

Rocky Mountain College Location: Billings, Mont. Nickname: Battlin' Bears Colors: Green and White 2019 record: 1-4, 2-4

MSU-Northern Lights vs Rocky Mountain

2018 record: 7-3, 8-4 Head coach: Chris Stutzreim Stadium: Herb Klindt Field Streak: The Bears have lost four straight since besting the Lights 53.34 back on Sept. 7 in Billings.

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It's rematch Saturday in the Frontier Conference George Ferguson

Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com In the Mining City, the earth has shook many, many times. It did again Saturday night, and it sent shock waves around the rest of the Frontier Conference. The 2019 Frontier football season had its first earthshattering moment Saturday night in Butte when No. 22 Montana Tech upset 15thranked Montana Western in the NAIA Game of the Week. The Orediggers’ 35-12 thrashing of the Bulldogs at Alumni Coliseum ended Western’s chance at an undefeated season, and, it also helped put College of Idaho even further into the Frontier driver’s seat. But more on that later. Western came into Saturday night’s rivalry game with one of the top offenses in the Frontier, but, the Diggers’ completely took quarterback Jon Jund out of the equation. Tech’s Frontier-leading defense held Western to just 89 yards passing, as well as just eight first downs. Western came into the game averag-

ing just 300 yards passing. Perhaps more impressively was the fact that, earlier last week, Tech announced that star running Jed Five would miss the rest of the season with a leg injury. Fike led the Frontier in rushing in both 2017 and 2018, and, while the blow was devastating news to Tech, instead of sulking, the Orediggers went out and rushed for nearly 300 yards, with Tyler Folkes and freshman Blake Counts doing the damage for former Montana State UnivesityNorthern great Kyle Samson’s offense.

The victory, which was also Tech head coach Chuck Morrell’s 50th as the Diggers’ head man, was Tech’s fourth in a row, and now it sets up perhaps another NAIA Game of the Week this Saturday. C of I, which blasted Carroll College last Saturday in Helena, is now 5-0 and will host the Orediggers Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Simplot State in Caldwell, Idaho. The game will have big-time implications on the rest of the Frontier season, because the Yotes already have a win in hand over Tech (C of I beat the Diggers 28-14 last month in Butte), and the Yotes only play Western once, and that game is also at home, Nov. 9. And yet, of Tech can pull the upset at C of I Saturday, things change drastically, and at that point, the league will surely be up for grabs. Rematch Saturday This week marks the start of the second half of Frontier play, and several rematches are on the docket, including a showdown between two struggling programs, when Rocky Mountain College

comes to Havre to face the Lights. Northern has lost five straight after its seasonopening win at Arizona Christian, and the Lights have scored just seven points in their last eight quarters of football. However, RMC, especially on offense, hasn’t been much better the last month either. The Batllin’ Bears haven’t won since they beat the Lights 53-34 back on Sept. 7, and in their four losses, the Bears’ offense has put up just 7 points each against Western and Carroll were shut out against C of I, and scored just 14 last Saturday against Southern Oregon. The Lights and Bears’ scoring woes are a far cry from their game last month in Billings, where they combined to score 87 points, and combined for nearly 1,000 yards of total offense. One root cause of both team’s offensive struggles has been turnovers. The Battlin’ Bears have committed 19 turnovers so far this season, while the Lights have gave the ball away 16 times. The two squads did combine for nine turnovers last month in Bill-

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Cameron Taylor and the Montana State UniversityNorthern Lights host Rocky Mountain College Saturday. ings too, so, Saturday’s game at Blue Pony Stadium might just come down to who takes better care of the football literally. Besides the rematches between Northern and Rocky and C of I and Tech, Western travels to Helena to battle Carroll. The Dawgs beat the Fighting Saints 31-24 back on Sept. 7 in Dillon. Southern Oregon meanwhile, a team on the rise, gets its rivalry rematch with Eastern Oregon Saturday as well. The Mountaineers beat the Raiders 24-21 on SOU’s home field

last month, so now the Raiders will try and return the favor in LaGrande. Poll Shakeup With Montana Tech’s upset of Western last Saturday night, the Orediggers rose three spots the new NAIA Coaches Poll. Tech jumped from 22 to No. 29 in the new poll, while Western fell from No. 15 to No. 22. C of I stayed at No. 8 in this week’s poll, while Morningside held the top spot yet again.

Today in the Frontier Conference 2019 Havre Daily News Power Rankings Week 6

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears (1-4, 2-4)

1. College of Idaho; 2. Montana Tech; 3. Montana Western; 4. Southern Oregon; 5. Carroll College; 6. Eastern Oregon; 7. Rocky Mountain; 8. MSU-Northern

At

2019 Frontier Preseason Coaches and Media Polls

Montana State University-Northern Lights (0-5, 1-5) #19 Montana Tech (4-1, 4-1 at #8 College of Idaho (5-0, 5-0) in Caldwell, Idaho 1 p.m.

#22 Montana Western (4-1, 4-1) at Carroll College (2-3, 2-3) in Helena 1 p.m.

Southern Oregon (2-3, 2-4) at Eastern Oregon (2-3, 2-4 in LaGrande, Oregon 2 p.m.

1. College of Idaho 2. Southern Oregon 3. Montana Western 4. Montana Tech 5. Rocky Mountain 6. Eastern Oregon 7. Carroll College 8. MSU-Northern

1. College of Idaho 2. Southern Oregon 3. Montana Western 4. Eastern Oregon 5. Rocky Mountain 6. Montana Tech 7. Carroll College 8. MSU-Northern

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MSU-Northern Rewind MSU-N announces major milepost in football stadium drive Rachel Jameison Havre Daily News Montana State UniversityNorthern Chancellor Greg Kegel announced last month that Northern has secured $2.2 million for phase 1 of Project Stadium in only nine months. "When this project comes to fruition, the sports complex will enhance much more than our football program," Kegel said. "We will bring people together in a community center for events of all kinds, space dedicated to athletic conditioning, and classroom space for health and human performance courses. All of this activity will contribute to the long-term health of our campus." He has said his long-range goal is to add to the stadium, creating a multi-use sports and education complex. With 80 percent of phase 1 funds raised within nine months, Kegel said he hopes Northern can raise the balance of the funds for phase 1 needed by spring 2020 to allow for construction to be com-

pleted before the 2020 season. Phase 1 entails laying down the field and building up some stands. The stadium is planned for construction in the practice field on the west end of Northern's campus, near Hagener Science Center and Cowan Hall. "I've seen the conference grow, and with our stadium project that we got going on, it is going to keep us up with The Joneses, if you will, and that will help all of our programs grow, not just football," Northern Athletic Director Christian Oberquell said. "Obviously, football will use this, but a lot of our other programs will be using it, such as cross country for training, I'm sure the wrestlers will be out there, our intramurals will be using that, as well, so it is not just an athletics thing, it is a student life project, as well." Oberquell added that the stadium project will attract students for Northern and also student athletes. He said the stadium project is very important for their athletic department and it is

going to take them to the next level; it is going to help them compete, and that it is important for the students, so they can have not only a place to be proud of, but also a place they can make traditions. "We will have a sense of pride, something to protect that is MSU-Northern's, and it is our team's," he said "There is going to be a lot of traditions made from this. It's going to boost our enrollment, it's going to boost our moral, it's going to (help) recruiting for (Northern Head Football Coach Andrew) Rolin, and in the general people, as that is going to be the first thing they see when they come on campus." "What an exciting day for Northern and Northern football," Northern's Head Football Coach Andrew Rolin said. He added, when looking at the pictures of what the completed stadium project will look like, that is what the future look like and that is what they (Northern) believe in. "Havre and the greater Hi-Line stepped up within

the past nine months. We've raised $2.2 million dollars, which I think says a lot about the community and how much they believe in not only Chancellor Kegel, or Christian Oberquell, or myself, but the Northern community itself," Rolin said. "I think Havre is Northern and Northern is Havre, and they believe in what we are doing here and this is a great example of that." Alumni Foundation Executive Director Shantel Cronk Cronk said the the fundraising efforts opened in January, and the Northern Alumni Foundation is now asking for alumni and supporters to help close out the project with contributions and pledges. "The whole mission of the Northern Alumni Foundation is to support the initiatives of the campus, the chancellor and the university as a whole," she said. "We are very excited to be part of this project. The stadium build is only going to be successful with the generosity of the public and the donors we see out there, and we've come so far

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Frontier Conference Standings

College of Idaho Montana Tech Montana Western Carroll College Eastern Oregon Southern Oregon Rocky Mountain MSU-Northern

Conf. WL 5-0 4-1 4-1 2-3 2-3 2-3 1-4 0-5

Overall WL 5-0 4-1 4-1 2-3 2-4 2-4 2-4 1-5

Saturday, Oct. 12 Eastern Oregon 45, MSU-Northern 7 College of Idaho 47, Carroll College 14 Montana Tech 35, Montana Western 12 Southern Oregon 21, Rocky Mountain 14

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson An artist rendering of the proposed football stadium that will be built on the campus of Montana State UniversityNorthern. Fundraising for the first phase of the stadium project is nearly complete. in a short amount of time, in nine months raising $2.2 million, but we do have a ways to go." Cronk added that donor support comes from people who have a meaningful relationship with the university

and north-central Montana. "We really need to continue to evolve and strengthen our university up here on the HiLine and if you are inspired, please go (to the foundation website) to make a donation," she said.

Saturday, Sept. 19 MSU-Northern vs Rocky Mountain Montana Tech at College of Idaho Southern Oregon at Eastern Oregon Montana Western at Carroll College

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NAIA Coaches Poll Rn. Prv. 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 10 10 4 11 11 12 12

Rec. Pts. Morningside (Iowa) [17]5-0 392 Kansas Wesleyan 6-0 367 Marian (Ind.) 4-0 365 Grand View (Iowa) 6-0 346 Benedictine (Kan.) 5-1 316 Northwestern (Iowa) 5-0 310 Saint Francis (Ind.) 4-1 301 College of Idaho 5-0 295 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 6-0 278 Concordia (Mich.) 5-1 260 Cumberlands (Ky.) 5-0 238 Southeastern (Fla.) 5-0 214

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

13 14 16 17 18 19 22 20 21 15 25 24 RV

Saint Xavier (Ill.) 3-2 Dickinson State (N.D.) 5-1 Langston (Okla.) 4-1 Evangel (Mo.) 5-1 Ottawa (Ariz.) 6-0 Keiser (Fla.) 5-0 Montana Tech 4-1 Reinhardt (Ga.) 5-2 Siena Heights (Mich.) 5-1 Montana Western 4-1 MidAmerica Nazarene 5-1 Baker (Kan.) 4-2 Sterling (Kan.) 5-1

202 189 180 160 142 130 124 121 101 88 59 57 42

Others receiving votes: : None.

Frontier Conference Individual Leaders Week 6

Passing: Jon Jund, UMW, 267 ypg Receiving: Trevor Hoffman, MT, 113 ypg Receptions: Lucas Overton, RMC, 7 cpg Rushing: Nick Calzaratta, CI, 140 ypg Tackles: Jason Ferris, UMW, 59 tackles Sacks: JT Mahon, CI, 4.5 sacks INT's: Michael Chisley Jr., SOU, 4 ints

Jim Potter The 2019 Montana State University-Northern coaching staff. Back row, left to right: Blake Wilson (defensive line), CJ Robertson (offensive line/run game), Andrew Rolin (head coach), Jake Chestnut (defensive coordinator), Jake Crain (defensive backs/special teams coordinator). Front row, left to right: John Kocurek (wide receivers/pass game), Sam Mix (running backs/tight ends), Tommy Wilson (cornerbacks).

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MSU-Northern Offensive Starters

Rocky Mountain Defensive Starters

MSU-N Offensive Numbers

RMC Defensive Numbers

Scoring: 18 ppg, 6th in Frontier Total offense: 327 ypg, 7th in Frontier

Bryce Bumgardner #14, 6-2, 185 Receiver

Devonte Woods #6, 5-9, 190 Cornerback

Passing: 221 ypg, 4th in Frontier

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MSU-Northern Defensive Starters

RMC Offensive Numbers

MSU-N Defensive Numbers

Scoring: 33 ppg, 6th in Frontier

Scoring: 40 ppg, 7th in Frontier

Total defense: 396 ypg, 5th in Frontier

Total defense: 461 ypg, 7th in Frontier

Pass defense: 186 ypg, 2nd in Frontier

Pass defense: 281 ypg, 6th in Frontier

Scoring: 17 ppg, 7th in Frontier

Rolin was hired in December of 2017. He is the fourth fulltime head coach of the Lights since the school reintroduced football. Before coming to Northern he had coaching stops at San Diego, Washington, San Jose State and Libby. Rolin played QB at San Diego. He is a native of Rancho Cordova, California.

Spencer Kolody #71, 6-3, 290 Offensive line

Brendan Medina #12, 6-2, 215 Quarterback

Darius Alexander-Jones #53, 6-3, 280 Offensive line

Fili Church #13, 6-2, 220

Defensive line

Denton Wetherell #90, 6-1, 265 Defensive line

Damari Caul-Davis #3, 6-0, 175 Receiver

Chad Nebel #53, 6-1, 265 Defensive line

Trenton Woodward #56, 6-4, 275 Offensive line

Mason Price #14, 6-3, 215 Linebacker

TJ Dayak #46, 6-4, 185 Kicker

Marvin Williams #19, 5-8, 160 Receiver

Passing: 227 ypg, 3rd in Frontier

Jeff Tinae #6, 5-11, 170 Safety

Japerri Powell #15, 5-9, 175 Safety

Chris Stuztreim RMC Head Coach

Christian Hovey #63, 6-3, 290 Offensive line

ShaderiusJenkins #5, 6-3, 190 Linebacker Trendae Umi-Tuato'o #95, 5-11, 290 Defensive tackle

Shane Larson #38, 6-0, 210 Linebacker

Jaren Maki

#47, 6-2, 225 Linebacker

Justin Pfeifer #55, 5-11, 290 Defensive line

Trevor Martens #70, 6-2, 310 Center

Drew Korf #4, 6-2, 195 Quarterback

Sam Sparks #6, 5-11, 195 Running back

Tanner Bloom #71, 6-2, 285 Offensive line

Nolan McCafferty #42, 6-0, 225 Linebacker

Max Evenson #21, 6-3, 215 Linebacker

Jake Norby #31, 6-2, 210 Linebacker

Joe Fehr #58, 6-3, 235 Defensive line

Stason Makaila #66, 6-4, 285 Offensive line

Carter Garsjo

#8, 6-1, 185 Receiver

Andrew Simon #87, 6-1, 220 Tight end

Jared Eisenbarth #80, 6-1, 210 Tight end Hunter Riley #29, 5-10, 185 Punter

BJ Hatcher #94, 6-4, 240 Defensive end

Isaiah Schlegel #1, 6-1, 195 Safety Josh Hutchins #54, 6-1, 285 Offensive line

Total offense: 337 ypg, 6th in Frontier

Beau St. John #78, 6-4, 290 Offensive line

Ty Reynolds #2, 5-9, 185 Safety

Jett Robertson #2, 5-11, 175 Running back

Lucas Overton #5, 6-1, 195 Receiver

Josh Rose #27, 6-0, 170 Cornerback

Tristin Willis #59, 6-5, 260 Offensive line

Andrew Rolin MSU-N Head Coach

Rocky Mountain Offensive Starters

Robert Maxwell #11, 5-11, 180 Corner Jimmy Henderson #7, 6-0, 180 Cornerback

Josh Kraft #2, 5-11, 175 Receiver

Wyatt Brusven

#29, 6-0, 170 Kicker/Punter

Stutzriem was hired as the 18th head football coach of the Battlin' Bears in December of 2018. Stutzriem is returning to Rocky after serving as an assistant at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, a NCAA Division II program, for the past season. Prior to that, he served two years as the Rocky Mountain College offensive coordinator under Petrino. Stutzriem first came to Rocky after spending three seasons as the offensive coordinator at William Penn University.

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Pos.

1D Isaiah Schlegel DB 2O Josh Kraft WR 2D Ty Reynolds DB 3O Holden Ryan TE 3D Devin Pope LB 4O Drew Korf QB 4D Tim Hunter DB 5O Lucas Overton WR 6O Sam Sparks RB 6D Devonte Woods DB 7O Jerome Miller TE 7D Jimmy Henderson DB 8O Carter Garsjo WR 8D Prince Johnson LB 9O La’Quante Harris WR 9D Wes Harshbarger LB 10 Max Melfi LB 11 Nathan Dick QB 12 Kamden Brown QB 13 Fili Church DE 14 Mason Price DE 15 Alex Lindsey WR 16 Adam Ames LB 17 John Bass WR 18 Joel McRae QB 19 Colton Williams RB 20 Kylan Ontiveros DB 21 Max Evenson LB 22 Ari Johnson DE 23 John Ti’a DB 24 Cade McInerney DB 25 Victor Ngalamulume RB 26 Reid Coffee WR 28 Tyler Hilliard DB 29 Wyatt Brusven K/DB 30 Daniel McGrew FB 31 Brock Peterson RB 32 Tommy Corcoran RB 33 Allen Williamson RB 35 Chase Truscott FB 38 Shane Larson LB 41 Cameron Henesh TE 42 Nolan McCafferty LB 44 Kale Larson FB 45 Isaiah Tennell DE 48 Lyn Cooper TE 53 Chad Nebel DT 59 Reagan Stephenson DT 61 Craig Sowers C 63 Christian Hovey T 65 Mason Roberts G 66 Stason Makaila T 68 John Little C 69 Spencer Weisel G 70 Trevor Martens G 71 Tanner Bloom G 72 Joey Roberts T 76 Billy Main G 77 Reilly Gauman G 78 Beau St. John T 80 Conner Croft WR 83 Oliver Munch WR 87 Andrew Simon TE 90 Denton Wetherell DT 92 Colin Maslin DT 93 Lane Severson DT 95 Tucker Maxwell DT 97 Riley Garrett K

Ht. Wt. Year Hometown 6-1 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-2 5-11 5-9 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-0 5-11 6-0 5-10 5-10 6-0 6-2 6-3 5-10 6’3 6-1 6-4 5-11 5-10 6-3 6-1 5-10 5-10 5-11 5-7 5-9 6-0 5-10 5-8 6-1 6-0 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-0 6-3 6-1 5-9 6-3 6-3 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-5 6-0 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-2 5-11

195 175 185 215 205 195 180 195 190 200 215 175 185 185 185 210 200 195 190 220 215 160 205 190 190 195 180 215 230 190 165 205 150 170 170 190 170 185 205 215 210 175 225 190 210 225 265 250 285 290 237 285 270 270 310 285 250 340 275 290 190 165 220 265 280 215 240 160

R-SO SR SO R-SO SR JR JR JR SR SR R-FR SR R-FR R-FR R-JR R-SO R-JR R-FR R-SO JR SO R-FR FR R-SO R-FR R-SO FR FR SO SO R-FR R-FR FR R-SO FR FR R-FR SO R-JR SR SR R-FR R-SO R-FR R-FR R-FR R-SO R-FR R-SO R-FR R-SO R-FR R-FR R-FR JR R-SO R-FR R-SO R-FR SO FR R-SO SO SR SO R-FR R-SO JR

Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS Boise, Idaho/Rocky Mountain HS Daphne, Ala./Daphne HS Billings, Mont./Billings Central HS Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark HS Boise, Idaho/Capital HS Redlands, Calif./Redlands East ValleyHS Emmett, Idaho/Emmett HS Billings, Mont./Billings Senior HS Daytona Beach, Fla./Father Lopez HS Kuna, Idaho/Kuna HS Riverdale, Ga./Riverdale HS Billings, Mont./Billings Senior HS Gilbert, Ariz./Perry HS Fresno, Calif./McLane HS Twin Bridges, Mont./Twin Bridge HS Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina HS Billings, Mont./Billings Senior HS Covina, Calif./Charter Oak HS Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS Idaho Falls, Idaho/Shelley HS Boise, Idaho/Capital HS Pocatello, Idaho/Century HS Kearns, Utah/Kearns HS Colstrip, Mont./Colstrip HS Big Horn, Wyo./Big Horn HS Billings, Mont./Billings West HS Billings, Mont./Billings Senior HS Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton HS Boise, Idaho/Rocky Mountain HS Boise, Idaho/Mountain View HS Boise, Idaho/Centennial HS Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde HS Gillette, Wyo./Campbell County HS Shelby, Mont./Shelby HS Ojai, Calif. /Nordhoff HS Clyde Park, Mont./Shields Valley HS Reno, Nev./Galena HS Malta, Mont./Malta HS St. Maries, Idaho/St. Maries HS Conrad, Mont./Conrad HS American Falls, Idaho/American Falls Sheridan, Wyo./Big Horn HS Conrad, Mont./Conrad HS La Puente, Calif./Nogales HS Billings, Mont./Billings Central HS Shepherd, Mont./Shepherd HS Jenks, Okla./Jenks HS Laurel, Mont./Laurel HS East Nicolaus, Calif./East Nicolaus HS Billings, Mont./Billings Central Catholic Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton HS Boise, Idaho/Centennial HS Coeur d’Alene, Idaho/Coeur d’Alene HS Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park HS Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh HS Vancouver, Wash./Mountain View HS Marysville, Wash./Lakewood HS Chandler, Ariz./Perry HS Spangle, Wash./Liberty HS Meridian, Idaho/Rocky Mountain HS Boise, Idaho/Boise HS Whitehall, Mont./Whitehall-Harrison HS Meridian, Idaho/Rocky Mountain HS Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton HS Billings, Mont./Skyview HS Lewistown, Mont./Fergus County HS Senora, Calif./Senora HS/

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MSU-Northern Numerical Roster

Rocky Mountain Numerical Roster No. Name

Oct. 18, 2019

No. Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 66 67 68 69 71 74 75 79 80 81 82 83 84

Pos. Ht. Wt. Year

Cameron Taylor RB Jett Robertson RB Damari Cual-Davis CB Tre’ Long QB Shadarius Jenkins SS Jeff Tinae DB Wylie Novak DB Morgan McCrary DB Oakley Kopp QB Robert Maxwell DB Brenden Medina QB Hunter Lane WR Bryce Bumgardner WR Japerri Powell RB Jake Horner WR Marvin Williams Jr. WR Caleb Knoche DB Roman Conder DB Kyle Jacklich RB Basie Destefanis DB Isaiah Eubanks DB Ostin Welch DB Joshua Rose DB Conner Crawford TE Hunter Riley DB Sam Sanders LB Jake Norby LB Gunnar Landrum LB Andrez Trahan-Proctor RB Devariej Criss DB Derante Lemelle DL Cody Lucke LB Landon Duffy TE Donte Simpkins DB Max Struss LB Dylan Wampler LB Clayton Watterson LB Titus Pulliam OL Michael Ulugalu LB Troy Dayak K/P Jaren Maki LB Lane Allen LB Chase Gilbert LB Ian Sparrow DE Ronnie Chavez OL Darius Alexander-Jones IIOL Joshua Hutchins OL Justin Pfeifer DT Trenton Woodward OL Gaije Blackwell LB Joe Fehr Tristin Willis OL Daunte Janikula OL Cody Walburn OL Mathew Weeden OL Mavrick McKinlay DL Colter Czymoniak DL Trevor Yuhas OL Carson Caya OL Michael Ayers DE Spencer Kolody OL Talaifeii Malae OL Bradley Mattauch OL Mason Peterson OL Jared Eisenbarth TE Keagan Stroop WR Aaron Wise WR James Gilham WR Cal Holgate WR

5-9 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-11 6-1 5-10 6-3 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-2 5-9 5-10 5-8 6-0 5-9 6-0 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-0 6-3 5-10 5-9 5-6 6-0 5-11 6-5 5-9 6-2 6-1 5-10 6-4 5-8 6-4 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-5 5-10 DE 6-5 6-6 5-10 5-11 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-1 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-9

180 200 175 200 190 170 182 195 185 180 215 190 185 175 175 160 190 176 190 195 195 175 165 215 186 225 210 190 195 160 255 215 185 170 210 220 210 195 197 195 225 170 215 215 265 290 285 285 275 200 6-3 280 230 240 294 250 260 295 265 180 287 365 300 260 210 160 175 172 180

JR SR JR FR JR SO JR SR FR JR FR JR SR FR FR JR SO FR FR SR FR SO FR JR FR FR JR FR SO JR JR SR FR FR FR FR FR FR FR JR JR FR SO JR JR SR FR JR SR FR 230 FR FR FR FR FR FR FR SO FR FR FR JR FR SO SO JR FR FR

Hometown

San Mateo, Calif./ Glendale, Ariz./Ironwood HS San Francisco, Calif. Lake Stevens. Wash. Atlanta, Ga./ Seattle, Wash. Cut Bank, Mont./Cut Bank HS Las Vegas, Nev. West Jordan, Utah Moreno Valley, Calif. Sebastopol, Calif./Analy HS Payson, Ariz.y Saint Helens, Ore. Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips HS Great Falls, Mont. Tacoma, Wash. Forsyth, Mont./Forsyth HS Boise, Idaho Modesto, Calif. Fresno, Calif. Kirkland, Wash./Juanita HS Malta, Mont./Malta HS Las Vegas, Nev. Missoula, Mont./Sentinel HS Bakersfield, Calif El Dorado Hills, Calif. Chinook, Mont./Chinook HS Kalispell, Mont./Flathead HS Kirkland, Wash./Juanita HS Tacoma, Wash./Stadium HS San Francisco, Calif. Browning, Mont. Vaughn, Mont./Simms HS Bronx, N.Y./Gardendale HS Calgary, Alb. Can. Peoria, Ariz./Centennial HS Vacaville, Calif./Vacaville HS Mesa, Ariz. Seattle, Wash./O’Dea HS Tracy, Calif. Belt, Mont./Belt HS Harlem, Mont./ Harlem HS Spokane Valley, Wash. Mesa, Ariz,/Chandler HS Missoula, Mont./Hellgate HS Gilroy, Calif. Puyallup, Wash./Rogers HS Cut Bank, Mont./Cut Bank HS Three Forks, Mont. Power, Mont./Power HS JR Eureka, Mont. Mount Vernon, Wash. Great Falls, Mont. Bonney Lake, Wash. Lewistown, Mont./Fergus HS Geraldine, Mont. Eureka, Mont. Great Falls, Mont. Tolmie, Wash.e Highwood, Mont. Fort Qu’Appelle, SK, Can. Seattle, Wash. Newark, Calif.e Trabaco Canyon, Calif. Woodinville, Wash. Belt, Mont./Belt HS Vallejo, Calif./Yuba College Browning, Mont. Manhattan, Mont.

No. Name 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 94 95 99

Pos. Ht. Wt. Year

Kaden Wills WR Levi Keltner TE Vere Waqaituinayau FB Tre Rapp TE Kaleb Johnson TE Zavier Baldwin DL Sabastian Bright DL Joey Quitugua II DE BJ Hatcher DL Trendae Umi-Tuato’o DL Pat Hammond DE

5-8 6-6 5-9 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-4 5-11 6-3

170 220 238 170 208 245 300 225 230 290 235

FR FR JR FR FR FR JR FR SO SO FR

Hometown

Kalispell, Mont./Flathead HS Anacortes, Wash San Mateo, Calif. Colorado Springs, Col. Fort Shaw, Mont./Simms HS Kirkland, Wash,/Juanita HS Los Angeles, Calif.e Boise, Idaho/Capital HS Laurel, Mont./Laurel HS Auburn, Wash. Kalispell, Mont./Flathead HS

2019 Montana State University-Northern Football Staff Andrew Rolin, Head Coach Jake Chestnut, Defensive Coordinator CJ Robertson, Offensive Line/Run Game Sam Mix, Running Backs/Tight Ends John Kocurek, Wide Receivers Blake Wilson, Defensive Line Jake Crain, Defensive Backs/Special Teams Tommy Wilson, Cornerbacks

Athletic Director: Christian Oberquell; Certified Athletic Trainer: Robert Tate; Sports Information: Sierra Richards

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Center Star: Northern senior center has dreams of playing in the NFL one day soon ■ From Page 2

for an offensive lineman that’s specifically a center.” Rolin commends Alexander-Jones’s work off the field, too. “He does well off the field, too, academically, Rolin continued. “Community service, too. He’s a great kid and we love having him on the team.” Alexander-Jones has been committed to football since he was six years-old and his 16years on the field has made him a big name on the Northern team. His physicality and intelligence while he runs the line make him a force against defensive fronts. “My physicality and my mentality,” said Alexander-Jones. “I’m not going to lose. I

don’t like losing. Everyone on my team knows I’m going to get my job done, no matter who lines up against me.” Centers are key on offensive lines, as they help coordinate the offense and how it moves. Without a center, an offensive line has no leader and no true structure that allows them to help make plays and protect their quarterback. Being a center is something AlexanderJones takes seriously. He enjoys playing the position and puts in his best work every game. Alexander-Jones lives and breathes the position. “It makes me another field general out there,” Alexander-Jones said. “I’m like the second quarterback. I think that’s cool having

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern senior center Darius Alexander-Jones, left, helps a teammate block during a game against the Montana Western Bulldogs last month at Blue Pony Stadium. Alexander-Jones was voted a team captain this season, and his head coach, Andrew Rolin, says his teammates hold him in high regard, for his play on the field, but also for his leadership and character off of it. The Lights host Rocky Mountain College Saturday at 1 p.m.

that responsibility.” On top of his smarts, skills and consistency, Alexander-Jones’s mindset is another factor that makes him a great player. After all, the offensive line has to be an impenetrable wall. If their lead player does not have a sharp mind and a positive mindset, then the line may fall under. “I make sure I do enough preparation film and study wise,” said Alexander-Jones. “On the defense, on the front seven and making sure I know what looks their going to give us before they give us those looks. I have to make sure my calls are correct, because I have five other guys relying on my calls and making their calls off mine.”

Centers and offensive lineman are valuable on any offense for teams. Without them, the quarterback becomes a sitting-duck and cannot scramble away from defenders all the time. Teams know they have to protect their QB and with the offensive line working as the last defense, the guy behind the line can do his job comfortably and safe. The NFL has seen great centers over the years. Centers like Mike Webster and Jim Otto have cemented their names in league record books, while modern centers like Travis Frederick and Jason Kelce have made noise in

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Oct. 18, 2019

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Center Star: Darius Alexander-Jones and the Lights have learned much from each other ■ From Page 6 their position. Alexander-Jones, a native of Gilroy, California, and a transfer from NCAA Division II Minot State last year, has an ambition to have his name among the great centers in NFL history and he certainly has the qualifications to give a team at the national level another great center on the line. With the skills and talent Alexander-Jones has, teams in the NFL can find a great benefit with Alexander-Jones on the roster. But, Alexander-Jones does not just take pride in his prowess as a center, he has learned valuable things in the position. “Controlled aggression, also known as calculated aggression,” said Alexander-Jones

when asked about what he learned in his time as a center. “I just know when to be physical and when to just hold your position, when to finish a guy and put him to the ground or when just to hold your block. It’s definitely that.” Football has made a great person and player out of Alexander-Jones. His personal character is something to be proud of and alongside his abilities as a player, AlexanderJones is a great example of a man that is great both on and off the field. “Football has definitely helped with discipline,” said Alexander-Jones. “It’s helped me stay goal-oriented, stay self-driven and teamdriven. It’s helped me realize that my deci-

sions can affect those around me, those that are pretty much associated with me or those that are on a team with me. I’ve learned I can’t be selfish, just not in the game, but in life.” The game has helped Alexander-Jones learn to be a caring person and many other life lessons, too. “It’s taught me to love regardless of people being who they are like their religions or if we have different viewpoints on things,” Alexander-Jones continued. “It’s just taught me to love unconditionally. It’s taught me not to take anything for granted because life is so precious and can be taken away from you so quick, so definitely count your blessings when

they come and take advantage of all your opportunities that come.” It is no surprise a player like AlexanderJones has eyes on making a career out of football. The senior center has all the things that scouts look for in an o-lineman. AlexanderJones has a great future as a football player and has the potential to turn heads at the national level. The Lights will be utilizing the best of Alexander-Jones when they take on the Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears Saturday. Alexander-Jones’s physicality and mental awareness on the field will test whoever lines up against him for RMC.

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern senior center Darius Alexander-Jones blocks during the Lights' blizzard game with Montana Tech last month at Blue Pony Stadium. In his time with the Lights, Alexander-Jones hasn't become just one of the best offensive linemen in the Frontier Conference, he's also become a leader at Northern, on, and off the field. The Lights take on Rocky Mountain College Saturday afternoon at Blue Pony Stadium.