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October 19, 2018
www.havredailynews.com
Notebook: Former Light Jake Messerly returns to Blue Pony Stadium Saturday ■ From Page 11 decided to leave Northern. Now, four years later, Messerly has resurfaced, as he is a starting WR for head coach Ryan Nourse and the Bulldogs. Messerly is playing one last season of college football, and once again, he’s part of a prolific group of wide receivers that include Melvin Walser and Nate Simkins. So far, in his return to football, Messerly has 13 passes for 159 yards
and a score for the first-place and nationallyranked Dawgs. And while Messerly played with very few of the current Lights before he left Northern, his return to Blue Pony Stadium should certainly bring back memories for him. Big-Time Numbers Speaking of prolific, there are several Frontier players who are gaining attention on the national stage.
At the top of that list is Rocky’s Ryder Rice, who leads the NAIA in sacks with 9.5. In his last two seasons, Rice has 17.5 sacks, and he still has four games left in his senior season. EOU quarterback Kai Quinn is climbing the charts too. The junior signal caller is third in the nation in total offense, while he sits fifth in passing. Quinn’s favorite target, Brendan Kelly is also third in the NAIA in receiving yards per game at 136, and is sixth in the country in receptions per outing. Mon-
tana Tech’s Jed Fike is having a big followup to last year as well. Like is fifth in the NAIA in rushing at 127 yards per game, while his 8.1 yards per carry ranks him second in the country. EOU’s Zach Jacobs also leads the country in interceptions with six, while Western linebacker Jason Ferris is fourth in the nation with his 13 tackles per game. Ferris, who will be lined up against Northern’s offense on Saturday, also has 77 tackles on the season. EOU’s Nathan Harden is also tied for first in the country in field goals, while SOU kicker Marcus Montano is second.
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson MSU-Northern's Bryce Bumgardner runs a route during Northern's Oct. 6 home game against Eastern Oregon. Bumgardner has become one of the Lights' steadiest receivers this season. Northern is back in Blue Pony Stadium Saturday when the Lights host the 18th-ranked UM-Western Bulldogs at 1 p.m.