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October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
Notebook: Carroll's defense coming on strong ahead of Fighting Saints visit to MSU-Northern ■ From Page 11 through the air, and all they managed on the scoreboard was one Griff Amies field goal. Carroll’s defense was staunch throughout the contest, limiting the Bears to just 14 first downs and 167 yards on the ground. Just one week earlier, Rocky had rushed for nearly 400 yards against Northern. Now, with RMC sitting at 4-4 overall, i n c l u d i n g a s e a s o n - o p e n i n g l o s s to Dickinson State, and UM-Western also at 4-4 overall, there is literally no chance the Frontier can get three teams into the playoffs. Western’s playoff hopes are not completely dead however, as the Bulldogs could win out, which would include a win over Southern Oregon, and hope the Raiders lose all three of their remaining games, and that long-shot scenario would then be enough to possible get the Dawgs into the
playoffs over SOU. But, a lot would have to happen, including the Dawgs beating the unbeaten Raiders this Saturday in Raider Stadium. More likely however, is, with Rocky’s loss to Carroll, the Frontier is down to a two-team horse race, and the rest of the league is just trying to win as many games as it can and finish the season on a positive note. Defensive After a slow start to the 2017 season, Carroll College’s Alec Basterrechea is coming on strong. The senior has three sacks in his last three games, and is up to seven tackles for loss on the year. A returning All-Conference performer, Basterrechea will be a handful for
Northern’s offensive line to deal with on Saturday. But, he won’t be the only defensive linemen making waves as of late on the field. Northern freshman Josh Wright is starting to emerge as a standout. Despite the Lights’ defensive struggles, Wright has two sacks on the season and is showing flashes of potential for the future. MSU-N’s defense, which is led by senior Garet Fowler, who leads the Frontier with 89 tackles, is riddled with injuries right now, but Wright is becoming a force up front. Frontier Honors Montana Tech sophomore running back Jed Fike was named the Frontier Offensive Player of the Week, as well as NAIA Player of the Week. In Montana Tech’s record-
breaking 93-19 conference home win over MSU-Northern, Fike rushed for 247 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries. He also caught one pass for 34 yards. His rushing yardage came in the first half. Southern Oregon defensive end Sean Rogers was named Frontier Defensive Player of the Week. In No. 7 Southern Oregon’s 36-7 conference home win over College of Idaho, Rogers recorded nine solo tackles, one assisted tackle, four tackles for loss (-25), one forced fumble and four quarterback sacks. The four quarterback sacks were the most by a Raider in the last decade. Tech kicker Derrick Holt was named Frontier Special Teams Player of the Week. In Montana Tech’s record-breaking 93-19 conference home win over MSU-Northern, he was 9 of 9 in PAT’s and 1 for 1 in field goals (33-yards).
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern defensive end Josh Wright, left, is having a strong season for the struggling Lights' defense. MSU-N will look to rebound from its loss at Montana Tech last Saturday when the Lights host Carroll College this Saturday at Blue Pony Stadium. Northern is also home to host Southern Oregon Nov. 4.