12
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.
2
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
www.havredailynews.com
October 27, 2017
11
Out of the darkness, comes the light Orediggers set new NAIA records A consummate studentathlete, Kagen Khameneh has set a shining example for how to handle adversity during his MSU-N tenure George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com He plays for a team nicknamed the Lights. But in four seasons at Montana State University-Northern playing football, Kagen Khameneh hasn’t seen the brightest of times. In fact, he’s been through some of Northern’s darkest days. And in those dark times, Khameneh has watched many of his former teammates give up on the Lights, give up on football
and essentially disappear. He’s also played through not one, not two, not even three, but four coaching changes at MSU-N. So, if Khameneh wasn’t who he was, he might have been one of the one’s to just disappear too. But, that’s not who Kagen Khameneh is. Never has been. Instead, the former Missoula prep standout, and senior tight end for the Lights, has endured. For many reasons, loyalty, dedication and character among them. And then there’s something else – Khameneh is a student playing football. In other words, he came to Northern to get a degree, and played football as a means to do it. “I guess, school is one of the big reasons why I have stuck this out,” Khameneh said ahead of his second-to-last home game as a Light. “Honestly, that’s a big one. I’m going to graduate in May, and going to school here has been really good for me. I love Northern. I’ve really enjoyed being a student here.” Khameneh won’t just graduate in May, he’ll do so with honors, with a biology degree. And while school has been a big focus
over the four years he’s been at MSU-N, relationships have made a big difference too. Through turbulent times that started when the head coach who recruited him, Mark Samson, was essentially forced to resign, Khameneh said that the relationships he’s built have kept him coming back to the practice field, kept him coming back to try and help a struggling program find some medium of success. “The friendships I’ve made here, that’s been huge for me,” he said. “Like take Sam Mix, he’s one of my best friends, and I look at what he went through, and I think, if he comes back, I can come back. I’ve just always felt it was important to come back, keep working hard, show my friends who are doing the same thing, and my teammates that, no matter what has happened, I still care. I’m still going to go out there and play hard. “So being with the other guys,” he continued. “Fighting out there with my team-
n
George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com There isn’t a lot of positives to take away from the Montana State UniversityNorthern Lights’ 93-19 loss at Montana Tech last Saturday in Butte. Unless you’re the Orediggers. For the second time in a month, Montana Tech set multiple offensive records against the Lights. On Sept. 9, the Orediggers scored a then school-record 70 points, and set another school record for total offense when they beat the Lights 70-27 at Blue pony Stadium. Things got worse for the Lights however, or better for Tech, depending on which way it’s looked at, last Saturday in Alumni Coliseum. Tech’s 93 points was a new school record and so was its 932 yards of offense, a s we l l a s i t s 51 9 ya rd s r u s h i n g . Interestingly, the Orediggers had one less first down in Saturday’s affair than they did in their win last month in Havre. Tech's
See Garner Page 6
MSU-Northern Lights vs Carroll College Fighting Saints Montana State University-Northern Location: Havre, Mont. Nickname: Lights Colors: Maroon and Yellow 2017 record: 0-7, 1-7
2016 record: 1-9, 1-9 Interim Head coach: Jake Eldridge Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium Streak: The last team Northern beat in a Frontier Conference game was Carroll, in September of 2016.
Saturday, October 28, 2017 Blue Pony Stadium ~ 1 p.m. Rocky Mountain College Location: Helena, Mont. Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern's Donovan Garner runs through the Rocky Mountain College defense during a 2016 Frontier Conference game in Havre. Khameneh, a senior tight end for the Lights, has been an unselfish, team leader, during what has been a difficult time for the Northern program. Khameneh will play the first of his last two games at Blue Pony Stadium, when the Lights host Carroll College Saturday.
Nickname: Fighting Saints Colors: Purple and Gold 2017 record: 2-5, 2-5
2016 record: 4-6, 4-6 Head coach: Mike Van Diest Stadium: Nelson Stadium Streak: Carroll needs to win all of its remaining games to avoid its third straight losing season.
9 3 2 ya r d s o f o f f e n s e appears to have set a new NAIA single-game record. The previous high listed at N A I A . o rg wa s 91 4 by Lenoir-Rhyne in 1975 and Morningside in 2014. Tech also tied the record for most touchdowns scored in a game with 12. What those numbers also did was garner attention from large media outlets, such as ESPN and Bleacher Report. as well as move Tech’s season totals way up. Going into its home game with Rocky Mountain College this Saturday, Tech is now averaging 51 points per game, 610 yards of offense per outing and 367 yards passing. Tech is second in the NAIA in both passing and total offense, third in first downs and fifth in scoring
offense. And yet, the Orediggers, for all their offensive fireworks, are still looking up at Southern Oregon in the Frontier Conference standings. SOU, which has one of the top-rated defense in the NAIA, improved to 7-0 last Saturday with a shutdown win against College of Idaho, and the highlyanticipated matchup between the Diggers and Raiders is now a mere three weeks away. Meanwhile, the Lights have season left too. They will come home and look to regroup this Saturday when they host 2-5 Carroll College. But they will do it without head coach Aaron Christensen, who resigned Wednesday. The Fighting Saints have struggled mightily offensively thus far, but, they
Today in the Frontier Conference
For the fourth straight season, Carroll College isn’t going to the NAIA playoffs. But, last Saturday, the Saints made sure a third Frontier team isn’t getting in either. Rocky was the league’s last hope at getting three Frontier squads into the playoffs, but that dream died on the new turf at Herb Klindt Field with Carroll’s 16-3 victory. The Fighting Saints absolutely shut down Rocky’s vaunted running attack, and by game’s end, the Bears had tallied just 260 yards of offense, including just 90 yards
n
See Notebook Page 12
2017 Frontier Conference Preseason Coaches Poll 1. Montana Tech; 2. Eastern Oregon; T3. Southern Oregon; T3. Carroll College; 5. UM-Western; T6. Rocky Mountain College; T6. College of Idaho; 8. MSU-Northern
1. Southern Oregon 2. Montana Tech 3. UM-Western 4. Rocky Mountain 5. College of Idaho 6. Carroll College 7. Eastern Oregon 8. MSU-Northern
At Montana State University-Northern Lights (0-7, 1-7)
UM-Western (4-3, 4-4) at #7 Southern Oregon (7-0, 7-0) in Ashland, Ore.
Playoff Update
Havre Daily News Frontier Conference Power Rankings
Carroll College Fighting Saints (2-5, 2-5)
Rocky Mountain (4-3, 4-4) at #11 Montana Tech (6-1, 6-1) in Butte, Mont.
did knock off Rocky last Saturday in Helena, and they own a 34-3 win over the Lights last month in Helena. Still, Northern last Frontier Conference win came against the Saints just over a year ago, so Saturday’s game at Blue Pony Stadium will be an intriguing one no doubt.
College of Idaho (3-4, 3-5) at Eastern Oregon (2-5, 2-5) in LaGrande, Ore.
Full Coverage on Twitter @HavreDaily
10
October 27, 2017
MSU-Northern Rewind
www.havredailynews.com
Even in tough times, Northern can be proud of September 17, 2016 From the Fringe...
October 27, 2017
Frontier Conference Standings
Southern Oregon Montana Tecch UM-Western Rocky Mountain College of Idaho Eastern Oregon Carroll College MSU-Northern
Conf. WL 7-0 6-1 4-3 4-3 3-4 2-5 2-5 0-7
Overall WL 7-0 6-1 4-4 4-4 3-5 2-5 2-5 1-7
Last Week Montana Tech 93, MSU-Northern 19 Carroll College 16, Rocky Mountain 3 UM-Western 30, Eastern Oregon 21 Southern Oregon 36, College of Idaho 7
George Ferguson Sports Editor
The win the Montana State University-Northern Lights earned against Carroll College, now 10 years ago, will always be remembered. And deservedly so. But, from Saturday forward, it won’t be remembered as the last time the Lights beat the Fighting Saints. No, the 2016 Lights put that phrase to rest. In fact, the way the Lights played against nationally-ranked Carroll Saturday, they buried it. They buried it for good. And that’s something these current Lights needed. They needed to win, they needed it for the football program at Northern, they needed it for the fans who support them, and most importantly, the players needed it for themselves. Yes, there was no doubt the Lights believed they were going to win a game this season. In fact, these Lights have played so well, and are so far removed from the team that went 0-11 a year ago, they were brimming with confidence before the season started, and even after two losses to start the 2016 campaign. However, while confident they were a team that was capable of winning games, and while knowing that first win of the Aaron Christensen era would come, they might not have known, at least when the schedule was released last summer, that muchneeded, and much-wanted win would come at home, against Carroll. Oh the irony of it all. A month shy of 10 years from the last time the Lights beat the Saints, they did it again. And, make no mistake, while winning a game, any game, was important to the Lights, beating Carroll made it extra special. “We really wanted to get that win, especially against Carroll,” an emotional MSU-N senior Tyler Craig said. “It’s a damn good feeling. There’s just something about Carroll that everybody wants to beat them.” And beat the Saints the Lights did. But this time around, Northern wasn’t playing for history. Northern wasn’t trying to dethrone Carroll
www.havredailynews.com
Saturday, Oct. 28 MSU-Northern vs Carroll College Rocky Mountain at Montana Tech UM-Western at Southern Oregon College of Idaho at Eastern Oregon
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson The last time Carroll College came to Havre, the MSU-Northern Lights earned a historic victory.
from its Frontier Conference perch, or snap a 31-game Carroll winning streak, or even give itself a chance at a first-ever conference title. No, this win against Carroll was different. This time around, the Lights were playing for something equally as important, they were playing to prove they’re a good football team. They were playing to prove they can win football games on Saturdays, just like every college football team in America does each and every fall. This time, the Lights were playing to earn respect, and to just taste victory. And, boy did they ever do all of that Saturday, and more. The Lights proved to themselves, to their fans, to their coaches who push and work to get the very best out of them each day, that they can win, that they will win, and that they are indeed a good football team. Those are things I believed, and knew already. And they are things the Lights knew too. Deep down, they already knew it all, they knew that they were good. They just had to go out and do it. In football, in athletics, you have to prove on the field of battle, and this Lights’ team just hadn’t quite done that yet … that is until Saturday, and until they met Carroll College for the first time this season. And all the proof that’s needed was on the Blue Pony Stadium scoreboard for all to see Saturday. The proving is over. These Lights can win. These Lights can beat the Carroll College’s
of the world. They know it now and so do we. Yes, 2006 will never go away. In fact, Northern student-athletes and coaches are reminded of it every day because a picture of that glorious October day hangs in the lobby of the MSU-N athletic department. That day will never be forgotten and rightfully so. But, at the same time, the page has been turned. For now, there are no more losing streaks against the mighty Saints. For now at least, there’s no more anguish about losing at Northern, of any kind. Of the many amazing memories the 2016 Lights made on Saturday, and it was an amazing Saturday, the fact that the Lights vanquished some ghosts is one of them. The Lights exercised a bunch of demons Saturday, and they did it in dominant and exciting fashion. Make no mistake about it, Northern was the better team Saturday from start to finish. And that win, that one day, is something no one can ever take away from them. So congratulations to the 2016 Lights. Congrats to head coach Aaron Christensen on your first win. Here’s hoping there are many more. But, no matter what the future holds, you guys have earned your own day, your own place in MSU-N history. You did that Saturday, and you did it against Carroll. It doesn’t get much better than that.
NAIA Coaches Poll Rec. Pts. 1. Saint Francis (Ind.) 8-0 340 2. Baker (Kan.) 8-0 327 3. Reinhardt (Ga.) 6-0 312 4. Morningside (Iowa) 8-0 303 5. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)7-0 286 6. Grand View (Iowa) 7-1 272 7. Southern Oregon 7-0 265 8. Langston (Okla.) 7-0 237 9. Georgetown (Ky.) 6-0 235 10. Saint Xavier (Ill.) 6-1 223 11. Montana Tech 6-1 218 12. Benedictine (Kan.) 7-1 201
Prv. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13. Southeastern (Fla.) 6-1 14. Northwestern 7-1 15. Dickinson State 6-1 16. Concordia (Mich.) 7-1 17. SAGU (Texas) 6-1 18. Sterling (Kan.) 6-2 19. Tabor (Kan.) 6-2 20. Campbellsville 6-0 21. Marian (Ind.) 4-3 22. Cumberland 6-3 23. Arizona Christian 5-3 24. Doane (Neb.) 4-3 25. Dakota State (S.D.) 6-2
179 170 157 150 129 109 104 96 85 52 36 35 25
14 15 16 17 18 t20 t20 25 13 22 23 19 NR
Others receiving votes: : Kansas Wesleyan 7; Evangel (Mo.) 6; Oklahoma Panhandle State 5; Montana Western 4; Concordia (Neb.) 4; Peru State (Neb.) 3.
Frontier Conference Individual Leaders Week Seven
Passing: Tanner Trosin, SOU, 341 ypg Receiving: Dion Williams, MT, 97 ypg Receptions: Dion Williams, MT, 8 cpg Rushing: Jed Fike, MT, 156 ypg Tackles: Garet Fowler, MSU-N, 86 Sacks: Connor Wines, MT, 9 sacks INT's: Keenan Fagan, RMC, 5 ints
Lights Coaching Staff
Jim Potter The 2017 Montana State University-Northern coaching staff. From left to right: Dan Vanderpan (defensive line), Darold DeBolt (defensive line), Jake Eldridge (defensive coordinator, strength and conditioning), Rick Wells (defensive backs), Aaron Christensen (head coach, offensive coordinator), Anvil Sinsibaugh (offensive line, recruiting coordinator), Jorge Magana (linebacker, defensive line), Kevin Murphy (linebackers), Lance Marshall (wide receivers, tight ends).
3
4
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
MSU-Northern Offensive Starters
Carroll College Defensive Starters
MSU-N 2017 Offensive Numbers
CC 2017 Defensive Numbers
Scoring: 17 ppg, last in Frontier Total offense: 363 ypg, 7th in Frontier
Seth Roemelle #88, 6-0, 190 Receiver
Ryan Beaulieau #2, 5-11, 185 Cornerback
Rushing: 153 ypg, 6th in Frontier
www.havredailynews.com
October 27, 2017
MSU-Northern Defensive Starters
CC 2017 Offensive Numbers
MSU-N 2017 Defensive Numbers
Scoring: 24 ppg, 4th in Frontier
Scoring: 52 ppg, last in Frontier
Total defense: 379 ypg, 4th in Frontier
Total defense: 557 ypg, last in Frontier
Rush defense: 123 ypg, 1st in Frontier
Rush defense: 286 ypg, last in Frontier
Scoring: 22 ppg, 6th in Frontier
Eldridge has been a coach at Northern for 10 season, including eight as defensive coordinator. He served as interim head coach in 2014. He was a was a four year starter and a four year team captain for the Lights at defensive back where he garnered AllConference and Academic All-Conference honors.
Dylan Schmidt #74, 6-4, 275 Offensive line
Tommy Wilson #22, 6-1, 205 Quarterback
Dale Cummings #65, 6-2, 300 Center
Beaugh Meyer #32, 6-2, 255 Defensive line
Peyton Sexe #40, 6-1, 245
Defensive line
Ryan Handley #73, 6-3, 265 Offensive line
Alec Basterrechea #91, 6-2, 250 Defensive line
Tommy Langley #27, 5-11, 190 Kicker
Marvin Williams #19, 5-10, 170 Receiver
Rushing: 164 ypg, 5th in Frontier
Parker Bernhardt #21, 6-1, 202 Linebacker Dequincy Bergen #21, 5-11, 200 Safety
Elijah Dennison #95, 6-2, 255 Defensive tackle GaretFowler #12, 5-10, 220 Linebacker
Reece Quade #44, 6-3, 232 Linebacker
David Anderson #49, 6-0, 220 Linebacker
Josh Wright #92, 6-2, 240 Defensive end
Cory Lee #3, 5-10, 190 Safety
JP Sullivan #72, 6-2, 290 Defensive line
Craig Kein #39, 6-1, 225 Linebacker
Mike Van Diest Carroll Head Coach
Willy Clements #68, 6-3, 295 Offensive line
Joel Kramer #61, 6-0, 280 Offensive line
Tanner Gustavsen #12, 6-4, 195 Quarterback
Ryan Walsh #26, 6-1, 195 Running back
Todd Pays #67, 6-4, 290 Offensive line
Alec Wagner
#52, 5-11, 225 Linebacker
Chris Emter #76, 6-4, 302 Offensive line
Roger Guillory #71, 5-10, 270 Offensive line
Troy Arnston
#14, 5-8, 170 Receiver
Jake Norby #31, 6-2, 200 Bandit
Eric Dawson #48, 6-1, 235 Tight end
Kagen Khameneh #15, 6-3, 240 Tight end Sam Tapia #89, 6-0, 180 Punter
Steven Fernandez #23, 6-0, 210 Linebacker
Tucker Johnson #34, 6-1 200 Safety Kitrell Willingham #85, 6-2, 225 Fullback
Total offense: 316 ypg, last in Frontier
David Barnett #56, 6-3, 280 Offensive line
McBride Galt #18, 6-2, 205 Safety
Trey Blanchard #4, 5-10, 200 Running Back
Joe Farris #5, 6-1, 190 Receiver
Jarrod Lucas #6, 5-9, 175 Cornerback
Clint Willis #75, 6-7, 300 Offensive line
Jake Eldridge MSU-N Interim Head Coach
Carroll College Offensive Starters
Devariej Criss #34, 5-9, 175 Corner Isazah King #4, 6-1, 190 Cornerback
Connor Fohn #1, 6-1, 200 Receiver
Dylan Torgerson
#13, 6-2, 200 Kicker/Punter
In 18 years as head coach at Carroll College, Mike Van Diest has led the Fighting Saints to six National Championships, 14 Frontier Conference Championships (including twelve straight titles from 20002011). The Saints have posted a 194-42 record during the past sixteen seasons. Van Diest is a 1970 graduate of Helena High School. His career has included stops at his alma mater, the University of Wyoming, the University of Montana, the University of Massachusetts, and the Big Ten representative, Northwestern University, as an assistant coach.
9
8
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
www.havredailynews.com
1 Connor Fohn 2 Ryan Beaulieu 3 TJ Abraham 3 Major Ali 4 Isazah King 5 Joe Farris 6 Chandler Arbizzani 6 Brayden Frohlich 7 Brian FauntLeRoy 8 Conner Poulson 9 Colin Sassano 10 Kolby Killoy 11 Tony Madsen 12 Tanner Gustavsen 12 Anthony Olmes 13 Cameron Hardt 13 Dylan Torgerson 14 Troy Arntson 15 Matt McHugh 16 Ryan Arntson 17 Reese Hiibel 18 McBride Galt 19 Xavier Pace 19 Paul Wilson 20 Griphen Le 21 Parker Bernhardt 22 Henry Hill 23 Drew Melton 24 Thomas Trefney 25 Matt Kvech 26 Wesley Harshbarger 26 Ryan Walsh 27 Parker Stenersen 28 Kyle Kazmierski 28 Jack McIntyre 29 Cole Adams 30 Colbey Bruney 30 Kyle Harrington 31 Chase Bowen 32 Beaugh Meyer 33 Tyler Matteucci 34 Tucker Johnson 35 Erik Haun 36 Cole Greff 37 Derek David 37 Liam Vincent 38 Stephen Lindsey 39 Craig Kein 40 Payton Sexe 41 Zachary Hanser 42 Dylan Kresge 43 Thomas Robitaille 44 Reece Quade 45 Nate McGree 46 Luke Gleasman 47 Josh Kraft 48 Eric Dawson 49 David Anderson 49 Ken Roth 50 Archie Petritz 51 Dylan Piva 52 Alex Reid 53 Billy Lewis 54 Michael Monaco 56 David Barnett 57 David Petersen 58 Brandon Ahlgren 59 Dustin McLean 61 Joel Kramer 64 J.D Lyle 65 Tim Pays 67 Todd Pays 68 Willy Clements
Pos.
WR DB WR RB CB WR DB QB DB RB DB QB DB QB WR DB P/K WR QB RB QB/DB DB DB WR RB LB RB DB RB DB RB RB DB DL RB DB DB RB LB DT OLB DB LB DE RB DB RB LB LB DB LB LB LB LB TE K TE LB OLB LB LB DL DL DL OT DL OL OL C OL OL OL OL
Ht.
6-1 5-11 5-8 5-7 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-7 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-2 5-8 6-2 5-7 6-1 6-2 5-9 5-11 5-11 6-1 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-8 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-4 5-11 6-0 5-9 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-3
Wt. 200 185 178 200 190 190 190 240 195 240 180 190 202 195 175 185 200 170 205 180 175 205 175 175 210 202 190 190 215 190 205 195 160 190 182 175 180 215 225 275 216 200 225 260 210 200 195 225 245 205 225 205 232 205 250 170 235 220 195 200 215 255 230 250 280 245 265 250 280 270 295 290 295
Yr.
Jr. Jr. Fr. So. So. So. Sr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Fr. So. R-Fr. So. Jr. So. R-Fr. So. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. So. R-Fr. So. Sr. R-Fr. Sr. Fr. So. So. So. R-Fr. So. So. R-Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. R-Fr. Fr. So. Sr. R-Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr.
Hometown
Salem, Ore. / South Salem HS Las Vegas, Nev. / Palo Verde HS Powell, Wyo. / Powell HS Gig Harbor, Wash. / Pennensula HS Hidden Valley, Calif. / Lower Lake HS Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS Billings, Mont. / Skyview HS Missoula, Mont. / Hellgate HS Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS Boise, Idaho / Capital HS Helena, Mont. / Capital HS Pasco, Wash. / Pasco HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Boise, Idaho / Boise HS Vallejo, Calif. / St.Patrick/St. Vincent HS Cheney, Wash. / Cheney HS Kalispell, Mont. / Flathead HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Afton, Wyo. / Star Valley HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Bonner, Mont. / Hellgate HS Coeur D'Alene, Idaho / Coeur D'Alene Billings, Mont. / West HS Glenwood Springs, Colo. / Glenwood Lewiston, Idaho / Lewiston HS Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS Renton, Wash. / Eastside Catholic HS Twin Bridges / Twin Bridges HS Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS Idaho Falls, Idaho / Skyline HS Coeur D' Alene, Idaho / Lake City HS Buffalo, Wyo. / Buffalo HS Glenwood Springs, Colo. / Glenwood Sheridan, Wyo. / Sheridan HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Emmett, Idaho / New Plymouth HS Boise, Idaho / Capital HS East Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Billings, Mont. / Junipero Serra HS Boise, Idaho / Mountain View HS Golden, Colo. / Golden HS Idaho Falls, Idaho / Hillcrest HS Riverton, Wyo. / Riverton HS Columbia Falls, Mont. / Columbia Falls Burlington, Ill. / Burlington Central HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Billings, Mont. / Billings Central HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County HS Billings, Mont. / Skyview HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Chelan, Wash. / Chelan HS Billings, Mont. / Billings Central HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Frenchtown, Mont. / Frenchtown HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Rathdrum, Idaho / Lakeland HS Spokane, Wash. / Mead HS Larkspur, Calif. / Redwood HS Anaconda, Mont. / Anaconda HS Hermiston, Ore. / Hermiston HS Helena, Mont. / Capital HS Canby, Ore. / West Linn HS Lewiston, Idaho / Lewiston HS Missoula, Mont. / Hellgate HS Middleton, Idaho / Middleton HS Sandpoint, Idaho / Sandpoint HS Sandpoint, Idaho / Sandpoint HS Nederland, Colo. / Holy Family HS
70 Tanner Steele OL 71 John Boynton OL 74 Anthony Donofrio OL 75 Tyson Frayley OL 76 Chris Emter OL 77 Anthony Reisch OL 79 Jacob Clark OL 80 Sam Stratton TE 81 Shane Sipes WR 82 Addison Vergara WR 83 William Noce-Sheldon WR 84 Walker Ray OLB 85 Connor McGree TE 86 Kyle Pierce WR 87 Paul Hart WR 88 Chase Fossum WR 89 Patrick Kosena WR 90 Alex Hoffman TE 91 Alec Basterrechea DE 92 Alex Thomas LB 93 Alex Hurlbut DE 94 Garrett Kocab DL 96 Jackson Griffin OLB 97 Hunter Mycke LB 99 Seamus Tully DL
6-4 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-6 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-2
255 275 250 240 302 280 250 240 190 210 190 245 245 190 190 206 190 245 250 230 260 265 200 215 280
Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. R-Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. So. R-So. Jr. R-Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. R-Fr. Fr. R-Fr.
Lynden, Wash. / Lynden HS Richland, Wash. / Richland HS Coeur D' Alene, Idaho / Lake City HS San Carlos, Calif. / Sequoia HS Livingston, Mont. / Park HS Pasco, Wash. / Chiawana HS Bonney Lake, Wash. / Sumner HS Spokane, Wash. / Shadle Park HS Newbury Park, Calif. / Newbury Park HS Greeley, Colo. / Greeley West HS Camas, Wash. / Seton Catholic HS Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Glasgow, Mont. / Glasgow HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Draper, Utah / Juan Diego HS Gooding, Idaho / Gooding HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Ventura, Calif. / Ventura HS Phelan, Calif. / Serrano HS Powell, Wyo. / Powell HS Conrad, Mont. / Conrad HS Bellows Falls, Vt. / New Hampton School
5
MSU-Northern Numerical Roster
Carroll College Numerical Roster # Name
October 27, 2017
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 65 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 78 79 80 81 83 84 85
Name
Yr. Pos. Ht.
Donovan Garner Jett Robertson Corey Lee Trey Blanchard Bryce Missey Jarrod Lucas BJ Peters Morgan McCrary Sam Mix Dylan Cook Jess Krahn Garet Fowler Caymus Thomas Bryce Bumgardner Kagen Khameneh Andrew Morgan Jase McCammond Marvin Williams Christian Williams Dequincy Bergen Tommy Wilson Steven Fernandez Basie Destefanis Dylan Kelley Wylie Novak Tommy Langley Connor Crawford Sam Tapia Bob Schenk Jake Norby Sam Edwards Brooks Dunn Devariej Criss Dakota Schelling Jace Koester Cody Lucke Colt Pederson Adrian Leos Kenneth Pruttis Peter Hamilton Kingston Sua Wyatt McKinlay Jake French Jaren Maki Ian Sparrow Elijah Cox Alec Wagner Brandon Moes Aaron Dolfay Mitchell Harmon Trenton Woodward Gerlad Brascome Joe Fehr Tyler Pallas Dale Cummings Robert Johnson Roger Guillory James Sullivan Ryan Handley Dylan Schmidt Clint Willis Skylor Africa Barnes Jaxon Simonson Duntreal Moss Jake Horner Darius Hatcher Beau Wilhelm Fotios Jordanoglou Kitrell Willingham
Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. So. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So.
WR RB DB RB QB DB RB DB WR QB TE LB WR WR TE LB DB WR DB DB QB LB DB DB DB K RB P LB LB LB LB DB LB RB LB LB LB TE LB TE TE LB LB DL OL LB OL LB DL OL OL DL LB OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR WR WR WR TE
5-8 6-0 5-10 5-10 6-0 5-9 5-10 5-10 6-1 6-6 6-4 5-10 5-10 6-1 6-3 6-1 5-10 5-10 6-3 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-0 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-0 5-10 5-9 6-0 5-7 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-5 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-7 6-1 6-3 6-5 5-9 5-9 6-0 5-10 6-1
Wt. Hometown
180 200 190 200 200 175 195 190 190 290 230 225 165 185 240 235 170 170 190 200 205 210 195 175 175 190 190 180 225 200 210 190 175 185 180 205 200 195 210 225 210 205 215 220 230 280 225 240 240 245 275 280 205 210 300 250 270 290 265 275 300 300 280 305 160 165 200 180 225
Miami, Florida Glendale, Arizona Moorpark, California Bloomington, Minn. Spanaway, Washi. Hayward, California Rio Vista, California Las Vegas, Nevada Sammamish, Wash. Butte, Montana Hockinson, Wash. Belgrade, Montana Spokane, Washington Saint Helens, Oregon Missoula, Montana Waianae, Hawaii Spokane Valley, Wash. Puyallup, Washington Spokane Valley, Wa. Houston, Texas Fresno, California Apopka, Florida Fresno, California Mesa, Arizona Cut Bank, Montana Tracy, California Missoula, Montana Carlsbad, California Missoula, Montana Chinook, Montana Duarte, California Chandler, Arizona Tacoma, Washington Fallon, Nevada Queen Creek, Arizona Browning, Montana Shelby, Montana Casa Grande, Arizona Chinook, Montana Cut Bank, Montana Federal Way, Wash. Geraldine, Montana Choteau, Montana Belt, Montana Mesa, Arizona Glendale, Arizona Laurel, Montana Great Falls, Montana Portland, Oregon Rancho, California Three Forks, Montana Eureka, Montana Eureka, Montana Chehalis, Washington Cremona, Alberta Stevensville, Montana Kalispell, Montana Burlington, Washington Missoula, Montana Nine Mile Falls, MT. Gardiner, Montana Banks, Oregon Rudyard, Montana Kalispell, Montana Great Falls, Montana Parkland, Washington White Lake, Michigan Ripon, California Parkland, Washington
No. 88 89 90 91 92 95 98
Name
Yr. Pos. Ht.
Seth Roemmelle Jordan Pugh Connor Coyne Connor Koker Josh Wright Elijah Dennison Ronnie Chavez
Redshirts Xavier Alefaio Chase Alexander Colten Bonny Kody Bowman Chase Garcia Chase Gilbert RJ Henry Joehnis Joyce Justin King Chasen Kipp Koby McCallum Colton Michaels Lucas Olson Justin Pfeifer Chase Storey Ostin Welch
Jr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. Fr.
Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.
Wt. Hometown
WR TE DL LB DL DL DL
6-0 6-5 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-2
190 230 255 215 240 255 245
Claresholm, Alberta Tacoma, Washington Virginia City, Nevada Spokane, Washington Sammamish, Wash. Enumclaw, Washington Missoula, Montana
WR DL DL OL RB LB WR WR OL WR DB OL DL DL LB DB
6-2 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-6 5-10 5-11 6-3 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-2
200 265 265 250 185 200 180 190 290 180 180 220 220 275 190 175
Parkland, Wash. Seattle, Wash. Columbia Falls, MT Chandler, Arizona Valencia, Calif. Green Acres, Wash. Fairbanks, Alaska Tacoma, Wash. Fromberg, MT. Heart Butte, MT. Salem, Oregon Prosser, Wash. Eatonville, Wash. Cut Bank, MT. Roy, Utah Malta, MT.
2017 Montana State University-Northern Football Staff Jake Eldridge, defensive coordinator, strength & conditioning; Anvil Sinisibaugh offensive line, recruiting coordinator; Jorge Magana, linebackers; Kevin Murphy, linebackers; Dane Vanderpan, defensive line; Lance Marshall, wide receivers; Darold DeBolt, defensive line; Rick Wells, defensive backs. Athletic Director: Christian Oberquell; Certified Athletic Trainer: Nichole Borst; Sports Information: Kristie Pulin.
6
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
October 27, 2017
Kagen: MSU-N tight end has been there every step of the way
Kagen: The team has always mattered most to Khameneh
■ From Page 2
■ From Page 6
mates and some of the best friends I’ve ever had, that’s a big part of it. Those friends, those guys like Sam and Tyler Craig and Zach McKinley, who fought and have gone through the same things as I have, those guys are why I’m still here.” No question, Khameneh has set an incredibly great example for any athlete on how to handle adversity. And in reality, he’s had plenty of practice at handling adversity, and it started long before he came to Northern. In high school, Khameneh suffered a couple of diagnosed concussions, and walked away from football after his sophomore season. For a time, and especially after watching former Missoula prep standout Dylan Steigers tragically pass away from concussion-related issues while playing football at Eastern Oregon, Khameneh was sound in his decision to give up football. But, as time went on, and with his final year of high school approaching, Khameneh said the itch to play returned. “Honestly, in high school, football wasn’t that big of a deal to me, and I didn’t even play my junior year,” he noted. “But, after not playing, I kind of started to feel like I had made a big mistake. And things started to change. I decided to start playing again, and I dedicated myself to making up for what I missed. When you love football, and you don’t have it, that’s when you realize
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern senior Kagen Khameneh hauls in a pass during a game against Rocky Mountain College earlier this month at Blue Pony Stadium. Despite not getting as many balls as he would have liked thrown his way over the years, Khameneh has been as reliable a player as the Lights have had. In his four seasons, the two-year captain has played 32 straight games, with 27 straight starts.
www.havredailynews.com
how much you love it and how much you do care.” His senior year at Missoula Sentinel, Khameneh was back in the pads, feeling good, and he started to garner attention because of his size and athleticism. And that’s when then Northern offensive coordinator Kyle Samson came calling. “I didn’t know if I was going to play college football or just go to school,” Khameneh said. “But when Kyle Samson recruited me, I was like, that’s exactly who I want to play for. I’d play for that guy any day, anywhere.” And while Khameneh actually never got the chance to play for the younger Samson, as he later became the head coach at Flathead High, he was at Northern, and literally months into his collegiate football career, he was on the field, playing the 2014 season under then interim head coach Jake Eldridge. “I didn’t think I would play until my junior year really,” Khameneh said. “But they put me out there a lot on special teams, and by the end of my freshman year, I was playing a lot at tight end.” Tight end was a perfect fit for the 6-3, 240-pound Khameneh. And, in his time at Northern, every one of his coaches, and many around the Frontier Conference, have noted how good of a tight end he’s been. And yet,
n
See Kagen Page 7
adversity and challenges have reared their head, even when it comes to the position he plays. For all of his ability, all of his athletic prowess, and for having appeared in an incredible 32 games, including 27 starts, Khameneh has seen few balls come his way. In fact, for his entire career, he has just 48 receptions for 429 yards and a lone touchdown. In his final campaign for Northern, even when the Lights have had a more wide-open passing attack, he has just eight catches for 45 yards. And if Khameneh were a selfish football player, and a different kind of person, he may have more than just frustration with the lack of targets and the lack of numbers that have certainly cost him a serious a look at AllConference accolades. But, again, that’s just not who Khameneh is. “It has been frustrating at times,” he said. “Because I feel like I’m a really good football player and I do think I can be weapon. But honestly, my first three years, we had Zach (McKinley), and we ran the ball a lot, and my job was to block for him. And trust me, I loved it. It was special to be able to play with Zach. “But at the end of the day, I don’t know exactly why I haven’t gotten more looks,” he continued. “But I’ve always felt that the most important thing to me was the team. I’ve went out there every single day accepting my role and doing the best I can to help my team. If that’s been blocking more than catching passes, than that’s what I was gonna do, and do it as well as I possibly could. The team has always mattered more to me than stats and stuff like that.” Not only has Khameneh, a two-year captain, been one of the most unselfish players Northern has ever had, because of how much he cares about his team, he’s also been one of the most reliable, and dependable. His blocking during McKinley’s historic career has not gone unnoticed, but something else may have – and it’s something Khameneh says, even through a career that
7
his seen his teams win just five games, he’s extremely proud of. “The thing that I really take pride in is, I’ve always been there,” Khameneh said. “I’ve never missed a game. From the first game they put me in my freshman year, I’ve been there. I haven’t missed a spring or a fall camp. That’s something I feel really good about. I’ve done everything I can to help my team and to help Northern.” Indeed. There’s no telling where the Northern program would be without the leadership and integrity of Khameneh. Through some of the most trying and difficult times any college football program has endured, Khameneh has been an influence in every right way a student-athlete can be. He’s played the game, and played it the right way, and he’s been a model student-athlete. Those are things no one can ever take away from him. He’s set an example for every football player that has come through Northern’s program in his time as a Light, whether they’ve chosen to follow it or not. That’s what leaders do. And, as he gets ready to exit stage left, with a mere three games remaining in his MSU-N career, he’ll set that same example. “The message I would leave the younger guys, the guys that are thinking about quitting or if being here is the best thing for them,” he said. “Think about others before you think about yourself. Think about your teammates, the guys you work so hard with in winter conditioning, and spring ball and practice. Those were the best times for me, and I wouldn’t have traded any of it. So I say, think about your teammates, your friends and your family, before you think about yourself. That’s what I’ve always tried to do in my career.” You haven’t tried to do that Kagen — that’s exactly what you’ve done. And no matter what the scoreboard says, or what your career stats don’t say, because of what you’ve done in your time on the hill in Havre, Northern, on the football field and off it, is better off because of who you are, and what you’re about.
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Not only is Northern senior tight end Kagen Khameneh one of the top tight ends in the Frontier Conference, he's also an outstanding student, who will graduate with a biology degree from MSU-N this spring. Khameneh will also be making his 28th straight start for the Lights when they host Carroll College Saturday afternoon at Blue Pony Stadium. For more photos of Khameneh, go to www.havredailynews.com.
6
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
October 27, 2017
Kagen: MSU-N tight end has been there every step of the way
Kagen: The team has always mattered most to Khameneh
■ From Page 2
■ From Page 6
mates and some of the best friends I’ve ever had, that’s a big part of it. Those friends, those guys like Sam and Tyler Craig and Zach McKinley, who fought and have gone through the same things as I have, those guys are why I’m still here.” No question, Khameneh has set an incredibly great example for any athlete on how to handle adversity. And in reality, he’s had plenty of practice at handling adversity, and it started long before he came to Northern. In high school, Khameneh suffered a couple of diagnosed concussions, and walked away from football after his sophomore season. For a time, and especially after watching former Missoula prep standout Dylan Steigers tragically pass away from concussion-related issues while playing football at Eastern Oregon, Khameneh was sound in his decision to give up football. But, as time went on, and with his final year of high school approaching, Khameneh said the itch to play returned. “Honestly, in high school, football wasn’t that big of a deal to me, and I didn’t even play my junior year,” he noted. “But, after not playing, I kind of started to feel like I had made a big mistake. And things started to change. I decided to start playing again, and I dedicated myself to making up for what I missed. When you love football, and you don’t have it, that’s when you realize
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern senior Kagen Khameneh hauls in a pass during a game against Rocky Mountain College earlier this month at Blue Pony Stadium. Despite not getting as many balls as he would have liked thrown his way over the years, Khameneh has been as reliable a player as the Lights have had. In his four seasons, the two-year captain has played 32 straight games, with 27 straight starts.
www.havredailynews.com
how much you love it and how much you do care.” His senior year at Missoula Sentinel, Khameneh was back in the pads, feeling good, and he started to garner attention because of his size and athleticism. And that’s when then Northern offensive coordinator Kyle Samson came calling. “I didn’t know if I was going to play college football or just go to school,” Khameneh said. “But when Kyle Samson recruited me, I was like, that’s exactly who I want to play for. I’d play for that guy any day, anywhere.” And while Khameneh actually never got the chance to play for the younger Samson, as he later became the head coach at Flathead High, he was at Northern, and literally months into his collegiate football career, he was on the field, playing the 2014 season under then interim head coach Jake Eldridge. “I didn’t think I would play until my junior year really,” Khameneh said. “But they put me out there a lot on special teams, and by the end of my freshman year, I was playing a lot at tight end.” Tight end was a perfect fit for the 6-3, 240-pound Khameneh. And, in his time at Northern, every one of his coaches, and many around the Frontier Conference, have noted how good of a tight end he’s been. And yet,
n
See Kagen Page 7
adversity and challenges have reared their head, even when it comes to the position he plays. For all of his ability, all of his athletic prowess, and for having appeared in an incredible 32 games, including 27 starts, Khameneh has seen few balls come his way. In fact, for his entire career, he has just 48 receptions for 429 yards and a lone touchdown. In his final campaign for Northern, even when the Lights have had a more wide-open passing attack, he has just eight catches for 45 yards. And if Khameneh were a selfish football player, and a different kind of person, he may have more than just frustration with the lack of targets and the lack of numbers that have certainly cost him a serious a look at AllConference accolades. But, again, that’s just not who Khameneh is. “It has been frustrating at times,” he said. “Because I feel like I’m a really good football player and I do think I can be weapon. But honestly, my first three years, we had Zach (McKinley), and we ran the ball a lot, and my job was to block for him. And trust me, I loved it. It was special to be able to play with Zach. “But at the end of the day, I don’t know exactly why I haven’t gotten more looks,” he continued. “But I’ve always felt that the most important thing to me was the team. I’ve went out there every single day accepting my role and doing the best I can to help my team. If that’s been blocking more than catching passes, than that’s what I was gonna do, and do it as well as I possibly could. The team has always mattered more to me than stats and stuff like that.” Not only has Khameneh, a two-year captain, been one of the most unselfish players Northern has ever had, because of how much he cares about his team, he’s also been one of the most reliable, and dependable. His blocking during McKinley’s historic career has not gone unnoticed, but something else may have – and it’s something Khameneh says, even through a career that
7
his seen his teams win just five games, he’s extremely proud of. “The thing that I really take pride in is, I’ve always been there,” Khameneh said. “I’ve never missed a game. From the first game they put me in my freshman year, I’ve been there. I haven’t missed a spring or a fall camp. That’s something I feel really good about. I’ve done everything I can to help my team and to help Northern.” Indeed. There’s no telling where the Northern program would be without the leadership and integrity of Khameneh. Through some of the most trying and difficult times any college football program has endured, Khameneh has been an influence in every right way a student-athlete can be. He’s played the game, and played it the right way, and he’s been a model student-athlete. Those are things no one can ever take away from him. He’s set an example for every football player that has come through Northern’s program in his time as a Light, whether they’ve chosen to follow it or not. That’s what leaders do. And, as he gets ready to exit stage left, with a mere three games remaining in his MSU-N career, he’ll set that same example. “The message I would leave the younger guys, the guys that are thinking about quitting or if being here is the best thing for them,” he said. “Think about others before you think about yourself. Think about your teammates, the guys you work so hard with in winter conditioning, and spring ball and practice. Those were the best times for me, and I wouldn’t have traded any of it. So I say, think about your teammates, your friends and your family, before you think about yourself. That’s what I’ve always tried to do in my career.” You haven’t tried to do that Kagen — that’s exactly what you’ve done. And no matter what the scoreboard says, or what your career stats don’t say, because of what you’ve done in your time on the hill in Havre, Northern, on the football field and off it, is better off because of who you are, and what you’re about.
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Not only is Northern senior tight end Kagen Khameneh one of the top tight ends in the Frontier Conference, he's also an outstanding student, who will graduate with a biology degree from MSU-N this spring. Khameneh will also be making his 28th straight start for the Lights when they host Carroll College Saturday afternoon at Blue Pony Stadium. For more photos of Khameneh, go to www.havredailynews.com.
8
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
www.havredailynews.com
1 Connor Fohn 2 Ryan Beaulieu 3 TJ Abraham 3 Major Ali 4 Isazah King 5 Joe Farris 6 Chandler Arbizzani 6 Brayden Frohlich 7 Brian FauntLeRoy 8 Conner Poulson 9 Colin Sassano 10 Kolby Killoy 11 Tony Madsen 12 Tanner Gustavsen 12 Anthony Olmes 13 Cameron Hardt 13 Dylan Torgerson 14 Troy Arntson 15 Matt McHugh 16 Ryan Arntson 17 Reese Hiibel 18 McBride Galt 19 Xavier Pace 19 Paul Wilson 20 Griphen Le 21 Parker Bernhardt 22 Henry Hill 23 Drew Melton 24 Thomas Trefney 25 Matt Kvech 26 Wesley Harshbarger 26 Ryan Walsh 27 Parker Stenersen 28 Kyle Kazmierski 28 Jack McIntyre 29 Cole Adams 30 Colbey Bruney 30 Kyle Harrington 31 Chase Bowen 32 Beaugh Meyer 33 Tyler Matteucci 34 Tucker Johnson 35 Erik Haun 36 Cole Greff 37 Derek David 37 Liam Vincent 38 Stephen Lindsey 39 Craig Kein 40 Payton Sexe 41 Zachary Hanser 42 Dylan Kresge 43 Thomas Robitaille 44 Reece Quade 45 Nate McGree 46 Luke Gleasman 47 Josh Kraft 48 Eric Dawson 49 David Anderson 49 Ken Roth 50 Archie Petritz 51 Dylan Piva 52 Alex Reid 53 Billy Lewis 54 Michael Monaco 56 David Barnett 57 David Petersen 58 Brandon Ahlgren 59 Dustin McLean 61 Joel Kramer 64 J.D Lyle 65 Tim Pays 67 Todd Pays 68 Willy Clements
Pos.
WR DB WR RB CB WR DB QB DB RB DB QB DB QB WR DB P/K WR QB RB QB/DB DB DB WR RB LB RB DB RB DB RB RB DB DL RB DB DB RB LB DT OLB DB LB DE RB DB RB LB LB DB LB LB LB LB TE K TE LB OLB LB LB DL DL DL OT DL OL OL C OL OL OL OL
Ht.
6-1 5-11 5-8 5-7 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-7 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-1 6-2 5-8 6-2 5-7 6-1 6-2 5-9 5-11 5-11 6-1 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-8 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-4 5-11 6-0 5-9 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-3
Wt. 200 185 178 200 190 190 190 240 195 240 180 190 202 195 175 185 200 170 205 180 175 205 175 175 210 202 190 190 215 190 205 195 160 190 182 175 180 215 225 275 216 200 225 260 210 200 195 225 245 205 225 205 232 205 250 170 235 220 195 200 215 255 230 250 280 245 265 250 280 270 295 290 295
Yr.
Jr. Jr. Fr. So. So. So. Sr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. Fr. So. R-Fr. So. Jr. So. R-Fr. So. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. R-Fr. Jr. So. R-Fr. So. Sr. R-Fr. Sr. Fr. So. So. So. R-Fr. So. So. R-Fr. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. R-Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. R-Fr. Fr. So. Sr. R-Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr.
Hometown
Salem, Ore. / South Salem HS Las Vegas, Nev. / Palo Verde HS Powell, Wyo. / Powell HS Gig Harbor, Wash. / Pennensula HS Hidden Valley, Calif. / Lower Lake HS Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS Billings, Mont. / Skyview HS Missoula, Mont. / Hellgate HS Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS Boise, Idaho / Capital HS Helena, Mont. / Capital HS Pasco, Wash. / Pasco HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Boise, Idaho / Boise HS Vallejo, Calif. / St.Patrick/St. Vincent HS Cheney, Wash. / Cheney HS Kalispell, Mont. / Flathead HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Afton, Wyo. / Star Valley HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Bonner, Mont. / Hellgate HS Coeur D'Alene, Idaho / Coeur D'Alene Billings, Mont. / West HS Glenwood Springs, Colo. / Glenwood Lewiston, Idaho / Lewiston HS Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS Renton, Wash. / Eastside Catholic HS Twin Bridges / Twin Bridges HS Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS Idaho Falls, Idaho / Skyline HS Coeur D' Alene, Idaho / Lake City HS Buffalo, Wyo. / Buffalo HS Glenwood Springs, Colo. / Glenwood Sheridan, Wyo. / Sheridan HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Emmett, Idaho / New Plymouth HS Boise, Idaho / Capital HS East Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Billings, Mont. / Junipero Serra HS Boise, Idaho / Mountain View HS Golden, Colo. / Golden HS Idaho Falls, Idaho / Hillcrest HS Riverton, Wyo. / Riverton HS Columbia Falls, Mont. / Columbia Falls Burlington, Ill. / Burlington Central HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Billings, Mont. / Billings Central HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Casper, Wyo. / Natrona County HS Billings, Mont. / Skyview HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Chelan, Wash. / Chelan HS Billings, Mont. / Billings Central HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Frenchtown, Mont. / Frenchtown HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Rathdrum, Idaho / Lakeland HS Spokane, Wash. / Mead HS Larkspur, Calif. / Redwood HS Anaconda, Mont. / Anaconda HS Hermiston, Ore. / Hermiston HS Helena, Mont. / Capital HS Canby, Ore. / West Linn HS Lewiston, Idaho / Lewiston HS Missoula, Mont. / Hellgate HS Middleton, Idaho / Middleton HS Sandpoint, Idaho / Sandpoint HS Sandpoint, Idaho / Sandpoint HS Nederland, Colo. / Holy Family HS
70 Tanner Steele OL 71 John Boynton OL 74 Anthony Donofrio OL 75 Tyson Frayley OL 76 Chris Emter OL 77 Anthony Reisch OL 79 Jacob Clark OL 80 Sam Stratton TE 81 Shane Sipes WR 82 Addison Vergara WR 83 William Noce-Sheldon WR 84 Walker Ray OLB 85 Connor McGree TE 86 Kyle Pierce WR 87 Paul Hart WR 88 Chase Fossum WR 89 Patrick Kosena WR 90 Alex Hoffman TE 91 Alec Basterrechea DE 92 Alex Thomas LB 93 Alex Hurlbut DE 94 Garrett Kocab DL 96 Jackson Griffin OLB 97 Hunter Mycke LB 99 Seamus Tully DL
6-4 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-6 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-2
255 275 250 240 302 280 250 240 190 210 190 245 245 190 190 206 190 245 250 230 260 265 200 215 280
Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. So. R-Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. So. R-So. Jr. R-Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Fr. R-Fr. Fr. R-Fr.
Lynden, Wash. / Lynden HS Richland, Wash. / Richland HS Coeur D' Alene, Idaho / Lake City HS San Carlos, Calif. / Sequoia HS Livingston, Mont. / Park HS Pasco, Wash. / Chiawana HS Bonney Lake, Wash. / Sumner HS Spokane, Wash. / Shadle Park HS Newbury Park, Calif. / Newbury Park HS Greeley, Colo. / Greeley West HS Camas, Wash. / Seton Catholic HS Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS Butte, Mont. / Butte Central HS Nampa, Idaho / Skyview HS Helena, Mont. / Helena HS Glasgow, Mont. / Glasgow HS Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart HS Draper, Utah / Juan Diego HS Gooding, Idaho / Gooding HS Great Falls, Mont. / C.M. Russell HS Ventura, Calif. / Ventura HS Phelan, Calif. / Serrano HS Powell, Wyo. / Powell HS Conrad, Mont. / Conrad HS Bellows Falls, Vt. / New Hampton School
5
MSU-Northern Numerical Roster
Carroll College Numerical Roster # Name
October 27, 2017
No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 65 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 78 79 80 81 83 84 85
Name
Yr. Pos. Ht.
Donovan Garner Jett Robertson Corey Lee Trey Blanchard Bryce Missey Jarrod Lucas BJ Peters Morgan McCrary Sam Mix Dylan Cook Jess Krahn Garet Fowler Caymus Thomas Bryce Bumgardner Kagen Khameneh Andrew Morgan Jase McCammond Marvin Williams Christian Williams Dequincy Bergen Tommy Wilson Steven Fernandez Basie Destefanis Dylan Kelley Wylie Novak Tommy Langley Connor Crawford Sam Tapia Bob Schenk Jake Norby Sam Edwards Brooks Dunn Devariej Criss Dakota Schelling Jace Koester Cody Lucke Colt Pederson Adrian Leos Kenneth Pruttis Peter Hamilton Kingston Sua Wyatt McKinlay Jake French Jaren Maki Ian Sparrow Elijah Cox Alec Wagner Brandon Moes Aaron Dolfay Mitchell Harmon Trenton Woodward Gerlad Brascome Joe Fehr Tyler Pallas Dale Cummings Robert Johnson Roger Guillory James Sullivan Ryan Handley Dylan Schmidt Clint Willis Skylor Africa Barnes Jaxon Simonson Duntreal Moss Jake Horner Darius Hatcher Beau Wilhelm Fotios Jordanoglou Kitrell Willingham
Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr. Sr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. So. Jr. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So.
WR RB DB RB QB DB RB DB WR QB TE LB WR WR TE LB DB WR DB DB QB LB DB DB DB K RB P LB LB LB LB DB LB RB LB LB LB TE LB TE TE LB LB DL OL LB OL LB DL OL OL DL LB OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR WR WR WR TE
5-8 6-0 5-10 5-10 6-0 5-9 5-10 5-10 6-1 6-6 6-4 5-10 5-10 6-1 6-3 6-1 5-10 5-10 6-3 5-11 6-1 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-0 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-0 5-10 5-9 6-0 5-7 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-5 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-4 6-7 6-1 6-3 6-5 5-9 5-9 6-0 5-10 6-1
Wt. Hometown
180 200 190 200 200 175 195 190 190 290 230 225 165 185 240 235 170 170 190 200 205 210 195 175 175 190 190 180 225 200 210 190 175 185 180 205 200 195 210 225 210 205 215 220 230 280 225 240 240 245 275 280 205 210 300 250 270 290 265 275 300 300 280 305 160 165 200 180 225
Miami, Florida Glendale, Arizona Moorpark, California Bloomington, Minn. Spanaway, Washi. Hayward, California Rio Vista, California Las Vegas, Nevada Sammamish, Wash. Butte, Montana Hockinson, Wash. Belgrade, Montana Spokane, Washington Saint Helens, Oregon Missoula, Montana Waianae, Hawaii Spokane Valley, Wash. Puyallup, Washington Spokane Valley, Wa. Houston, Texas Fresno, California Apopka, Florida Fresno, California Mesa, Arizona Cut Bank, Montana Tracy, California Missoula, Montana Carlsbad, California Missoula, Montana Chinook, Montana Duarte, California Chandler, Arizona Tacoma, Washington Fallon, Nevada Queen Creek, Arizona Browning, Montana Shelby, Montana Casa Grande, Arizona Chinook, Montana Cut Bank, Montana Federal Way, Wash. Geraldine, Montana Choteau, Montana Belt, Montana Mesa, Arizona Glendale, Arizona Laurel, Montana Great Falls, Montana Portland, Oregon Rancho, California Three Forks, Montana Eureka, Montana Eureka, Montana Chehalis, Washington Cremona, Alberta Stevensville, Montana Kalispell, Montana Burlington, Washington Missoula, Montana Nine Mile Falls, MT. Gardiner, Montana Banks, Oregon Rudyard, Montana Kalispell, Montana Great Falls, Montana Parkland, Washington White Lake, Michigan Ripon, California Parkland, Washington
No. 88 89 90 91 92 95 98
Name
Yr. Pos. Ht.
Seth Roemmelle Jordan Pugh Connor Coyne Connor Koker Josh Wright Elijah Dennison Ronnie Chavez
Redshirts Xavier Alefaio Chase Alexander Colten Bonny Kody Bowman Chase Garcia Chase Gilbert RJ Henry Joehnis Joyce Justin King Chasen Kipp Koby McCallum Colton Michaels Lucas Olson Justin Pfeifer Chase Storey Ostin Welch
Jr. So. Fr. Fr. So. So. Fr.
Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr.
Wt. Hometown
WR TE DL LB DL DL DL
6-0 6-5 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-2
190 230 255 215 240 255 245
Claresholm, Alberta Tacoma, Washington Virginia City, Nevada Spokane, Washington Sammamish, Wash. Enumclaw, Washington Missoula, Montana
WR DL DL OL RB LB WR WR OL WR DB OL DL DL LB DB
6-2 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-3 6-6 5-10 5-11 6-3 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-2
200 265 265 250 185 200 180 190 290 180 180 220 220 275 190 175
Parkland, Wash. Seattle, Wash. Columbia Falls, MT Chandler, Arizona Valencia, Calif. Green Acres, Wash. Fairbanks, Alaska Tacoma, Wash. Fromberg, MT. Heart Butte, MT. Salem, Oregon Prosser, Wash. Eatonville, Wash. Cut Bank, MT. Roy, Utah Malta, MT.
2017 Montana State University-Northern Football Staff Jake Eldridge, defensive coordinator, strength & conditioning; Anvil Sinisibaugh offensive line, recruiting coordinator; Jorge Magana, linebackers; Kevin Murphy, linebackers; Dane Vanderpan, defensive line; Lance Marshall, wide receivers; Darold DeBolt, defensive line; Rick Wells, defensive backs. Athletic Director: Christian Oberquell; Certified Athletic Trainer: Nichole Borst; Sports Information: Kristie Pulin.
4
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
MSU-Northern Offensive Starters
Carroll College Defensive Starters
MSU-N 2017 Offensive Numbers
CC 2017 Defensive Numbers
Scoring: 17 ppg, last in Frontier Total offense: 363 ypg, 7th in Frontier
Seth Roemelle #88, 6-0, 190 Receiver
Ryan Beaulieau #2, 5-11, 185 Cornerback
Rushing: 153 ypg, 6th in Frontier
www.havredailynews.com
October 27, 2017
MSU-Northern Defensive Starters
CC 2017 Offensive Numbers
MSU-N 2017 Defensive Numbers
Scoring: 24 ppg, 4th in Frontier
Scoring: 52 ppg, last in Frontier
Total defense: 379 ypg, 4th in Frontier
Total defense: 557 ypg, last in Frontier
Rush defense: 123 ypg, 1st in Frontier
Rush defense: 286 ypg, last in Frontier
Scoring: 22 ppg, 6th in Frontier
Eldridge has been a coach at Northern for 10 season, including eight as defensive coordinator. He served as interim head coach in 2014. He was a was a four year starter and a four year team captain for the Lights at defensive back where he garnered AllConference and Academic All-Conference honors.
Dylan Schmidt #74, 6-4, 275 Offensive line
Tommy Wilson #22, 6-1, 205 Quarterback
Dale Cummings #65, 6-2, 300 Center
Beaugh Meyer #32, 6-2, 255 Defensive line
Peyton Sexe #40, 6-1, 245
Defensive line
Ryan Handley #73, 6-3, 265 Offensive line
Alec Basterrechea #91, 6-2, 250 Defensive line
Tommy Langley #27, 5-11, 190 Kicker
Marvin Williams #19, 5-10, 170 Receiver
Rushing: 164 ypg, 5th in Frontier
Parker Bernhardt #21, 6-1, 202 Linebacker Dequincy Bergen #21, 5-11, 200 Safety
Elijah Dennison #95, 6-2, 255 Defensive tackle GaretFowler #12, 5-10, 220 Linebacker
Reece Quade #44, 6-3, 232 Linebacker
David Anderson #49, 6-0, 220 Linebacker
Josh Wright #92, 6-2, 240 Defensive end
Cory Lee #3, 5-10, 190 Safety
JP Sullivan #72, 6-2, 290 Defensive line
Craig Kein #39, 6-1, 225 Linebacker
Mike Van Diest Carroll Head Coach
Willy Clements #68, 6-3, 295 Offensive line
Joel Kramer #61, 6-0, 280 Offensive line
Tanner Gustavsen #12, 6-4, 195 Quarterback
Ryan Walsh #26, 6-1, 195 Running back
Todd Pays #67, 6-4, 290 Offensive line
Alec Wagner
#52, 5-11, 225 Linebacker
Chris Emter #76, 6-4, 302 Offensive line
Roger Guillory #71, 5-10, 270 Offensive line
Troy Arnston
#14, 5-8, 170 Receiver
Jake Norby #31, 6-2, 200 Bandit
Eric Dawson #48, 6-1, 235 Tight end
Kagen Khameneh #15, 6-3, 240 Tight end Sam Tapia #89, 6-0, 180 Punter
Steven Fernandez #23, 6-0, 210 Linebacker
Tucker Johnson #34, 6-1 200 Safety Kitrell Willingham #85, 6-2, 225 Fullback
Total offense: 316 ypg, last in Frontier
David Barnett #56, 6-3, 280 Offensive line
McBride Galt #18, 6-2, 205 Safety
Trey Blanchard #4, 5-10, 200 Running Back
Joe Farris #5, 6-1, 190 Receiver
Jarrod Lucas #6, 5-9, 175 Cornerback
Clint Willis #75, 6-7, 300 Offensive line
Jake Eldridge MSU-N Interim Head Coach
Carroll College Offensive Starters
Devariej Criss #34, 5-9, 175 Corner Isazah King #4, 6-1, 190 Cornerback
Connor Fohn #1, 6-1, 200 Receiver
Dylan Torgerson
#13, 6-2, 200 Kicker/Punter
In 18 years as head coach at Carroll College, Mike Van Diest has led the Fighting Saints to six National Championships, 14 Frontier Conference Championships (including twelve straight titles from 20002011). The Saints have posted a 194-42 record during the past sixteen seasons. Van Diest is a 1970 graduate of Helena High School. His career has included stops at his alma mater, the University of Wyoming, the University of Montana, the University of Massachusetts, and the Big Ten representative, Northwestern University, as an assistant coach.
9
10
October 27, 2017
MSU-Northern Rewind
www.havredailynews.com
Even in tough times, Northern can be proud of September 17, 2016 From the Fringe...
October 27, 2017
Frontier Conference Standings
Southern Oregon Montana Tecch UM-Western Rocky Mountain College of Idaho Eastern Oregon Carroll College MSU-Northern
Conf. WL 7-0 6-1 4-3 4-3 3-4 2-5 2-5 0-7
Overall WL 7-0 6-1 4-4 4-4 3-5 2-5 2-5 1-7
Last Week Montana Tech 93, MSU-Northern 19 Carroll College 16, Rocky Mountain 3 UM-Western 30, Eastern Oregon 21 Southern Oregon 36, College of Idaho 7
George Ferguson Sports Editor
The win the Montana State University-Northern Lights earned against Carroll College, now 10 years ago, will always be remembered. And deservedly so. But, from Saturday forward, it won’t be remembered as the last time the Lights beat the Fighting Saints. No, the 2016 Lights put that phrase to rest. In fact, the way the Lights played against nationally-ranked Carroll Saturday, they buried it. They buried it for good. And that’s something these current Lights needed. They needed to win, they needed it for the football program at Northern, they needed it for the fans who support them, and most importantly, the players needed it for themselves. Yes, there was no doubt the Lights believed they were going to win a game this season. In fact, these Lights have played so well, and are so far removed from the team that went 0-11 a year ago, they were brimming with confidence before the season started, and even after two losses to start the 2016 campaign. However, while confident they were a team that was capable of winning games, and while knowing that first win of the Aaron Christensen era would come, they might not have known, at least when the schedule was released last summer, that muchneeded, and much-wanted win would come at home, against Carroll. Oh the irony of it all. A month shy of 10 years from the last time the Lights beat the Saints, they did it again. And, make no mistake, while winning a game, any game, was important to the Lights, beating Carroll made it extra special. “We really wanted to get that win, especially against Carroll,” an emotional MSU-N senior Tyler Craig said. “It’s a damn good feeling. There’s just something about Carroll that everybody wants to beat them.” And beat the Saints the Lights did. But this time around, Northern wasn’t playing for history. Northern wasn’t trying to dethrone Carroll
www.havredailynews.com
Saturday, Oct. 28 MSU-Northern vs Carroll College Rocky Mountain at Montana Tech UM-Western at Southern Oregon College of Idaho at Eastern Oregon
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson The last time Carroll College came to Havre, the MSU-Northern Lights earned a historic victory.
from its Frontier Conference perch, or snap a 31-game Carroll winning streak, or even give itself a chance at a first-ever conference title. No, this win against Carroll was different. This time around, the Lights were playing for something equally as important, they were playing to prove they’re a good football team. They were playing to prove they can win football games on Saturdays, just like every college football team in America does each and every fall. This time, the Lights were playing to earn respect, and to just taste victory. And, boy did they ever do all of that Saturday, and more. The Lights proved to themselves, to their fans, to their coaches who push and work to get the very best out of them each day, that they can win, that they will win, and that they are indeed a good football team. Those are things I believed, and knew already. And they are things the Lights knew too. Deep down, they already knew it all, they knew that they were good. They just had to go out and do it. In football, in athletics, you have to prove on the field of battle, and this Lights’ team just hadn’t quite done that yet … that is until Saturday, and until they met Carroll College for the first time this season. And all the proof that’s needed was on the Blue Pony Stadium scoreboard for all to see Saturday. The proving is over. These Lights can win. These Lights can beat the Carroll College’s
of the world. They know it now and so do we. Yes, 2006 will never go away. In fact, Northern student-athletes and coaches are reminded of it every day because a picture of that glorious October day hangs in the lobby of the MSU-N athletic department. That day will never be forgotten and rightfully so. But, at the same time, the page has been turned. For now, there are no more losing streaks against the mighty Saints. For now at least, there’s no more anguish about losing at Northern, of any kind. Of the many amazing memories the 2016 Lights made on Saturday, and it was an amazing Saturday, the fact that the Lights vanquished some ghosts is one of them. The Lights exercised a bunch of demons Saturday, and they did it in dominant and exciting fashion. Make no mistake about it, Northern was the better team Saturday from start to finish. And that win, that one day, is something no one can ever take away from them. So congratulations to the 2016 Lights. Congrats to head coach Aaron Christensen on your first win. Here’s hoping there are many more. But, no matter what the future holds, you guys have earned your own day, your own place in MSU-N history. You did that Saturday, and you did it against Carroll. It doesn’t get much better than that.
NAIA Coaches Poll Rec. Pts. 1. Saint Francis (Ind.) 8-0 340 2. Baker (Kan.) 8-0 327 3. Reinhardt (Ga.) 6-0 312 4. Morningside (Iowa) 8-0 303 5. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)7-0 286 6. Grand View (Iowa) 7-1 272 7. Southern Oregon 7-0 265 8. Langston (Okla.) 7-0 237 9. Georgetown (Ky.) 6-0 235 10. Saint Xavier (Ill.) 6-1 223 11. Montana Tech 6-1 218 12. Benedictine (Kan.) 7-1 201
Prv. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13. Southeastern (Fla.) 6-1 14. Northwestern 7-1 15. Dickinson State 6-1 16. Concordia (Mich.) 7-1 17. SAGU (Texas) 6-1 18. Sterling (Kan.) 6-2 19. Tabor (Kan.) 6-2 20. Campbellsville 6-0 21. Marian (Ind.) 4-3 22. Cumberland 6-3 23. Arizona Christian 5-3 24. Doane (Neb.) 4-3 25. Dakota State (S.D.) 6-2
179 170 157 150 129 109 104 96 85 52 36 35 25
14 15 16 17 18 t20 t20 25 13 22 23 19 NR
Others receiving votes: : Kansas Wesleyan 7; Evangel (Mo.) 6; Oklahoma Panhandle State 5; Montana Western 4; Concordia (Neb.) 4; Peru State (Neb.) 3.
Frontier Conference Individual Leaders Week Seven
Passing: Tanner Trosin, SOU, 341 ypg Receiving: Dion Williams, MT, 97 ypg Receptions: Dion Williams, MT, 8 cpg Rushing: Jed Fike, MT, 156 ypg Tackles: Garet Fowler, MSU-N, 86 Sacks: Connor Wines, MT, 9 sacks INT's: Keenan Fagan, RMC, 5 ints
Lights Coaching Staff
Jim Potter The 2017 Montana State University-Northern coaching staff. From left to right: Dan Vanderpan (defensive line), Darold DeBolt (defensive line), Jake Eldridge (defensive coordinator, strength and conditioning), Rick Wells (defensive backs), Aaron Christensen (head coach, offensive coordinator), Anvil Sinsibaugh (offensive line, recruiting coordinator), Jorge Magana (linebacker, defensive line), Kevin Murphy (linebackers), Lance Marshall (wide receivers, tight ends).
3
2
October 27, 2017
www.havredailynews.com
www.havredailynews.com
October 27, 2017
11
Out of the darkness, comes the light Orediggers set new NAIA records A consummate studentathlete, Kagen Khameneh has set a shining example for how to handle adversity during his MSU-N tenure George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com He plays for a team nicknamed the Lights. But in four seasons at Montana State University-Northern playing football, Kagen Khameneh hasn’t seen the brightest of times. In fact, he’s been through some of Northern’s darkest days. And in those dark times, Khameneh has watched many of his former teammates give up on the Lights, give up on football
and essentially disappear. He’s also played through not one, not two, not even three, but four coaching changes at MSU-N. So, if Khameneh wasn’t who he was, he might have been one of the one’s to just disappear too. But, that’s not who Kagen Khameneh is. Never has been. Instead, the former Missoula prep standout, and senior tight end for the Lights, has endured. For many reasons, loyalty, dedication and character among them. And then there’s something else – Khameneh is a student playing football. In other words, he came to Northern to get a degree, and played football as a means to do it. “I guess, school is one of the big reasons why I have stuck this out,” Khameneh said ahead of his second-to-last home game as a Light. “Honestly, that’s a big one. I’m going to graduate in May, and going to school here has been really good for me. I love Northern. I’ve really enjoyed being a student here.” Khameneh won’t just graduate in May, he’ll do so with honors, with a biology degree. And while school has been a big focus
over the four years he’s been at MSU-N, relationships have made a big difference too. Through turbulent times that started when the head coach who recruited him, Mark Samson, was essentially forced to resign, Khameneh said that the relationships he’s built have kept him coming back to the practice field, kept him coming back to try and help a struggling program find some medium of success. “The friendships I’ve made here, that’s been huge for me,” he said. “Like take Sam Mix, he’s one of my best friends, and I look at what he went through, and I think, if he comes back, I can come back. I’ve just always felt it was important to come back, keep working hard, show my friends who are doing the same thing, and my teammates that, no matter what has happened, I still care. I’m still going to go out there and play hard. “So being with the other guys,” he continued. “Fighting out there with my team-
n
George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com There isn’t a lot of positives to take away from the Montana State UniversityNorthern Lights’ 93-19 loss at Montana Tech last Saturday in Butte. Unless you’re the Orediggers. For the second time in a month, Montana Tech set multiple offensive records against the Lights. On Sept. 9, the Orediggers scored a then school-record 70 points, and set another school record for total offense when they beat the Lights 70-27 at Blue pony Stadium. Things got worse for the Lights however, or better for Tech, depending on which way it’s looked at, last Saturday in Alumni Coliseum. Tech’s 93 points was a new school record and so was its 932 yards of offense, a s we l l a s i t s 51 9 ya rd s r u s h i n g . Interestingly, the Orediggers had one less first down in Saturday’s affair than they did in their win last month in Havre. Tech's
See Garner Page 6
MSU-Northern Lights vs Carroll College Fighting Saints Montana State University-Northern Location: Havre, Mont. Nickname: Lights Colors: Maroon and Yellow 2017 record: 0-7, 1-7
2016 record: 1-9, 1-9 Interim Head coach: Jake Eldridge Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium Streak: The last team Northern beat in a Frontier Conference game was Carroll, in September of 2016.
Saturday, October 28, 2017 Blue Pony Stadium ~ 1 p.m. Rocky Mountain College Location: Helena, Mont. Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern's Donovan Garner runs through the Rocky Mountain College defense during a 2016 Frontier Conference game in Havre. Khameneh, a senior tight end for the Lights, has been an unselfish, team leader, during what has been a difficult time for the Northern program. Khameneh will play the first of his last two games at Blue Pony Stadium, when the Lights host Carroll College Saturday.
Nickname: Fighting Saints Colors: Purple and Gold 2017 record: 2-5, 2-5
2016 record: 4-6, 4-6 Head coach: Mike Van Diest Stadium: Nelson Stadium Streak: Carroll needs to win all of its remaining games to avoid its third straight losing season.
9 3 2 ya r d s o f o f f e n s e appears to have set a new NAIA single-game record. The previous high listed at N A I A . o rg wa s 91 4 by Lenoir-Rhyne in 1975 and Morningside in 2014. Tech also tied the record for most touchdowns scored in a game with 12. What those numbers also did was garner attention from large media outlets, such as ESPN and Bleacher Report. as well as move Tech’s season totals way up. Going into its home game with Rocky Mountain College this Saturday, Tech is now averaging 51 points per game, 610 yards of offense per outing and 367 yards passing. Tech is second in the NAIA in both passing and total offense, third in first downs and fifth in scoring
offense. And yet, the Orediggers, for all their offensive fireworks, are still looking up at Southern Oregon in the Frontier Conference standings. SOU, which has one of the top-rated defense in the NAIA, improved to 7-0 last Saturday with a shutdown win against College of Idaho, and the highlyanticipated matchup between the Diggers and Raiders is now a mere three weeks away. Meanwhile, the Lights have season left too. They will come home and look to regroup this Saturday when they host 2-5 Carroll College. But they will do it without head coach Aaron Christensen, who resigned Wednesday. The Fighting Saints have struggled mightily offensively thus far, but, they
Today in the Frontier Conference
For the fourth straight season, Carroll College isn’t going to the NAIA playoffs. But, last Saturday, the Saints made sure a third Frontier team isn’t getting in either. Rocky was the league’s last hope at getting three Frontier squads into the playoffs, but that dream died on the new turf at Herb Klindt Field with Carroll’s 16-3 victory. The Fighting Saints absolutely shut down Rocky’s vaunted running attack, and by game’s end, the Bears had tallied just 260 yards of offense, including just 90 yards
n
See Notebook Page 12
2017 Frontier Conference Preseason Coaches Poll 1. Montana Tech; 2. Eastern Oregon; T3. Southern Oregon; T3. Carroll College; 5. UM-Western; T6. Rocky Mountain College; T6. College of Idaho; 8. MSU-Northern
1. Southern Oregon 2. Montana Tech 3. UM-Western 4. Rocky Mountain 5. College of Idaho 6. Carroll College 7. Eastern Oregon 8. MSU-Northern
At Montana State University-Northern Lights (0-7, 1-7)
UM-Western (4-3, 4-4) at #7 Southern Oregon (7-0, 7-0) in Ashland, Ore.
Playoff Update
Havre Daily News Frontier Conference Power Rankings
Carroll College Fighting Saints (2-5, 2-5)
Rocky Mountain (4-3, 4-4) at #11 Montana Tech (6-1, 6-1) in Butte, Mont.
did knock off Rocky last Saturday in Helena, and they own a 34-3 win over the Lights last month in Helena. Still, Northern last Frontier Conference win came against the Saints just over a year ago, so Saturday’s game at Blue Pony Stadium will be an intriguing one no doubt.
College of Idaho (3-4, 3-5) at Eastern Oregon (2-5, 2-5) in LaGrande, Ore.
Full Coverage on Twitter @HavreDaily
12
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.