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October 7, 2016
www.havredailynews.com
Notebook: Northern excited to play EOU under the lights n From Page 11
Lights weekend, and, Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said back in the summer that playing a night game at home would be an exciting thing for both his players and Northern fans. Of course, the Lights are also hoping for a win too. After knocking off Carroll back on Sept. 17, the Lights were battered by UM-Western the following week. MSU-N’s bye week came at a good time, and now the Lights’ defense must rally to stop the top offensive team in the Frontier Conference, and, the MSU-N defense should get help with an excitable and boisterous crowd, one that will be amped up for the night game. Numbers Game It’s not quite the halfway point in the 2016 season, at least not for most teams. But it’s still interesting to see who’s doing what
thus far. On the offensive side of the ball, it’s no surprise to see SOU leading the league in total offense and passing. The Raiders are averaging over 500 yards per game, and nearly 350 passing. EOU is second in passing at 295 yards per game. Scoring is definitely down in the Frontier this season, with Montana Tech averaging 36 points per game. At this point a year ago, three teams were averaging 39 or more points per contest. This season, only two teams average over 30 points, with SOU averaging 32 per contest. Western averages 29 ppg, followed by EOU at 27, RMC at 23, College of Idaho at 21, Carroll at 19 and Northern at 16. Rushing-wise, not a single team in the Frontier is averaging 200 yards this season, despite so many great running backs in the league. Western is first at 184 yards per
game, while SOU averages 180. And three teams, Rocky, Carroll and Northern, don’t even average 100 yards per outing. That’s again, a compliment to the great defenses in the Frontier. Three teams, Western, Tech and C of I, don’t even allow 20 ppg, while Tech’s defense is allowing just 315 yards per game. When it comes to total defense, Northern is holding solid, allowing just 361 yards, and in all, only EOU and SOU allow more than 400 yards per contest. Tech also has the best rush defense, while Northern is right there too, allowing just 118 yards per game, while Rocky is best against the pass at 200 yards allowed per outing.
Frontier Honors
SOU’s Jason Shelley was named Frontier Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Shelley is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound fresh-
man wide receiver from Fairfield, Calif. In No.9 Southern Oregon’s 31-27 conference win over College of Idaho, Shelley caught five passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. Also nominated; Darius-James Peterson of College of Idaho. SOU’s Keegan Lawrence is a 5-foot-11, 195 lbs, junior defensive back from Sherwood, Ore, who was named Frontier Defensive Player of the Week.In No. 9 Southern Oregon’s 31-27 win over College of Idaho, Lawrence recorded 10 solo tackles, one assisted tackle d one pass break-up. Also nominated: Forrest Rivers of College of Idaho. SOU’s Louis DesPrez, a junior punter from Pleasanton, Calif, was named Special Team’s Player of the Week. In No. 9 Southern Oregon’s 31-27 win over College of Idaho, DesPrez punted seven times for 282 yards (40 yard average). His longest was a 56-yarder.
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson MSU-Northern Alec Wagner, right, hits Carroll College running back Major Ali during a Frontier Conference game last month at Blue Pony Stadium. The Lights have one of the top rushing defenses in the conference heading into Saturday night's home game with nationally-ranked Eastern Oregon.