MSU-N Game Day Preview 8-26-2016

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Notebook: Frontier is again rich with great NAIA teams n From Page 11

190), as well as a defense led by stout linebackers and All-American safety Julius Rucker (6-2, 200), the Raiders are once again the league favorite. Of course, when you average over 48 points and 400 yards of offense over the last four seasons, it’s no wonder you’re heavily favored every year. And that’s just what the Raiders have done under Craig Howard. This season will be more of the same offensively, and, if SOU can win a tough road game at Carroll early in the season, the Raiders will be set up to win the league title, as they only play Montana Tech once and it’s in Ashland on the final day of the season.

Montana Tech Orediggers 2015: 9-1, 10-2, Frontier Champions, lost in NAIA QF Head Coach: Chuck Morrell (6th Season) Location: Butte Stadium: Alumni Coliseum Outlook: Things are really good at Montana Tech right now. The Orediggers went from worst to first a season ago, winning a Frontier title along the way. They have boatloads of talent, are dominating the Montana recruiting wars, and they have one of the best stadiums in all of NAIA football. But, as great as things are, and as great as last season was, Tech feels it can do better – like NAIA national championship better. Spearheaded by the running of senior Nolan Saraceni (5-10, 200), an NAIA All-American a year ago, and a healthy Quinn McQueary (6-3, 195) at quarterback, Tech’s offense should be as dynamic as any out there. The Orediggers do have question marks though. They have key receivers and linebackers to replace, but, if they can do that, and their defense, led by safety Gunnar Kayser (6-4, 215), holds up, they will be awfully tough to beat, especially if Saraceni duplicates last year’s 1,600-yard season, or bests it. And especially if McQueary stays on the field for all 10 games this season. Of course, Tech will also need to win on the road to win the Frontier, and that includes stops in Helena for the opening game of the season, and possibly the defacto Frontier title game in Ashland against SOU for the second year in a row.

Carroll College Fighting Saints 2015: 4-6, 4-6, T4 in Frontier Head Coach: Mike Van Diest (18th Season) Location: Helena Stadium: Nelson Stadium Outlook: The Fighting Saints don’t have losing seasons often, and when they do, they usually bounce back in a big way. And that’s what Carroll is trying to do this fall after suffering a rare losing season, which ended with back-to-back L’s. However, Carroll is a very young team, and bouncing back to be the king of the Frontier won’t be easy. The Saints are breaking in a new QB in senior J.T. Linder (6-2, 217), and they are still searching for answers at RB. They also lost a pair of All-American offensive linemen, and all three of their starting LB’s, as well as All-American safety James Dowgin. Still, Carroll is Carroll, and young players like Major Ali and Ryan Walsh will try and shore up the running game, while a loaded receiver group, led by Kyle Griffith (5-11, 185), Troy Arnston (5-8, 170) and Connor Fohn (6-1, 195) should be a strength. On defense, Carroll is solid on the line, and defensive back Ryan Gregory (6-0, 185) should be the anchor on the back end. And while there’s no denying CC has talent, Carroll will find out a lot about it-

self with a season-opening game against powerhouse Montana Tech. The Saints, ranked 22nd in the NAIA preseason Poll, also play favorite SOU just once, and it’s at home, and they also only play Eastern Oregon once, and it’s in Helena too. So, the schedule favors Carroll making a run at getting back to the top of the Frontier mountain.

Eastern Oregon Mountaineers 2015: 4-7, 4-7, T4 in Frontier Head Coach: Tim Camp (9th Season) Location: LaGrande, Ore. Stadium: Community Stadium Outlook: The Mounties have been a talented, team on the rise every single year in the Frontier. But, something always seems to get in the way. Last year, it was injuries and head-scratching home losses that held veteran head coach Tim Camp’s team back. And yet, optimisim is again high as EOU enters a new season ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll. Of course, with talents on offense like WR Calvin Connors (5-9, 170) and QB Zach Bartlow (6-0, 195) returing at QB, as well as stout defenders like Kyle Lanoue (6-1, 270), the Mounties should be optimisitic. They always have one of the top offenses in the league, and their defense has had its share of great moments too. But, in order to finally take the next step, and compete for a Frontier title, EOU must replace the production of graduated All-American Jase Billingsley, and, they must be more consistent. They must coutner the huge road wins they always seem to come up with, by winning games at home, and especially games where they’re favored. If EOU can do that this season, including knocking off rival SOU yet again, then, there is no reason to think the Mounties won’t be in the hunt for at least, an NAIA playoff berth.

College of Idaho Yotes 2015: 4-6, 4-7, T4 in Frontier Head Coach: Mike Moroski (4th Season) Location: Caldwell, Idaho Stadium: Simplot Stadium Outlook: If you’re looking to start a college football program from the ground up, then you want to model what College of Idaho has done. In just two seasons in the Frontier, the Yotes have won nine games. Their rise has been fast and furious, and, with one of the biggest home fan bases in the Frontier, and a talented recruiting base, they won’t slow down. So, it’s easy to see why C of I was picked to finsh near the top half of the Frontier this season. But, in order to get there, the Yotes have some offensive rebuilding to do. They lost QB TeeJay Gordon, and in all, their top three rushers. And, running the ball is what C of I does. Now, the lone returning star rusher the Yotes had last season, J.J. Hyde (6-2, 230), is moving to QB, so it will be interesting to see of the Yotes can continue to run their option offense the way they’re used to. Beyond the running game, C of I is deep and talented. They have perhaps the best TE in the country in Marcus Lenhardt (6-4, 225), big offensive and defensive lines, a superfast WR in Tyler Higby (6-0, 190), and one of the best DB’s in the country in Nate Moore (5-9, 170). So, if C of I is still the tough offense to stop that it has been the last two seasons, then there’s no reason to think the Yotes won’t continue rising, and who knows, the sky may be the limit. UM-Western

Bulldogs 2015: 7-3, 7-3, 3rd in Frontier Head Coach: Ryan Nourse (1st Season) Location: Dillon Stadium: Vigilante Field Outlook: Everyone loses key members of a good team now and again. But the Bulldogs lost head coach B.J. Robertson to Montana State this past offseason, after putting together a great 2015 campaing, that probably should have included an NAIA playoff berth. Behind one of the best defenses in the country last season, the Bulldogs were riding high, but after losing their head coach, two All-American linebackers and a star safety, question of defense probably kept UM-W from being picked higher in the Preseason Coaches Poll. Still, Nourse, who coached the Bulldogs before Robertson took over, and is the AD at Western, knows the cupboard is not bare. Western has stars all over its offense, led by senior RB Sam Rutherford (6-1, 215), and two returning sophomore QB’s, both of whom started for the Dawgs last season. Add in TE Matt Lickfold (6-2, 220), and UM-W’s power-based offense should be good, especially with Rutherford as the catalyst. Western also has one of the best DE’s in the country back in senior Reno Ward (6-2, 255), who led the Frontier in sacks, and alongside tackle Tyrell Penner (6-3, 270), the line should still be good. But, returning LB TJ Benson (5-10, 185) lost his other three mates in the middle of one of the most productive units in Frontier history, so Western has big shoes to fill on defense. The Bulldogs also have to play SOU and EOU twice, and visit Montana Tech, so the schedule, which starts with a game against Dickinson State in Miles City, is a daunting one.

Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears 2015: 4-6, 5-6, T4 in Frontier Head Coach: Jason Petrino (1st Season) Location: Billings Stadium: Herb Klindt Field Outlook: Rocky is another team that lost a head

coach to Montana State. So, in comes former Carroll College great Jason Petrino to replace Brian Armstrong. Petrino, who was a defensive cooridanator at FCS South Dakota, will bring a defensive presence to a Rocky team used to piling up numbers. And, with QB Chase White returning, and a star running back in Kodee Varner, the Bears will probably still pile up the numbers. But, with Petrino running the RMC defense, which is loaded with talent along its front seven, Rocky could certainly be the dark horse of the Frontier. The Bears have a revamped stadium, a lot of excitement coming into the new season, so, if they can find balance on both sides of the ball, and replace at least some of the production left behind by three-time AllAmerican WR Andre McCullough, it’s hard to see the Battlin’ Bears finishing at the bottom of the Frontier, even in Petrino’s first season at the helm.

MSU-Northern Lights 2015: 0-10, 0-11, 8th in Frontier Head Coach: Aaron Christenson (2nd Season) Location: Havre Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium Outlook: Aaron Christenson was faced with a massive rebuilding job when he took over the Lights last year. And with just four seniors on his roster, the 2015 season was a difficult one for Northern, which failed to win a game, while averaging just 13 ppg on offense. In year two of Christenson’s rebuilding project though, expect noticiable difference from the Lights. They have 17 seniors, among them super talents like RB Zach McKinley, DL Tyler Craig, Jordan Brusio and Pat Barnett, RB/WR Mario Gobbatto and WR Jake Messerly to name a few. Northern also has depth, with a re-tooled roster, mixed with young redshirts and talented transfers. So, while the Lights will still have an uphill battle in 2016, including a schedule that sees the Lights play Tech and Carroll twice, expectations are certainly higher, and with the talent the Lights have, mixed with the positive attitude the team has towards this season and the future, things will get brighter and brighter for the Lights.

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Tyler Craig and the Montana State University-Northern Lights are seeking their first Frontier Conference win since November of 2014 when they host Rocky Mountain College Saturday at Blue Pony Stadium.

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Don't Tell Him He Can't

Sam Mix was once told he'd never play football again. On Saturday, he'll prove that statement was very wrong Chris Peterson Havre Daily News sports writer gferguson@havredailynews.com

There are some days that, no matter what happens in life, we will always remember. For Sam Mix, May 3, 2014, will be one of those days. Another will come this Saturday, when Mix returns to the football field for the first time since a horrific stabbing nearly took, not only his ability to play, but also his life.

That fateful night, when Mix was stabbed 45 times, his life changed forever. Yet Mix, who was told soon after the attack that he would never play football again, wasn't about to let it change his life, more than it had to. So against all odds and over the course of 15 months of surgeries, workouts, rehabilitation and everything else, Mix is back, and when the Montana State University-Northern Lights take the field against Rocky Mountain College Saturday at Blue Pony Stadium, Mix will be in the lineup. "I remember the doctors basically telling me that," Mix said in reference to doctors saying he would no longer be able to play football. "I remember my mom sitting in the hospital room with me and just kind of having a feeling of disbelief. I have been through some hard things in my life and I have never had the mindset that it was the end of the road, so it was a tough day; it was a rough couple weeks — a rough couple of months. "The whole thing obviously put me in a

rough place for a couple months," He added. "And hearing that news was a dagger, just another thing on top of it. But once I got past it and got past my own pity party, with the support of family, coaches, teammates and friends, I was able to gain confidence in myself and I was like, 'You know, the doctors said one thing, let's do another.'" Despite dealing with numerous injuries, slashes and cuts to his arms, biceps, torso, hands and head, once he turned the corner mentally, the physical obstacles didn't matter anymore. "I just put my all into it," Mix said. "I

n

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson After suffering through a horrific nightmare attack in May 2014 Montana State University-Northern wide receiver Sam Mix was once glad just to be alive. Now, however, Mix is glad to have college football back in his life.

MSU-Northern Lights vs Rocky Mountain College Location: Havre, Mont. Nickname: Lights Colors: Maroon and Yellow 2016 record: 0-0 (0-0)

2015 record: 0-11 (0-10)

Location: Billings, Mont. Nickname: Battlin' Bears Colors: Green and Gold 2016 record: 0-0 (0-0)

2015 record: 5-6 (4-6) Head coach: Jason Petrino Stadium: Herb Klindt Field Streak: The Bears have won two straight against the Lights. They also closed out last season with two straight win.

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Contenders abound in 2016 George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com

of the best defensive players in the country also on Frontier rosters this season, so that makes about every matchup intriguing. Then you have SOU, which didn’t even win the Frontier title, but, made it back to the national championship game last season anyway. The Raiders were picked to win the league title this season, but, the Montana Tech Orediggers are the defending champions, and they will have plenty to say about that. There’s also intriguing storylines such as, Carroll College trying to reassert its Frontier dominance after a rare losing season a year ago, as well as two new head coaches in the league in ex-Frontier stars Jason Petrino at Rocky Mountain College and Ryan Nourse at UM-Western. The likes of SOU and RMC will also test the Frontier’s mettle against NCAA competition this season, with the Raiders playing at Big Sky Conference member UC Davis Sept. 10 and Rocky traveling to another Big

Sky team in Northern Colorado next Saturday. And those are just a few reasons why the 2016 Frontier season promises to be as exciting as any. But above all, the league will be exciting because it’s really good, really deep and really talented. That hasn’t changed, it won’t change anytime soon. “It’s really hard to win games in this conference,” MSU-Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said. “There’s so many good teams, there’s talent on every roster. It’s as deep a league as there is in the NAIA in my opinion.”

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of the 2016 Frontier Conference in the predicted order of finish according the Frontier Preseason Coaches Poll.

Southern Oregon Raiders 2015: 8-2, 11-3, 2nd in Frontier, NAIA

Today in the Frontier Conference

Head coach: Aaron Christensen

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears (0-0, 0-0)

Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium Streak: The Lights last win came in November of 2014 when they beat RMC in Billings.

Saturday, August 27, 2016 Blue Pony Stadium ~ 1 p.m. Rocky Mountain College

August 26, 2016

For the last two Decembers, the Frontier Conference has been represented in the NAIA national championship game, with the Southern Oregon Raiders winning it all back in 2014. And, for the last two years, the Frontier Conference has had the most NAIA All-Americans of any league in the country. Now, with a new season in the Frontier about to begin, don’t be surprised if none of that changes. Three Frontier teams get their start Saturday, with the rest of the league’s teams starting on Sept. 3. And, starting this weekend, it promises to be another amazing year in Frontier football. For starters, the league is absolutely loaded with talented running backs, which will make offenses fun to watch. Conversely, there’s some

See Sam Mix Page 6

Montana State University-Northern

11

At Montana State University-Northern Lights (0-0, 0-0) UM-Western (0-0, 0-0) vs No. 21 Dickinson State (0-0, 0-0) in Miles City, Mont.

UM-Western (0-0) at College of Idaho (0-0

Sept. 3

Rocky Mountain College (0-0) at Northern Colorado (0-0)

No. 7 Montana Tech (0-0) at No. 22 Carroll College (0-0, 1-0)

No. 2 Southern Oregon (0-0) at Eastern Oregon (0-0)

2016 Frontier Conference Coaches Preseason Poll 1. Southern Oregon 2. Montana Tech 3. Carroll College 4. Eastern Oregon 5. College of Idaho 6. UM-Western 7. Rocky Mountain College 8.MSU-Northern Runner-up Head Coach: Craig Howard (6th Season) Location: Ashland, Ore. Stadium: Raider Stadium Outlook: The Raiders, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Preseason Poll, were picked to win the league title a year ago after capturing the 2014 NAIA national title. They

Havre Daily News Week One Frontier Power Rankings 1. Montana Tech 2. Southern Oregon 3. Carroll College 4. Eastern Oregon 5. UM-Western 6. Rocky Mountain College 7. College of Idaho 8. MSU-Northern didn’t win the Frontier in 2015, but, they did go all the way back to the national title game. And, they did it without Austin Dodge, perhaps the greatest QB to ever play in the NAIA. Now, with most of their high-powered offense back, including QB Tanner Trosin (6-0, 180), RB Melvin Mason (6-0, 200) and WR Matt Retzlaff (5-10,

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MSU-Northern Rewind

Lights not looking back, at all Northern prepares for the now, won't dwell on last season

From the Fringe...

George Ferguson Sports Editor

Putting a rough season in the past is a cliché you hear time and time again in the world of sports. And as rough as last season was for the Montana State University-Northern football team, you’d expect to hear that cliché a lot as the Lights prepare to open the 2016 season this Saturday. But, at least from players and coaches, you’re not hearing it all. No clichés about last year are necessary, because the Lights put that season to rest a long, long time ago. Instead of dwelling on last season, all you’ll hear from the Lights, and all you’ve heard since fall camp opened nearly three weeks ago, is the mantra that second-year head coach Aaron Christensen has been preaching since the day he was hired. “I say it a lot,” Christensen said. “But it really is true. All we’re worried about is being 1-0. All we ever focus on is winning our next game. We talk about that all the time, and during this fall camp, that’s all we’ve been focused on. We just want to win our next game.” That game will come in the form of Northern’s season-opener Saturday against Rocky Mountain College inside Blue Pony Stadium. And while Northern might be tempted to look back on last year’s 0-11 season as motivation to surge ahead this fall, that’s just not the case. Instead, Christensen has focused all of his efforts on getting the Lights prepared for this season, and continuing to build the Lights into the kind of program he wants them to be. And so far, those focuses are already paying dividends. It might only be fall camp, and it might just be practice, but the Lights have looked good. They’ve looked improved. They have more players, they have more talent and they have more depth. In other words, Northern has already made strides, and nothing about last year matters. And, Christensen added, the program as a whole is making strides, too. “We have to continue to make sure we establish the right culture here,” Christensen said. “Right now, we have 111 kids on the roster, and that’s

Frontier Conference 2015 Final Standings

Conf. WL

Overall WL

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

9-1 8-2 7-3 4-6 4-6 4-6 4-6 0-10

10-2 11-3 7-3 4-6 4-7 4-7 4-7 0-11

Saturday MSU-Northern vs Rocky Mountain UM-Western vs Dickinson State Saturday, Sept. 3 Montana Tech at Carroll College UM-Western at College of Idaho Southern Oregon at Eastern Oregon Rocky Mountain at Northern Colorado

NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll

Rec. Pts Prv.

1. Marian (Ind) (14) 2. Southern Oregon 3. Morningside (Iowa) 4. Saint Francis (Ind) 5. Baker (Kan) 6. Grand View (Iowa) 7. Montana Tech 8. Tabor (Kan) 9. Doane (Neb) 10. Saint Xavier (Ill) 11. Reinhardt (Ga) 12. Lindsey Wilson (Ky)

12-2 11-3 12-2 11-1 11-2 11-2 10-2 11-2 9-2 7-4 9-2 8-3

304 302 289 276 267 251 247 217 210 209 202 177

13. Kansas Weselyn 14. Saint Francis (Ill) 15. Benedictine(Kan.) 16. Dakota Wesleyn 17. Campbelsville (ky) 18. Georgetown (Ky) 19. Faulkner (Ala) 20. Arizona Christian 21. Dickinson State 22. Carroll 23. William Penn (Iowa) 24. St. Ambrose (Iowa) 25. UM-Western

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 10 13

10-2 8-3 7-4 9-2 8-3 6-4 7-3 6-3 8-3 4-6 7-4 8-2 7-3

Frontier Conference Individual Leaders 2015 Final

Passing: Chase White, RMC, 257 ypg Receiving: A.McCullouch, RMC, 99 ypg Receptions: A. McCullough, RMC, 7 cpg Rushing: Nolan Saraceni, MT, 153 ypg Tackles: Gary Posten, EOU 140 Sacks: Reno Ward, UM-W, 12.5 sacks INT's: Nate Moore, C of I, 6 ints

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson The MSU-Northern Lights have been hard at work in fall training camp the last three weeks.

of the equation. “The message has been that our last game, or last year, it doesn’t matter,” Christensen said. “You can only control what you can control, and for us, that’s right now. For us, it’s the next practice, and making sure we get better. And it’s the next game. That’s all we’re worried about, because that’s all we can control.” Enough said, coach. Your Lights are looking forward, not back. Your Lights are looking to make their mark now, with no worries about what’s already in the past. That’s how it should be. So Lights’ fans, if you’re wondering what the Lights will be like in 2016, and you’re basing that wonder on what happened during their 11 games in 2015, don’t, because the Lights aren’t. Instead, do what the Lights are doing: Look forward, be excited, be passionate about now, about this season. And in particular, be excited about Saturday’s season-opener. It’s at home game, it’s against Rocky, it’s Blue Pony Stadium. It’s a new season. I’ll be there and I’m excited about it. I hope thousands of you will be, too.

14 17 20 15 12 23 24 22 18 NR 25 21 16

Others receiving votes: : Eastern Oregon 24; Concordia (Neb.) 18; Southeastern (Fla.) 14; Webber International (Fla.) 11; Point (Ga.) 6; Robert Morris (Ill.) 5; Sterling (Kan.) 4; MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 4.

Lights Coaching Staff way up from last season. And we let these guys know right away that if they don’t do what they’re supposed to do while they’re here, then someone else will. “We talk a lot about the type of program we want here at Northern,” he added. “And we talk about how we’re going to achieve that. First, we want kids who are here to get their education. That is a must. Second, we want to make sure we compete in everything we do. Third, we want our players to be accountable to themselves and to their teammates. Those are things we talk a lot about in terms of this program, and I think we’re definitely headed in the right direction.” Indeed. You can see all of those things in how Northern practices. Even after the hardships of last year, the Lights came into the fall invigorated, hungry, and ready to take on the challenges of a new season. They have enthusiastically grinded through summer two-a-days, and have gotten better every single day, with every single rep. That’s been Christensen’s goal all along, and the Lights are certainly taking that cue from their head coach and running with it. And again, last year isn’t even part

153 138 110 107 104 102 78 67 60 59 54 52 36

Jim Potter The 2015 Montana State University-Northern coaching staff. Back row, left to right: Cody O'Neil, offensive line; Ric Wells, defensive backs, Anvil Sinsibaugh, wide receivers and Darold DeBolt, defensive line. Front row, left to right, Jake Eldridge, defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning; Malcolm Manuel, running backs; Aaron Christensen, head coach and offensive coordinator; Arthur Smith, linebackers; and Jorge Magana, linebackers.

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MSU-Northern Offensive Starters

Rocky Mountain Defensive Starters

MSU-N 2015 Offensive Numbers

RMC 2015 Defensive Numbers

Scoring: 9.5 ppg, last in Frontier Total offense: 271 ypg, last in Frontier

Mario Gobbatto #22, 5-8, 185 Receiver

Sam Jerecke #2, 6-2, 190 Cornerback

Rush offense: 118 ypg, 7th in Frontier

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MSU-Northern Defensive Starters

RMC 2015 Offensive Numbers

MSU-N 2015 Defensive Numbers

Scoring: 31 ppg, 6th in Frontier

Scoring: 51 ppg, last in Frontier

Total defense: 381 ypg, 5th in Frontier

Total defense: 480 ypg, last in Frontier

Rush defense: 167 ypg, 3rd in Frontier

Pass defense: 259 ypg, last in Frontier

Scoring: 27 ppg, 6th in Frontier

Aaron Christensen enters his second season as the Head Football Coach of Montana State UniversityNorthern. He brings with him a decade of coaching experience at the NAIA level. From 2012 to 2014, Coach Christensen served as the Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator for Missouri Valley College (MVC).

Dylan Schmidt #74, 6-4, 275 Offensive line

Jess Krahn #11, 6-3, 220 Quarterback

Casey Cleveland #76, 6-1, 265 Center

Tyler Craig #91, 6-2, 245 Defensive end

Austin Chamberlain #37, 6-3, 245

Cole Jelinek #15, 6-0, 215 Linebacker

Defensive line

Brendan Johnson #9, 6-2, 290 Nose tackle

Pete Morales #77, 6-3, 295 Offensive line

Seth Swandal #90, 6-1, 250 Defensive line

Logan Sprouse #31, 5-11, 170 Safety

Chase Bertelsen #44, 6-1, 235 Linebacker

Billy Williams #36, 6-0, 210 Linebacker

Lane Urick #92, 6-1, 285 Defensive tackle

Passing: 282 ypg, 1st in Frontier

Elijah Cox #51, 6-5, 320 Offensive line

Jason Petrino RMC Head Coach

Melvin Ware #75, 6-3, 300 Offensive line

Andrew Ponce #73, 6-0, 265 Offensive line

Alec Wagner

Chase White #6, 6-3, 210 Quarterback

Kodee Varner #22, 6-0, 195 Running back

#52, 5-11, 210 Linebacker

Garrett Jericoff #1, 5-9, 165 Safety

Patrick Barnett #90, 6-2, 265 Defensive tackle

Kyle Reitler #66, 6-5, 300 Offensive line

Tucker Burns

#43, 6-0, 235 Running back

David N'Guessa #8, 6-0, 190 Linebacker

Jordan Brusio #47, 5-11, 240 Defensive end

Corey Roemeling #60, 6-3, 265 Offensive line

Preston Pearson #13, 6-1, 225 Bandit

Tommy Langley #27, 5-11, 190 Kicker

Mike Cocke #17, 6-0, 200 Receiver

Petrino was named the 17th head football coach in Rocky Mountain College history on January 21, 2016. He comes to Rocky after spending the past four years as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach under legendary coach Joe Glenn at the University of South Dakota. Petrino has coached for 17 years, after an All-American career at Carroll College.

Dylan Swandal #88, 6-4, 252 Tight end

Kagen Khameneh #15, 6-3, 225 Tight end Dillon Barnes #89, 6-0, 160 Punter

GaretFowler #12, 5-10, 205 Linebacker

Keenan Fagan #8, 6-1, 193 Safety

Bowe McKay #5, 6-3, 225 Fullback

Total offense: 401 ypg, 5th in Frontier

Joe Garcia #74, 6-4, 285 Offensive line

Jason Baker #2, 5-11, 205 Safety

Zach McKinley #24, 5-11, 210 Running Back

Tyrell McGee #80, 5-9, 180 Receiver

Sherman Arthur #6, 6-1, 170 Cornerback

Clint Willis #75, 6-6, 280 Offensive line

Aaron Christensen MSU-N Head Coach

Rocky Mountain Offensive Starters

Corey Lee #3, 5-10, 175 Corner Dayrl Fulton #12, 5-10, 185 Cornerback

Kalen Reed #81, 6-4, 210 Receiver

Griff Aimes

#18, 5-11, 175 Kicker

Dillon Johnson

#31, 6-2, 170 Punter

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MSU-Northern Numerical Roster

Rocky Mountain Numerical Roster # Name 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 12 12 13 14 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 22 23 25 26 27 28 29 29 30 31 32 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 47 48 49 50 52 55 56 58 60 64 65 66 68 70 71 72 73 74

Prince Shonola Jason Baker Cody Tilley Devin Pope Jayce Van Zee Jamal Sam Brock Bolin Achilles Savali Markale Moses Chase White Jacob Bakken Tyler Eberhardt Keenan Fagan Ricky Carrigan Brendon Johnson Tanner Hasse Jared Gallatin Daryl Fulton Josh Kraft Preston Pearson Tucker Meyer Cole Jelinek Brady Pickering Sam Sparks Ryder Rice Griff Amies Dallas Mack Kyle Lassle Tanner Rosenhan Burke Burgess Kodee Varner Koby Ruff Jessie Sanders Corey Hickman Sam Jarecke Jerry Gomez Erik Redal Tanner Schwartz Jade Olsen Dillon Johnson Braxton Baniszewski Christian Prevost Matt Kolb Joe Gallatin Blake Sweet Billy Williams Austin Chamberlain Shane Larson Mason Melby Connor Cerkovnik J.J. Taele Tucker Burns Chase Bertelsen Dayton Cogdill Tyler Smith Troy Wallace Taylor Bienvenue Robert Pritchett Justin Farnsworth Jacob Anderson Xerxes Savali Tom Roman Greg Nick Corey Roemeling Brandon Connolly Kalani Kanoa Kyle Reitler Jacob Roumanos Ralph Watts Dillon Iverson Brad Drake Andrew Ponce Joe Garcia

Yr.

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

Pos. Ht.

WR DB QB LB WR RB WR LB DB QB QB RB DB WR DL K DB DB WR DL DB LB QB RB DL K DB WR DB LB RB DB DB DB CB WR DB WR RB K DB WR DB LB FB LB DL DB RB RB LB FB LB LB DB DL WR LB OL LB DE LB LB OL DL DL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL

5-9 5-11 6-0 6-0 5-9 6-2 6-1 5-11 5-11 6-3 6-5 5-6 6-1 6-3 6-2 5-11 6-3 5-10 5-11 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-3 6-0 6-5 5-11 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-0 5-9 5-10 5-8 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-0 5-7 6-2 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-9 6-0 6-3 6-0 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-5 6-0 6-7 6-4 6-0 6-0 6-4

Wt. 165 205 210 210 170 220 170 200 170 210 205 165 193 180 280 160 185 185 175 225 180 215 210 190 205 175 195 175 165 215 195 155 180 160 190 200 185 185 190 170 180 205 195 195 200 210 245 195 205 195 220 235 235 205 195 225 195 190 290 210 220 220 188 265 295 290 300 275 315 315 260 265 285

Hometown

Orlando, Fla. Billings, Mont. Visalia, Calif. Moorpark, Calif. Billings, Mont. New Iberia, Louis. Billings, Mont. Pago Pago, American Samoa Tulsa, Okla. Shelby, Mont. Wibaux, Mont. Lewiston, Idaho Lake Tapps, Wash. Long Beach, Calif. Anaheim, Calif. Moses Lake, Wash. Polson, Mont. Forsyth, Mont. Meridian, Idaho Helena, Mont. Fairfield, Mont. Denton, Mont. Florence, Mont. Billings, Mont. Savage, Mont. Newport Beach, Calif. Ballantine, Mont. Terry, Mont. Reverton, Utah Gillette, Wyo. Baker, Mont. Belgrade, Mont. Afton, Wyo. Denver, Colo. Billings, Mont. Oxnard, Calif. Couer d' Alene, Idaho Glendive, Mont. Malta, Mont. Orting, Wash. Chandler, Ariz Lambert, Mont. Hysham, Mont. Polson, Mont. Livermore, Calif. Gillette, Wyo. Helena, Mont. Conrad, Mont. Baker, Mont. Billings, Mont. Oceanside, Calif. Kingston, Wash. Wibaux, Mont. Billings, Mont. Boise, Idaho Vallejo, Calif. Molt, Mont. Wasilla, Alaska Post Falls, Idaho Laurel, Mont. Pago Pago, American Samoa Post Falls, Idaho Lincoln, Mont. Kennewick, Wash. Laurel, Mont. Kuhuku, Hawaii Billings, Mont. Spring Creek, Nev. New Orleans, Louis. Red Lodge, Mont. Priest River, Idaho Granada Hills, Calif. San Bernardino, Calif.

# Name 75 76 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98

Melvin Ware Garrett Schild Mike Stevens Dylan Haag Tyrell McGee Kalen Reed Nick Beck Mitchell Arlian Zane Guse Brandon Mosely Gus Schaff Deion Ortega Dylan Swandal Taylor Schwartz Seth Swandal Denton Wetherell Luke Hamann Kennan Hendricksen Tanner Miller Tony Halverson Dillon Hott Kameron Welker

Yr.

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

Pos. Ht.

OL OL OL OL WR WR WR WR TE TE WR WR TE WR DL DL DL DL DL DL DE DL

6-3 6-2 6-8 6-4 5-9 6-4 5-10 6-3 6-7 6-4 5-11 5-9 6-4 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-2 5-11 6-3 5-11 6-5 6-1

Wt. 300 270 320 295 180 210 170 185 252 230 185 180 252 165 250 265 215 265 265 220 230 250

Hometown

Dunmore, Mont. Missoula, Mont. San Diego, Calif. Post Falls, Idaho Kennewick, Calif. Kalispell, Mont. Bellevue, Wash. Big Timber, Mont. Billings, Mont. Fontana, Calif. Billings, Mont. Jerome, Idaho Great Falls, Mont. Glendive, Mont. Wilsall, Mont. Meridian, Idaho Moreno Valley, Calif. Florence, Mont. Huntley, Mont. Roundup, Mont. Visalia, Calif. Post Falls, Idaho

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No.

Name

Pos. Ht.

Wt.

Yr. Hometown

No.

Name

Pos. Ht.

Wt.

Yr. Hometown

1

Garrett

Jericoff

DB

5'9

195

SR

54

Josh

DL

6'2

230

RFR Sammamish, WA

2

Jett

Robertston

RB

6'0

200

SO Glendale, AZ

55

Mitchell Harmon

DL

6'1

245

JR

3

Corey

Lee

DB

5'10

175

JR

56

Trenton

Woodward OL

6'5

240

RFR Three Forks, MT

5

Bowe

McKay

TE

6'3

225

SO Chehalis, WA

58

Adolfo

Robles

OL

6'2

270

SR

Bakersfield, CA

6

Sherman Arthur

DB

6'1

170

SO Watts, CA

59

Isaac

Joseph

DL

6'3

270

FR

Chandler, AZ

7

Jesse

LB

6'0

210

SR

8

"David" N'Guessa

LB

6'0

190

RFR Kent, WA

65

Dale

Cummings

OL

6'4

300

RFR Cremona, AB, CAN

9

Sam

WR

6'1

190

SO Sammamish, WA

68

Ryan

Handley

OL

6'3

230

RFR Clinton, MT

10

Donovan Garner

WR

5'8

175

JR

Miami, FL

68

Jay

Hembree

OL

6'1

260

FR

11

Jess

Krahn

QB

6'3

220

JR

Hokinson, WA

69

Brennan Lewis

OL

6'2

310

SO Fallon, NV

12

Garet

Fowler

LB

5'10

205

JR

Belgrade, MT

70

Robert

Johnson

OL

6'1

250

SO Stevensville, MT

13

Dylan

Rychtarik

WR

5'8

70

RFR Tacoma, WA

71

Linnwood Kirkland

DL

6'0

260

SR

Jacksonville, FL

14

Caleb

McLaren

QB

6'0

190

JR

Delta Junction, AK

72

Diamond Pedro

OL

6'3

310

SR

Tacoma, WA

15

Kagen

Khameneh

TE

6'3

225

JR

Missoula, MT

74

Dylan

Schmidt

OL

6'4

275

RFR Nine Mile Falls, MT

16

Holden

Maki

QB

5'9

170

SO Belt, MT

75

Clint

Willis

OL

6'6

280

SO Gardiner, MT

17

Mike

Cocke

WR

6'2

200

RFR Tacoma, WA

76

Casey

Cleveland

OL

6'1

265

RFR Great Falls, MT

19

Ethan

Snow

WR

6'1

200

FR

Hermiston, OR

77

Pete

Morales

OL

6'3

295

SR

20

Bryce

Bumgardner WR

6'1

175

FR

Saint Helens, OR

78

Jaxon

Simonson

OL

6'3

280

RFR Rudyard, MT

21

Jose

Martinez

DB

5'10

175

JR

Solidad, CA

80

Beau

Wilhelm

WR

6'0

200

JR

White Lake, MI

22

Mario

Gobbato

WR

5'8

185

SR

Blaine, WA

85

Kitrell

Willingham TE

6'2

205

FR

Parkland, WA

23

Dujuawn Jones

DB

6'1

190

JR

Monrovia, CA

87

Jordan

Pugh

TE

6'5

220

RFR Tacoma, WA

24

Zach

McKinley

RB

5'10

205

SR

Great Falls, MT

88

Seth

Roemmele

WR

6'0

190

SO Claresholm, AB,

25

Steven

Knight

DB

5'9

175

FR

Rancho Mirage, CA

89

Dillon

Barnes

P

6'0

160

SR

Alta Loma, CA

27

Tommy

Langley

K

5'11

190

JR

Tracy, CA

90

Patrick

Barnett

DL

6'2

265

SR

Billings, MT

29

Kaden

Barrus

DB

5'9

170

SO Gooding, ID

91

Tyler

Craig

DL

6'2

230

SR

Great Falls, MT

30

Jonathan Gragg

LB

6'2

210

RFR Missoula, MT

92

Lane

Urick

DL

6'1

285

SR

Great Falls, MT

31

Logan

DB

5'11

170

SR

95

Elijah

Dennison

DL

6'2

245

RFR Enumclaw, WA

32

Morgan McCrary

DB

5'10

190

RFR Las Vegas, NV

33

Brooks

Dunn

LB

5'10

190

JR

34

Garret

Severson

LB

5'11

170

SO Bonney Lake, WA

35

Dakota

Schelling

LB

6'0

185

JR

Fallon, NV

36

Colton

Boyle

QB

6'0

200

FR

Sammamish, WA

38

Dequincy Bergen

DB

5'10

180

FR

Houston, TX

38

Levi

Bixby

DB

5'9

175

RFR Ashland, MT

40

Sam

Schuler

LB

5'11

195

FR

41

Tovati "TJ" Gasetoto Jr. LB

6'0

215

RFR Tacoma, WA

42

Myltin

Bighorn

DB

6'1

180

RFR Poplar, MT

43

Bob

Schenk

TE

6'2

212

FR

44

Wyatt

McKinlay

FB

5'10

205

SO Geraldine, MT

45

Michael McKeen

LB

5'10

215

SO Oakley, CA

46

Jake

Norby

LB

6'2

190

FR

Chinook, MT

47

Jordan

Brusio

DL

6'1

230

SR

Billings, MT

49

Jaime

Toscano

K

5'8

210

SR

Baldwin Park, CA

50

Kyle

Martinez

LB

6'0

240

JR

Turlock, CA

51

Elijah

Cox

OL

6'5

320

SO Glendale, AZ

52

Alec

Wagner

LB

5'11

210

SO Laurel, MT

53

Austin

Rychner

DL

5'10

230

SR

Morales Mix

Sprouse

Hilmar, CA Moorpark, CA

La Habra, CA

Atascadero, CA Chandler, AZ

Enumclaw, WA

Missoula, MT

Ekalaka, MT

Wright

Rancho Cucamonga

Camarillo, CA

La Habra, CA

2016 Montana State University-Northern Football Staff Aaron Christensen, head coach and offensive coordinator; Jake Eldridge, defensive coordinator, strength & conditioning; Cody O'Neil, offensive line, recruiting coordinator; Jorge Magana, linebackers; Arthur Smith, linebackers; Malcolm Manuel, running backs; Anvil Sinsibaugh, wide receivers; Darold DeBolt, defensive line; Ric Wells, defensive backs. Athletic Director: Christian Oberquell; Certified Athletic Trainer: Nichole Borst; Sports Information: Kristie Pulin.

6

August 26, 2016

www.havredailynews.com

7

August 26, 2016

www.havredailynews.com

Mix: Sam Mix overcame big obstacles in order to return to Northern

Mix: Mix didn't let one horrific night, or doctors, get in his way

n From Page 2

n From Page 6

had a surgery on my bicep, to get my bicep tendon back, and it eventually started working again and is still in the process of getting back to 100 percent, but even without a bicep, I was ready to go. It was mind over matter at that point." Mix's journey back to the football field started with him getting healthy. It continued with him getting back to school at MSU-Northern and finally rejoining the team for spring practice last March. "The one thing about Sam is that. before all this, he was a pretty good player," Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said. "He played the year before I came here and he was one of our top receivers in my first spring ball here. After what he went through, he took a semester off and contacted us and we wanted him back. Of course, we didn't know what to expect and just kind of took it day-by-day, but

you saw him lifting and it didn't seem to affect him too much. Then, you saw him playing and it didn't seem to affect him. It's like, he's the same guy that he was before. It's amazing." "It's awesome to see him back," Northern tight end Bowe McKay added. "He's my inspiration on the field every single day." Mix and McKay, who were roommates when they first came to Northern, knew of each other before committing to the Lights, since they both came from the state of Washington. But they quickly became close friends once they came to campus. "We have been through it since day one," McKay said. "We were best friends in the dorms. We had been to camps together, and we knew of each other and became friends because we were both from Washington in a new place. It sucked when he was gone, but we are happy to have him back on

the field with us." Before Mix was subjected to that terrible act of violence, he was one of the Lights' top wide receivers, in line for a starting position on last year's team. Now, a year later, despite all he's gone through, he finds himself in that same position, which he says, is due mostly, to his mental fortitude. "It's hard, having someone tell you that you can't do something," Mix said. "Especially when it's someone like a doctor. But in a way, I feel like that made me stronger and with the mindset I had, I thought, if he said I can't do it and I can do it, then what can anyone else say about what I can't do?" "To see where he was and to see where he is at now," Christensen said, "it makes you realize that there are things bigger than football. And to see

n

See Mix Page 7

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern sophomore Sam Mix, with two friends, was brutally attacked by an intruder in May of 2014 in a Havre apartment. Mix, while trying to fend of the attacker, was stabbed 45 times and suffered severe injuries to most of his upper body. Those injuries led doctors to tell Mix he would never be able to play football again. Yet, less than two years later, Mix is back at Northern and, not only is he back, but he will start at wide receiver for the Lights in their season-opener Saturday against Rocky Mountain College at Blue Pony Stadium.

someone do that and go through everything that he has, you get a little emotional when you watch him and stop and think about it." One of the best parts of Mix's comeback is the fact that when the Lights take the field against Rocky and he's among the first-team receivers, it will be because he earned it. "It feels great to be a starter again and be out there with my boys," Mix said. "And actually, my last game was against Rocky and we went down there and got a win in the last game of my last season, so it's kind of cool that my first game back will be against them, too." Certainly, the Northern football team, which didn't win a game without Mix on the field last season, will definitely be working to try and get one Saturday, not just for their teammate, who has endured so much, but

for themselves too. But a win in Mix's first game back would make his return to the field, even more memorable. "It'd be huge if we could get a win," Mix said. "I know there are a lot of guys on this team starving for a win, me included." However, no matter what the final score ends up being, the truth is, Mix will have won, the moment he steps onto the field for his first football game in nearly two years. "It's going to be really cool for all of us," Christensen said. "But, it will even cooler for him. He's getting to do what he originally came here to do. You want him to be able to be a college kid, a college student, a football player and what he's been able to do, is really, just incredible." The tale of Sam Mix is still in the process of being written. But this Saturday, he will achieve another milestone and although playing football

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern wide receiver Sam Mix didn't feel sorry for himself for long, after enduring a night that no young person should ever have to endure. Instead, he went back to work, setting a goal of playing college football again. Mix will reach that goal Saturday when the Lights take on Rocky Mountain College inside Blue Pony Stadium to open the 2016 Frontier Conference football season. And in returning to the Lights, and returning to football, Mix has been an inspiration to his team, coaches and his friends, and Saturday will certainly be a day he'll never forget.

may not sound like a big deal to some, in this instance it is. Stepping onto the field Saturday will be more than symbolic for Mix, it will be another step â&#x20AC;&#x201D; another step toward healing and another step that puts even more distance between himself and the darkest chapter of his life. And that step, which he will take with the overwhelming support of his family, his friends, his coaches, his teammates and his university, is one he can't wait to take. "It will be super exciting," Mix said. "I'm sure it will probably be overwhelming, especially in the beginning, but once I settle in and the nerves settle down, I am just excited to have a helluva game, it's going to be fun." It will also be the start of a new chapter for Mix, and, with football back in his life, the end of another.