Game Day #1 9-6-2014

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Notebook: Lights get a breakout game from senior receiver Trevor Baum, and the offense ■ From Page 11 Mountain College have opened the season against each other for the better part of the last decade, and they did again this last weekend, with the Bears winning 40-21 in Dickinson, N.D. Meanwhile, when DSU was part of the now defunct Dakota Athletic Conference, the Blue Hawks also played MSU-Northern in a nonconference game, and starting Saturday in Havre, that rivalry also returns. But when the Blue Hawks (0-1) show up at Blue Pony Stadium, for what should be an emotional home-opener for the Lights, fans will hardly recognize them. After 38 years at the helm, Hank Biesiot retired at DSU following last season. Longtime DSU assistant Pete Stanton was promoted to head coach, and the Blue Hawks will bring a brand new look to Havre. DSU is playing a much more up-tempo and wide-open offense, while still relying on Stanton’s hard-nosed defense. The Blue Hawks also changed the look of their uniforms for the first time in ages, putting a logo on their traditional grey helmets, as well as upgrading the style of their uniform. So, while the legendary Biesiot, who is one of the winningest coaches in NAIA history, will never be forgotten, and it will be strange to see him on not on the sidelines anymore, DSU seems to not only have a brand new look, but, given how well they played against RMC last Saturday, the Blue Hawks also seem to be coming to Havre with a new purpose, and with every intention of leaving Blue Pony Stadium with its first win of the season. What a start The Lights suffered a tough loss at the hands of Montana Tech last Saturday night in Butte. But offensively, MSU-N couldn’t have got the season off to a much better start, and a big reason why was senior receiver Trevor Baum. Going into the game, Northern knew what it had in senior quarterback Travis Dean, sophomore tailback Zach McKinley and sophomore receiver Jake Messerly. But moving the ultragifted Baum from cornerback to receiver was still an experiment prior to Saturday night’s game in Butte. It’s not an experiment anymore. Baum, making his first career start on offense, hauled in seven catches for 145 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown catch in the first half. It was a debut for the ages, and it showed the move was definitely worth it. Now, with Messerly already a known quantity in the Frontier, and Baum playing on the other side, Northern is going to be a very tough cover for even the very best secondaries in the league. And with McKinley running behind a powerful MSU-N offensive line, the Lights are going to keep defenses off balance all season long. Brand New Longtime fans of the MSU-Northern Lights remember what it was like when there wasn’t football at Northern. And they remember what it was like when football first came back. In reality, it wasn’t that long ago. Now, fans at the College of Idaho are experiencing that very thing.

Havre Daily News/Eric Seidle Montana State University-Northern senior receiver Trevor Baum had a huge season-opening game last Saturday at Montana Tech. The Lights take on Dickinson State in their home opener Saturday at Blue Pony Stadium. After nearly 40 years of dormancy, the program at C of I has been revived, and the first game of the new ear of Yotes football takes place Saturday in Forest Grove Oregon when the Yotes take on Pacific University. It will be an exciting day for Yotes fans, as the long, two-year process of building the program from the ground up will finally come to a head. It was just over two years ago that C of I announced it would bring back football, and be a part of the Frontier Conference. From there, the program searched for a coach, then recruited a roster, and went through basically a year and a half of practice, spring ball, conditioning programs and a fall camp without being able to play a real game. But the wait is over now. The Yotes and their fans are finally ready to do it for real. The first game, a non-conference affair against Pacific, is on the road, but one week from Saturday, Yotes’ fans will really be able

to take possession of their new team when C of I plays its first home game, and its first Frontier Conference game ever. That game, Sept. 13 against UM-Western, will be a joyous day for C of I. But so will this Saturday, because even though it’s on the road, C of I will play a real football game, for the first time in a long, long time. They fought the beast Many people said it was crazy for the UMWestern Bulldogs to go and play the Eastern Washington Eagles, the No. 2 team in the Football Championship Subdivision, on the Eagles’ home field in Cheney, Washington. Maybe, those people were right. Maybe it was crazy. But the Bulldogs didn’t seem to come out of the game any worse for wear. EWU beat the Dawgs 41-9, a score that many predicted would be much higher. And while

star EWU quarterback Vernon Adams threw for nearly 400 yards before exciting the game, the Eagles and head coach Beau Baldwin, appeared to play the Bulldogs straight up. And that’s what makes UM-Western’s effort more impressive. It didn’t appear that EWU laid down in the second half, played backups yes, laid down no. Of course, had Adams and his band of some of the best wide receivers in the FCS played longer, the score would have been worse, but that doesn’t change the fact that Western went to Cheney and played respectable football, and represented the Frontier Conference very well. And in the process, the Bulldogs are showing they have arrived in their own league too. With a 1-0 start to conference play, and a positive experience against a team poised to capture the FCS national championship, Western is more than on the rise in the Frontier. The bulldogs may have already risen.

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They stand together, united Carroll/SOU game will be intense The MSU-Northern Lights dedicate the 2014 season to head coach Mark Samson George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com In the game of football, it’s supposed to be about what happens between the white lines. In college football, especially at places like Montana State University-Northern, it’s supposed to be about the love of the game, about the players playing hard and coaches coaching hard. It’s not supposed to be how it was in the month of August for the MSU-Northern Lights. Instead of solely getting ready for the 2014 season, for last week’s season-opening

game at Montana Tech, instead of the hot sweaty two-a-day’s being just about football, the Lights had to deal with much more. In fact, these Lights went through as much turmoil and adversity in one month than most college football teams deal with in an entire season. The adversity, the turmoil was due to the Lights unfairly losing their head coach. By now, everyone knows the story and the details surrounding 11-year Northern head man Mark Samson’s forced resignation in early August. It was a devastating blow to the Northern players, the current coaching staff, the MSU-N program and the Havre football community. In fact, it was a devastating blow to the entire Frontier Conference. For the last 11 years, Samson had roamed the Frontier sidelines, molding Northern into a program that garnered attention, respect and every other Frontier team’s best shot if they were going to have a chance to beat the Lights. For the last 11 years, Samson helped

George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com

continue to transform what was once a Northern football program in its infancy, to a powerful, competitive and excellent college football program. And he did it with class and dignity. But Samson, who helped guide the Lights to their only NAIA playoff appearance back in the magical season of 2006, did so much more than that. He didn’t just mold football players and shape a football program, he molded men. He taught life lessons and helped the boys he recruited grow into young men, men who many of them now have college degrees, families of their own and success after the game of

We’re two weeks into the 2014 Frontier Conference football season, and for the first time in over a year, the Carroll College Fighting Saints aren’t in first place in the league standings. That’s only because the No. 2-ranked Saints haven’t played a game yet. But they’re about to this weekend, and as far as league games go, and even though it’s only early September, games like the Saints are about to play don’t get any bigger. Carroll will open its season, and defense of its 2013 Frontier title Saturday at Southern Oregon. The game is already being billed as the potential game of the year in the Frontier and is certainly the Game of the Week in the NAIA. The Raiders come into Saturday’s game 1-0, fresh off a demolition of Menlo Col-

■ See United Page 6 Havre Daily News/File Photo Photo right: Tyler Craig and the Montana State University-Northern Lights are just starting what will be an emotional first season without former head coach Mark Samson. The Lights open their home schedule Saturday against Dickinson State,

MSU-Northern Lights vs Dickinson State Blue Hawks Montana State University Northern Location: Havre, MT Nickname: Lights Colors: Maroon and Yellow 2014 record: 0-1 (0-1)

2013 record: 4-6 (4-6) Head coach: Jake Eldridge Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium Streak: The Lights have

beaten the Blue Hawks four straight times at Blue Pony Stadium.

Saturday, September 6, 2014 Blue Pony Stadium ~ 1 pm Dickinson State University

2013 record: 1-10 (0-10)

Stadium: B.A.C.

Nickname: Blue Hawks

Streak: The Blue Hawks are in the first season with a new head coach as Hank Beisiot led the Hawks for the last 38 seasons.

2014 record: 0-1 (0-0)

So, there’s certainly some history going on between Carroll and SOU, no matter that the Raiders have only been in the Frontier for two seasons. And Saturday’s game in Ashland should be no different. SOU’s wild passing attack, led by Austin Dodge, will again be a huge challenge for the Saints’ stout defense. And while Carroll is breaking in brand new starting quarterback Mac Roache, the Saints’ massive offensive line, and star running back Dustin Rinker, will put the Raider defense to the test. One thing is for certain, the winner of Saturday’s game between the Saints and Raiders will have an early leg up on the Frontier title. But it

Today in the Frontier Conference Dickinson State University Blue Hawks (0-1, 0-0)

At Montana StateUniversity Northern Lights (0-1, 0-1)

Head coach: Pete Stanton

Location: Dickinson, N.D.

Colors: Navy Blue and Gray

lege, and they are ranked No. 22 in the NAIA Preseason Poll. And while there’s a long, long way to go, Saturday’s game could have lasting implications on not just the 2014 Frontier championship, but the NAIA national title picture. Two years ago in Ashland, SOU beat the Saints in a wild thriller, which ultimately stopped Carroll’s 12-year Frontier title streak. SOU wound up sharing the conference title and making the playoffs in its first year in the Frontier. That game, back in November of 2012, started what is a new rivalry in the Frontier. Carroll got its revenge last fall when the Saints blasted the Raiders 40-30 in Helena. That game pretty much cinched the league title for the Saints, and kept the Raiders out of the playoffs.

No. 9 Rocky Mountain College (1-0, 0-0) at UM-Western (1-1 1-0) in Dillon, MT

in Ashland, Ore.

No. 2 Carroll College (0-0, 0-0) at No. 22 Southern Oregon (1-0, 0-0)

at Pacific University (0-1, 0-1)

College of Idaho (0-0, 0-) in Forest Grove, Ore.

2014 Frontier Conference Coaches Preseason Poll

1. Carroll College 2. Rocky Mountain College 3. Southern Oregon 4. Eastern Oregon 5. MSU-Northern 5. UM-Western 7. Montana Tech 8. College of Idaho won’t be the be-all-end-all for either team either. That’s because, under a new-look Frontier schedule, Carroll and SOU play twice this season, with the Raiders traveling to Helena Oct. 18. And that’s exciting, because with a rivalry this good, it will be fun to see it twice. Old friend, new look

Havre Daily News Week Two Frontier Conference Power Rankings

1. Carroll College 1. Rocky Mountain College 3. Southern Oregon 4. UM-Western 5. Eastern Oregon 6. Montana Tech 7. MSU-Northern 8. College of Idaho

Though Dickinson State left the Frontier after only two years, joining the new Northstar Athletic Conference for this season, the Blue Hawks, at least in the short term, have decided to keep some old Frontier rivalries going. DSU and Rocky

� See Notebook Page 12

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MSU-Northern Rewind

Lights lose a heartbreaker in Butte Tech storms from behind to hand Northern a seasonopening defeat George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com The Montana State UniversityNorthern football team raced onto the field at Montana Tech’s Alumni Coliseum Saturday night full of energy and emotion. And for a time, that emotion was on the high side, which was incredible considering what the Lights have already been through this season. But by game’s end, Northern faced the other side of the emotional game of college football as the Lights left Butte with a difficult, 38-24 seasonopening loss at the hands of the Montana Tech Orediggers. What started out as a great night for the Lights, ended with them being outscored 28-7 in the second half, as Tech rebounded from its own seasonopening loss last week at the hands of UM-Western. “It was a tough game,” Northern interim head coach Jake Eldridge said. “First, you have to give Montana Tech a lot of credit. They kept bouncing back, kept making the big plays when they had to. So we won’t take anything away from them. “But for us, it was a game where I felt like we would take a big step forward and then two steps back. We played really well at times, and felt like we had control of things. But we also made some mental mistakes on defense and on special teams that helped Tech extend some big drives. Those mistakes really hurt us, so at the end of the night, we felt like with mistakes and penalties, we just shot ourselves in the foot too many times.” After losing head coach Mark Samson at the start of fall camp, and going through a nearly-month long grind of controversy, the season couldn’t have started any better for the Lights. On the first possession of 2014, Northern methodically marched down the field and scored on a 12-yard Zach McKinley run. The score set the tone for what would become a roller coaster of a game between the Lights and Diggers, much like the one that was played last November at Blue Pony Stadium when Tech snatched a sure win away from the Lights on a last-second hail-mary touchdown. The Lights would end the first period of the season ahead 7-3, and even

after falling behind 10-7, Northern responded with 10 points to close the half. The Lights went back in front when Dean, who threw for a career-high 307 yards, connected on big plays to Jake Messerly and Trevor Baum, the latter of which put Northern back in front when Baum hauled in a 70-yard scoring strike. Another good drive late in the first half ended on a Jordan Reuschhoff 31-yard field goal, and the Lights went into the locker room with a 17-10 lead, and feeling good. “Offensively, we got off to a great start,” Eldridge said. “The offense executed really well, they made a lot of big plays and there were a lot of bright spots from them, throughout the game but especially in the first half.” And while the Northern offense stayed productive for much of the game, the second half was a much different story all together. Tech tied the game at 17-17 early in the third period, but the Lights answered when Dean hit Messerly on a 30-yard scoring strike to put his squad back in front 24-17. The Northern defense, which was stingy for much of the first half, answered the bell, too, pinning Tech deep in its own territory on the ensuing drive. And that’s when everything seemed to change. On fourth down and 20, Tech punter Travis Farewell dropped a low snap, picked up the ball and sprinted to the right for 23 yards and an Oredigger first down. A few plays later, Tech quarterback Andrew Loudenback hit Kolby Kansala over the middle for a 20-yard TD to tie the game. From there, the Diggers never trailed again, and despite battling the whole way through, the Lights were shut out. “I thought our defense did a lot of things really well,” Eldridge said. “Statistically, we held a very good Tech offense down for much of the game. But we made some crucial mistakes at times, and several of those mistakes allowed Tech to extend some drives, and those drives changed the momentum. “I think, had we been able to eliminate some of those mistakes in the second half, we could have held on to the momentum, because it definitely shifted a couple of times.” And once it shifted, there was little the Lights could do to get it back. Tech ended the third quarter, and a 21-point barrage, on a Nolan Saraceni 49-yard touchdown run. The Lights were still in the game midway through the fourth, however, especially when Mike McCrary picked off Loudenback, giving Northern a chance to pull even again. But it wasn’t to be. Instead, Tech’s defense stiffened. The Orediggers kept MSU-N scoreless for the final 27 minutes of the game, while they tacked on

an insurance touchdown in the fourth when Loudenback ran the ball in from six yards out. “When momentum shifts, it can be a killer,” Eldridge said. “And I think that was a big part of the second half. We just made some crucial mistakes that really hurt us, and Tech took advantage of them. But I thought we battled hard all night, I’m proud of the way the kids fought.” The Northern offense did pile up 425 total yards, while holding Tech to just 317. However, MSU-N committed 11 penalties for 104 yards, and that certainly hurt the Lights, whether on offense, or when Tech was able to sustain drives. Dean finished the game 22-of-37 with two scores and two interceptions. McKinley had a good night as well, rushing for 88 yards on 19 carries. Baum had a breakout game in what was his first career start at wide receiver. He grabbed seven balls for 146 yards, while Messerly added 87 yards on seven catches. Messerly also had 64 yards on kickoff returns. Defensively, the Lights stymied Tech’s up-tempo offense at times. Butch Hyder led the Lights with 10 tackles, while Patrick Barnett, Will DeVos and Tyler Craig all had sacks. Barnett was a force, as he wreaked havoc in the Tech backfield all night long. However, when it mattered, the Orediggers rose up. Saracini totaled 131 yards on just 15 carries, as Pat Hansen, Tech’s senior star, left the game with an injury. Loudenback finished the night with 19 completions, 257 yards and three scores, while Alec Bray caught eight balls for 105 yards as Tech improved to 1-1 in the Frontier Conference. Meanwhile, the Lights fell to an 0-1 start in league play. But they also found out a lot about themselves Saturday night, and those things will go a long way toward what they are trying to achieve this season. “First, it’s a loss and these kids won’t accept that,” Eldridge said. “I think they felt like they let one get away down there. But that’s good to see that they responded to it positively. They had their heads held high after the game. They know they’ll learn a lot from that game, and they know they will get better. I’m really proud of them. I’m really happy with how they battled hard. This one game won’t define our season.” Northern will now come back to Havre for its home debut, a nonconference affair with rival Dickinson State Saturday at Blue Pony Stadium. The game is the first of two straight at home for the Lights, who also play Rocky Mountain College Sept. 13.

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Frontier Conference Standings

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

Conf. WL 1-0 1-1 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1

NAIA Top Preseason 25 1. Grand View (15) 2. Carroll 2. Morningside 4. Cumberlands 5. Baker 6. St. Francis (Ind) 7. Missouri Valley 8. Tabor 9. Rocky Mountain 10. Faulkner 11. Benedictine 12. Georgetown

Overall WL 1-1 1-1 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-1

2012Pts 14-0 340 12-2 322 11-2 308 13-1 306 11-2 285 9-3 278 9-3 269 10-3 236 9-4 225 9-3 224 10-2 213 7-4 205

13. Northwestern (Iowa) 14. Ottawa (Kan) 15. Sterling (Kan.) 16. St. Xavier (Ill) 17. St. Ambrose 18. Lindsey Wilson 19. Friends 20. St. Francis (Ill) 21. Dakota Wesleyn 22. Southern Oregon 23. Langston (Okla.) 24. Peru State 25. Cumberland (Tenn.)

Rnk 1 2 4 3 5 6 7 8 10 9 11 12

187 168 159 147 130 123 96 88 72 52 44 42 24

13 14 15 16 16 18 19 20 21 24 22 23 25

Others receiving votes: : Eastern Oregon 17; Reinhardt (Ga.) 13; Siena Heights (Mich.) 5.

Saturday, Aug. 30 Rocky Mountain 40, Dickinson State 21 Southern Oregon 51, Menlo 14 Montana Tech 38, MSU-Northern 24 Eastern Washington 41, UM-Western Saturday, Sept. 6 MSU-Nortrhern vs Dickinson State Rocky Mountain at UM-Western Carroll College at Southern Oregon College of Idaho at Pacific

Frontier Conference Individual Leaders Through Week Two

Passing: Zach Bartlow, EOU, 391 ypg Receiving: Trevor Baum, MSU-N, 145 ypg Receptions: Cole Cattelan, RMC, 7 Rushing: Zach McKinley, MSU-N, 88 ypg Tackles: Butch Hyder, MSU-N, 10 tpg Sacks: Tyler Craig, MSU-N, 2 INT's: Byron Benson, EOU, 2 ints

Lights Coaching Staff

Jake Eldridge Head Coach

8-3 8-4 9-3 7-4 7-4 8-3 8-3 7-4 8-3 7-4 6-4 7-4 7-4

Scott Leeds Offense/WR

Jorge Magana Asst. Coach

Arthur Smith Asst. Coach

Not Pictured: Christian Rago, Asst. Coach

Cody O'Neil Asst. Coach

James Erickson Student Asst.

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MSU-Northern Offensive Starters

Dickinson State Defensive Starters

MSU-N Offensive Numbers

DSU Defensive Numbers

Scoring: 24 ppg Jake Messerly #17, 6-1, 195 Receiver

Total offense: 450 ypg

Robert Sterling #21, 5-10, 180 Cornerback

Passing: 307 ypg

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MSU-Northern Defensive Starters

DSU Offensive Numbers

MSU-N Defensive Numbers

Scoring: 40 ppg

Scoring: 38 ppg

Total defense: 397 ypg

Total defense: 315 ypg

Rush defense: 60 ypg

Rushing: 160 ypg

Scoring: 21 ppg Malcolm Manuel #3, 5-9, 170 Cornerback

Eldridge will be the interim head coach of the Lights this season. He has been the defensive coordinator for four years at MSU-N, and is a former AllConference defensive back for the Lights. IN all, Eldridge has coached for seven seasons at Northern.

Rostyn Pace #74, 6-3, 275 Left guard

Travis Dean #8, 6-0, 200 Quarterback

Shomari Burton #70, 6-3, 305 Center

Sefa Fatu #44, 6-3, 255

Defensive tackle

Tyler Craig #91, 6-1, 240 Defensive end Thomas Sease #6, 6-2, 200 Linebacker

Tucker Dunn

#2, 6-1, 225 Linebacker

Mike Hernandez #99, 6-2, 290 Nose tackle

Zach Bangert #51, 6-1, 280 Right guard

Sam Herauf #97, 6-3, 265 Defensive tackle

Butch Hyder #13, 5-11, 200 Safety

Alex Huitzil #32, 6-1, 230 Linebacker

Drew Johnson #51, 6-1, 255 Linebacker

Will DeVos #95, 6-2, 255 Defensive tackle Kami Kanehailua #42, 6-1, 235 Linebacker

Awa Poggi #25, 5-9, 190 Safety

Jacob Criner #36, 5-11, 240 Fullback

Total offense: 342 ypg

Lane Millay #67, 6-3, 285 Offensive line

Michael Thompson #24, 5-11, 185 Safety

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

Dalton Reid

#11, 5-9, 190 Receiver

Rushing: 99 ypg

Pete Morales #77, 6-1, 285 Left tackle

Jake Eldridge MSU-N Head Coach

Dickinson State Offensive Starters

Hunter Chandler #34, 5-9, 188 Safety

Patrick Barnett #90, 6-2, 265 Defensive tackle Jesse Morales #7, 6-0, 210 Linebacker

Tyler Phillips #43, 6-2, 230 Defensive end

Dylan Murphy #71, 6-6, 310 Right tackle

Pete Stanton DSU Head Coach

Jeff Wilson #68, 6-5, 290 Offensive line

Kelli Copp #52, 6-2, 255 Offensive line

Kaler Ray #7, 6-4, 195 Quarterback

Meyer Bohn #54, 6-0, 255 Offensive line

Myren Moore

#28, 5-9, 190 Running back

Jake Hardy

#45, 5-11, 200 Fullback

Joel Herrera #64, 6-1, 275 Offensive line

Matt McCoy #20, 6-2, 210 Linebacker

Hazer Burghduff #40, 6-0, 220 Tight end

John Jansen #44, 6-3, 240 Tight end Jordan Rueschoff #14, 6-2, 185 Kicker/Punter

Trevor Baum #1, 6-1, 200 Receiver

Josh Borm

Robert Nalewaja #8, 5-10, 165 Cornerback

Mike McCrary #26, 5-10, 175 Corner

J.T. Keith #21, 6-4, 190 Receiver

#17, 6-0, 170 Kicker

Stanton enters his first season as head coach in 2014 and has been on the Blue Hawk staff for14 years. Stanton is a native of Baker, MT. He brings to Dickinson State a wealth of coaching experience having been the head football coach at Terry High School in Terry, MT for nine years and the head coach at Belgrade High School in Belgrade, MT for two years.

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Year Sr R-Fr Jr So Fr So Jr Fr Sr So Jr Fr Fr So So Sr Fr Jr Jr So Sr Fr Fr Jr Jr Jr Jr Jr Sr Fr So Fr So Sr Sr So Fr Fr Jr Fr So So So Fr Jr Sr Fr Jr So Fr So Fr Fr Fr So Jr So Jr So Fr So Jr Sr Jr Fr So

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

Wt. 185 160 200 175 200 200 165 200 210 185 190 175 210 215 195 195 210 210 210 180 185 170 175 195 185 185 170 210 200 170 185 170 185 230 245 200 180 210 200 190 205 200 210 185 210 205 170 270 200 200 205 170 185 220 225 270 180 255 205 210 200 285 225 275 235 260

Hometown Kailua, Hawaii Belfield, N.D. Moreno Valley, Calif. Simi Valley, Calif. Bismarck, N.D. Glendale, Ariz. Miles City, MT Buffalo, S.D. Crosby, N.D. Miles City, Mont. Cheyenne, Wyo. Miles City, Mont. Gillette, Wyo. Spirit Lake, Idaho Savage, Mont. Cheyenne, Wyo. Forsyth, Mont. Buffalo, S.D. Plentywood, Mont. Palmdale, Calif. Colstrip, Mont. Nashua, Mont. Bismarck, N.D. Casper, Wyo. Miami, Fla. Waiamanalo, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii San Jacinto, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. Hettinger, N.D. Miami, Fla. Hardin, Mont. Laurel, Mont. San Lucas, Calif. Waimanalo, Hawaii Parshall, N.D. Plentywood, Mont. Circle, Mont. Los Angeles, Calif. Killdeer, N.D. Escalon, Calif. Denver, N.C. Buffalo, S.D. Medicine Lake, Mont. Miles City, Mont. Wessington Springs, S.D. Lawrence, S.D. Sacramento, Calif. Beach, N.D. Buffalo, Wyo. Plentywood, Mont. Lusk, Wyo. Forsyth, Mont. Bismarck, N.D. West Fargo, N.D. Kaneohe, Hawaii Jordan, Mont. Bismarck, N.D. Worland, Wyo. Wheatland, Wyo. Dickinson, N.D. Sacramento, Calif. Anaconda, Mont. Louisville, Ky. Rapid City, S.D. Killdeer, N.D.

No.Name Pos. 63 Jeff Fisher OL 64 Joel Herrera OL 66 Drew Senger OL 67 Lane Millay OL 68 Jeffery Wilson DL 69 Joe Murdock DL 71 Kordell Cummins OT 72 Devin Schwanz OL 75 Adrian Phillips OL 76 Larry Morrow OL 77 Curran Irvine OL 78 Ian Snodgrass DE 80 JT Keith WR 81 Luke Schwagler WR 82 Dylan Skabo WR 83 Bryce Keilback WR 84 Braden Collins WR 85 Logan Wilcox TE 86 Chad Mosbrucker WR 87 Jordan Walker TE 88 Channing Wagner TE 89 Braden Ler TE 91 Dustin Irgens DL 93 Mitch Mehrer DL 93 Matt Perdue DL 94 Aaron Phillips DE 95 Tukker Toavs LB 96 William Schwindt LB 97 Sam Herauf DL 98 Bryce Wigert DL 99 Michael Hernandez DL

Year Fr Jr So Jr Fr So Fr Fr Jr Jr So Fr Sr Fr Fr So Fr Fr So Fr So Fr Fr Fr Sr So Fr Fr Sr Fr Jr

Ht. 6-2 6-2 6-6 6-2 6-5 5-11 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-4 5-8 5-10 6-0 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-4 5-10 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-3 5-9 6-4 5-10 6-4

Wt. 225 270 260 285 270 215 300 290 325 295 315 195 160 160 180 185 210 180 215 230 220 240 225 220 180 210 200 260 270 290

Hometown Baker, Mont. Los Angeles, Calif. Miles City, MT Casper, Wyo. Sturgis, S.D. Hardin, Mont. Hardin, Mont. Plentywood, Mont. Madras, Ore. El Monte, Calif. Wheatland, Wyo. Bottineau, N.D. Miles City, Mont. Forsyth, Mont. Dickinson, N.D. Brandon, Manitoba Absarokee, Mont. Lewiston, Mont. Mott, N.D. Baker, Mont. South Heart, N.D. Savage, Mont. Baker, Mont. Dickinson, N.D. Ray, N.D. Madras, OR Wolf Point, Mont. Dickinson, N.D. Dickinson, N.D. Anaconda, Mont. Panorama City, Calif.

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MSU-Northern Numerical Roster

Dickinson State Numerical Roster No.Name Pos. 2 Jesse Carney RB 3 Seth Ewoniuk WR 4 Jonathan McGinnis DB 5 Kevin Boyd Jr. DB 6 Thomas Sease OLB 7 Kaler Ray QB 8 Robert Nalewaja DB 9 Steven Koch MLB 10 Dalyss Hanson WR 11 Dalton Reid WR 12 Thad Lane QB 13 Ben Herzog QB 14 Seth Moerkerke QB 15 Brian Cronnelly QB 16 Shad Stanford DB 17 Josh Borm P/PK/WR 18 Blake Schwagler QB 19 Austin Brown WR 20 Matt McCoy DE 21 Robert Sterling DB 22 Shawn Alder DB 22 Jonathan Koessl DB 23 Jay Liggins DB 23 Riley Moore RB 24 Michael Thompson DB 25 Awa Poggi DB 26 Joshua Perry-Kruse WR 27 William Cunningham LB 28 Myren Moore RB 29 Kye Erickson DB 29 Charles Williams DB 30 Tanner Delp LB 31 Bryce Herman RB 32 Alex Huitzil LB 33 Quincy Mason LB 34 Dexter Two Crow RB 35 Trey Howard DB 36 Dolan Taylor WR 37 Cesar Jauregui S 38 Callum Blankenship S 38 Justin Camara RB 39 David Spinner RB 40 Hazer Burghduff TE 41 Jalen Hendrickson WR 42 Colten Johnston LB 43 Collin Baumgart DB 43 Jack Davis K 44 Sefa Fatu DL 45 Jake Hardy FB 46 Tyler Rogers RB 47 Mark Angvick DE 48 Matthew VandenBossche DB 49 Gage Adams LB 50 Brady Wilz LB 51 Drew Johnson LB 52 Kelii Copp OL 53 Jay Phipps DE 54 Meyer Bohn OL 55 Colby Wartman DE 56 Kirby Cagle LB 57 Alec Stieg DE 58 Noey Tauave DL 59 Brock Wigert DL 60 Jacob Elmore OL 61 JaRell Hall OL 62 Jamie Moreno Jr. DL

Sept. 5, 2014

No. 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 61 63 65 66 69 70

Name

Pos. Ht. Wt.

Trevor Baum WR 6-1 Tucker Dunn LB 6-1 Malcolm Manuel DB 5-9 Bryan Moon DB 5-10 Zach Plum WR 5-8 Nick Luoma WR 6-2 Jesse Morales LB 6-0 Travis Dean QB 6-0 Jess Krahn QB 6-3 Jake Day WR 5-10 Garrett Jericoff DB 5-9 Holden Maki QB 5-9 Butch Hyder DB 5-11 Jordan Rueschhoff K J.R. Finai QB 6-2 Morgan Dirickson QB 6-1 Jake Messerly WR 6-1 Sam Mix WR 6-1 Alex Cox DB 5-8 Tyson Ernst WR 5-11 Kyle Cochran DB 5-11 Mario Gobbato RB 5-8 Jed Eaton DB 5-11 Zach McKinley RB 5-10 Torin Brunson RB 5-8 Michael McCrary DB 5-10 Jesse Mavernik DB 6-1 Kaden Barrus RB 5-9 Kole Chartier DB 5-11 Russel Haynie LB 6-2 Justin Fritz LB 5-11 Hunter Croff RB 5-10 Brooks Dunn LB 5-10 Hunter Chandler DB 5-10 Dakota Schelling LB 6-0 Jacob Criner RB 5-11 Derek Andresen LB 5-9 Jordan Oraw LB 6-2 Wyatt McKinlay RB 5-10 Dave Cross TE 6-1 Trent Tarner RB 5-10 Valentine Kanehailua LB 6-0 Tyler Phillips DL 6-1 John Jansen TE 6-3 Michael McKeen LB 5-10 Joshua Wright DL 6-2 Jordan Brusio DL 5-11 Garet Fowler LB 5-10 Miguel Carranza LS 5-10 Robert Johnson OL 6-1 Zach Bangert OL 6-1 Josiah Pola LB 5-11 Austin Rychner DL 5-10 Owen Debryucker LB Dustin Odegard DL 6-0 Dace Fisher DL 6-1 Andrew Moser LB 6-1 Adolfo Robles OL 6-2 Kenneth Shane Stubbs OL 6-1 Dale Cummings OL 6-1 Kelin King OL 6-3 Braxton Hasner DL 6-1 Jacob Folk OL 6-4 Brennon Lewis OL 6-2 Shomari Burton OL 6-3

200 225 170 180 165 215 210 200 220 165 195 170 200 6-0 215 195 195 195 190 200 170 185 195 205 160 175 180 170 170 200 220 190 190 190 185 240 195 205 205 225 180 240 225 240 215 230 240 205 230 250 280 225 230 5-11 210 195 220 270 270 330 260 290 335 310 305

Yr.

SR SO JR FR RS-FR SR SO SR FR JR JR FR SR 200 RS-FR FR SO FR FR RS-FR FR SO RS-FR SO FR SR FR FR FR FR SO FR FR SR FR SR FR RS-FR FR RS-FR FR SR SR SR JR FR SO FR JR FR SR FR SO 225 FR FR FR SO FR FR FR FR JR FR SR

Hometown

Susanville, Calif. Chandler, Ariz. Carson, Calif. Chehalis, Wash. Havre, Mont. Stockett, Mont. La Habra, Calif. Gilbert, Ariz. Brush Prairie, Wash. Irvine, Calif. Hilmar, Calif. Belt, Mont. Boise, Idaho SR Gillette, Wyo. Kearns, Utah Fallow, Nev. Missoula, Mont. Sammamish, Wash. Chehalis, Wash. Fallon, Nev. Helena, Mont. Blaine, Wash. Broadview, Mont. Great Falls, Mont. Gooding, Idaho Las Vegas, Nev. Stockett, Mont. Gooding, Idaho Stockett, Mont. Hobson, Mont. Brady, Mont. Belt, Mont. Chandler, Ariz. Bozeman, Mont. Fallon, Nev. Kalispell, Mont. Chandler, Ariz. Chester, Mont. Geraldine, Mont. Hot Springs, Mont. Fallon, Nev. Ewa Beach, Hawaii Renton, Wash. Broadview, Mont. Oakley, Calif. Oakland, Calif. Billings, Mont. Belgrad, Mont. Fontana, Calif. Stevensville, Mont. Concord, Calif. Chandler, Ariz. Ekalaka, Mont. SO Choteau, Mont. Havre, Mont. Sidney, Mont. Pullman, Wash. Bakersfield, Calif. Shelby, Mont. Cremona, Alberta Malta, Mont. Brady, Mont. Ft. Belknap, Mont. Fallon, Nev. Port Orchard, Wash.

No.

71 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 85 87 88 90 91 92 94 95 99

Name

Pos. Ht. Wt.

Dylan Murphy OL Jeremy Eisenmann Rostyn Pace OL Wes Ostby OL Pete Morales OL Matthew McKeen OL Sam Harris DL Logan Mayernik WR Bowe McKay WR Will Ketchum WR Chad Mayernik WR Kagen Khamaneh TE Connor Benn WR Seth Roemmelle WR Patrick Barnett DL Tyler Craig DL Lane Urick DL Matt Bachmeier DL Will DeVos DL Jefferson Aumua DL

6-6 OL 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-2 5-11 6-3 5-10 5-9 6-3 5-8 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-1 5-10 6-2 6-3

310 6-3 270 335 295 290 290 180 195 165 160 225 160 190 265 230 285 260 255 340

Yr.

JR 250 SR SO SO FR FR SO FR FR FR FR FR FR SO SO SO FR SR JR

Hometown

Gleichen, Alberta FR Missoula, Mont. Sun Burst, Mont. Deer Park, Wash. La Habra, Calif. Oakley, Calif. Longview, Wash. Great Falls, Mont. Chehalis, Wash. Box Elder, Mont. Great Falls, Mont. Missoula, Mont. Ronan, Mont. Clare Sholm, Alberta Billings, Mont. Great Falls, Mont. Great Falls, Mont. Helena, Mont. Vale, Ore. Auburn, Wash.

2014 Montana State University-Northern Football Staff Jake Eldridge, Interim Head Coach, Def. Coordinator; Scott Leeds, offense/wide receivers; Jorge Magana, asst. coach; Cody O'Neil, asst.coach; Christian Rago, asst. coach; Arthur Smith, asst. coach; James Erickson, student assistant. Athletic Director: Christian Oberquell; Certified Athletic Trainer: Nichole Borst; Sports Information: Nicole Yazzie.

6

Sept. 5, 2014

www.havredailynews.com

7

Sept. 5, 2014

www.havredailynews.com

United: Lights set out to honor coach Mark Samson this fall

United: Saturday will be emotional for the MSU-Northern Lights

■ From Page 2

■ From Page 6

football was over for them. Sure, the game of college football is about wins above all else. Almost any coach will tell you, the “W” is what matters most. But any coach worth his salt also cares about his players, cares about their lives, cares about their education and cares about the kind of person they become when they leave that coaches’ program. Mark Samson did all those things in his time at Northern. And that’s why the 2014 Lights are going on, not without him, but for him. The 2014 Lights are playing in honor of their head coach, the man who recruited them all to play college football in Havre. For the 85 players on the MSU-N roster, this season is about more than wins and losses. It’s about more than just playing the game they love. For these Lights, it’s about making sure the man who brought them to Havre knows how much they support him, care about him, stand by him and most of all, appreciate everything he

has done for them. And they want everybody else to know it too. “We love coach Samson,” senior safety Hunter Chandler said. “He is the main reason all of us came here. Everything we do this season and hope to achieve this season, we want to do in his honor. We just want him to know that we haven't forgotten him and everything that he did for us. “Everyone on the team is going to give everything they have on Saturday for coach but also because we need a win,” senior receiver Trevor Baum added. “We should have got it last week but we will get it this week. Coach Samson did so much for us and it was wrong how he went out.” And it’s not just the players who feel so strongly about Samson. Now Northern interim head coach Jake Eldridge has spent almost two decades with Samson in one way or another. Eldridge played for Samson’s highly-successful teams at Helena

Capital High School. Then he spent his collegiate career playing defensive back and receiver for Samson right here in Havre. From there, Eldridge went into coaching under Samson. First as a defensive assistant and strength and conditioning coach, and the last four seasons as Northern’s defensive coordinator. What transpired over the last month hasn’t been easy for anyone, including Eldridge, yet he, like his team, is moving forward, and doing it with the coach they all love and respect so much, always in the front of their minds. “These are prideful kids,” Eldridge said recently. “They want to go out and play this game, this season for coach Samson,” he continued. “They’ve dedicated the season to him. And starting with this game, they want to go out and show him what he’s done for them. They want him to see that all

■ See United Page 7

Havre Daily News/File Photo A lone Montana State University-Northern football helmet rests on the bench at Blue Pony Stadium following the Lights' final game of the 2013 season against the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears. That was the final game Mark Samson would coach the Lights. Samson was forced to resign last month, just as the 2014 season was getting underway, but the Lights have gone on and are playing this season for their coach. Every player on the current roster, and hundreds before them, were recruited to play for the Lights by Samson.

his hard work and dedication to them has paid off.” While Samson’s stunning departure has been very tough on the current Lights’ team, they’ve done as good a job of focusing on football as best they can. But now that the season’s started, it’s really hit home for everyone that Samson isn’t on the sidelines coaching the Lights any longer. Never-the-less, Samson himself is keeping it all in perspective, and is especially grateful for how much his players have supported him and stood by him. And he’s proud of them for carrying on. “When all this occurred, I was able to be in contact with a lot of the kids, got to meet with them face-to-face, and even a large group of them came by my house to talk to me. I was able to explain the situation to them, and at the end I told them, they came here for something bigger than me. They came here to play football and represent this school, and I think they are doing a great job of that.

“I won’t lie, I miss them all, I miss coaching them,” he continued. “I was really looking forward to coaching this group this season. They are a great group of young men. They are a great mix of older kids who are being great leaders and younger guys who are very talented. I think this team has the chance to be a great football team. They’ve worked awfully hard during their time here. They are a great group of kids and they do a great job of representing their school the right way.” And though he isn’t with the team he thinks so highly of, which will be very emotional for all of them as Saturday is Northern’s home opener, Samson is adamant about wanting the Lights to succeed. He wants them to go forward and play to the best of their abilities each and every Saturday this fall. “I really do appreciate all of their support,” Samson said. “They have all given me so much support and it means a lot to me. And I wish them

Havre Daily News/Daniel Horton The Montana State University-Northern Lights gather around head coach Mark Samson during a 2013 fall practice in Havre. The Lights, who open their home schedule against Dickinson State on Saturday, have dedicated their season to Samson, who coached the Lights for the last 11 years. Northern suffered an emotional loss to Montana Tech last Saturday night in Butte, but emotions will again be running high when the Lights play their first game at Blue Pony Stadium without their beloved head coach. Kickoff at Blue Pony Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

(Lights) the best of luck this season. I want them to do well. They are a great group, they are a talented football team, and I want all of these kids to experience success, both on the football field and in life. They are just a great group and I really miss them.” And the players miss their coach too. But, with the season now in full swing, and Saturday’s home opener against Dickinson State looming, the players, completely united, want to go out on the field and succeed, as Samson wants them too, but succeed in honor of him. “It means a lot to me,” MSU-N tight end John Jansen said of Northern dedicating their season to Samson. “I never would have came to college without him because I was injured my senior year. He got me up here and stuck with me through thick and thin, going on five years now. It would be great to have him around still, but now we are playing for him.”