Lights host Diggers for homecoming
By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
Losses. The Montana State University-Northern
football team has experienced its fair share of them this season. Some were
tough, some were close, but none of them compares to the 61-0 loss to Montana
Tech on Sept. 18 in
The Lights will get the chance to try to erase the lingering memories of that
loss when they host the Orediggers on Saturday at
"We were terrible," said Lights head coach
Mark Samson. "Everything that could have gone wrong,
did. It was bad."
How bad? Northern committed six turnovers - five fumbles and an interception.
Four fumbles led directly to Tech scores, while the other two turnovers killed
the Lights' scoring opportunities.
"Tech is a very good team, but we just handed them scoring opportunities
and field position," Samson said.
Besides the turnovers, Northern amassed just 190 yards of total offense,
including 36 yards passing. The Lights also committed eight penalties in the
game, some of which ended drives and nullified third-down conversions.
Still, on Saturday two things will be different
from that first game against Tech.
First, Northern will be playing in the friendly confines of Blue Pony Stadium.
Although the Lights haven't won a game at home, they do play considerably
better.
Northern came agonizingly close to getting that first win of the season in
losses to UM-Western and
"We have been better at home," Samson said. "I don't know if
it's the travel, but we seem to execute better at home."
The Lights will need solid execution against a Tech team that has fought and
scrapped its way to the top of the Frontier Conference standings and a No. 13
ranking in NAIA.
Since losing to UM-Western 34-14 on Oct. 2 in Dillon, Tech ripped off three
consecutive wins, including snapping Carroll College's 24-game unbeaten streak
and avenging the earlier loss to Western to take control of the conference
race.
Tech isn't flashy like Western or explosive like Carroll. The Diggers just seem
to find ways to win. They aren't using smoke and mirrors, just old-fashioned,
grind-it-out, mistake-free football.
"They just aren't beating themselves and they're getting a few
breaks," Samson said.
Offensively, Tech is somewhat vanilla compared to the variety offered in the
Frontier. The Diggers are going to run the football first and foremost.
"Tech likes to get and run the ball down your throat," Samson said.
"They'll mix in some bootlegs and play action for passing. They aren't
real fancy, but what they run, they run well."
Running back Josh Johnson has rushed for 517 yards and six touchdowns on the
season and is an elusive back. Tech quarterback Aaron Johnson is steady,
averaging 172 yards passing per game. Johnson has thrown six interceptions on
the season and only four touchdowns. His favorite target is Kris Anderson, who
has 37 catches for 486 yards and two touchdowns.
While the Diggers' offense isn't going to make an ESPN highlight reel, its
defense is even less flashy. Tech's defense plays solid, physical, fundamental
football. They'll knock you down, pick you back up, only to knock you down
again.
"Their defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage against
Western," Samson said. "Basically what they did against Western is
shut down the run, gave up the short passes and never let Western get any big
plays."
Really, what Samson wants to see more than anything is a cleaner game from his team.
Turnovers, drive-killing penalties and mental mistakes must be cleaned up on
Saturday.
"It's hard to gauge from the last time we played, because everything fell
apart early on," Samson said. "We were forced to play from behind
right away. We need to come out strong right from the beginning."
Northern and Tech will kick off at