MSU-Northern snapped football streaks of 18 overall losses in a row, 18 losses in a row against Rocky Mountain College, and picked up a win in Frontier Conference play for the first time since Oct. 23, 2021. On Saturday afternoon, the Lights shattered the ceiling with a (19-13) win over the Battlin’ Bears to close out the 2024 season.
It was not easy for the Lights, as they trailed from the jump yet again, giving up a 46-yard touchdown pass on the first drive of the game as Graedyn Buell found Joseph Dwyer. After a fumble on the first Northern possession, the game remained scoreless into the second quarter.
Early on in the second, the Lights were finding ways to move the ball down the field and did so successfully as senior quarterback Zach Brooks hit sophomore receiver Devin Shelton his first career touchdown. The extra point was blocked, so Northern still trailed (7-6).
The Lights were about to give up another touchdown later on in the half, but Gio Enea undercut a route in the end zone to pick off the pass and keep the home team in it. The defense was rewarded with a 12-play, 80 yard drive that resulted in points, scored by senior linebacker Lucas Thacker on a 1-yard rush and MSU-Northern took the lead, (12-7) after a failed 2-point conversion. It was the second time all season long that Northern had a halftime lead.
No scoring happened in the third quarter, but the Lights had a drive that carried over into the fourth. 15 plays and 80 yards later, Brooks snuck in from one yard out to extend the cushion. Rocky made it interesting late, scoring a touchdown with 1:35 to play and then recovering an onside kick, but freshman Michael Watkins took the game over, recording three sacks and forcing a fumble three plays later that was recovered by Northern to ice it.
Northern finished 2024 with the same start as 2023 with a win and end the season at (1-9), picking up their first Frontier Conference win in more than three seasons. New Media Broadcasters will have more reaction coming from head coach Jerome Souers and multiple Lights players as to how the victory came to be in sports reports early next week.
