The MSU-Northern Lights football team lost on Homecoming Saturday afternoon to No. 9 Carroll College by the final score of (43-3). The Fightin’ Saints moved to (5-0 and 3-0 in the Frontier), while the Lights fell to (1-3 and 0-2 in conference play).
The game started off well for Northern, who forced a three-and-out on the first Carroll drive. After a botched punt, the Lights took over in opposing territory and drove the ball eight plays for 45 yards and Tate O’Neill converted on a 21-yard field goal.
Carroll answered by scoring touchdowns on its next two drives, both on the ground. The Northern defense was able to force a turnover on downs midway through the second quarter as well. With 1:29 to go in the half, Lights quarterback Oakley Kopp took a hit in the end zone and was ruled down for a safety. Carroll got a couple of field goals in the half to lead (22-3) at the break.
Senior linebacker Dylan Wampler came up big for Northern to start the second half as he picked off Carroll junior quarterback Jack Prka. The Lights couldn’t capitalize on the drive, which was highlighted by a roughing the passer call followed by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on head coach Jerome Souers for arguing. That moment took out the rest of the air that was in the balloon of the drive that the Northern Lights were putting together.
The Fightin’ Saints would roll from there as they totaled five touchdowns on the ground with 204 rushing yards from five different runners and converted on 10-of-15 third downs.
The Lights will be back at it next Saturday for another Frontier Conference matchup with Eastern Oregon. That game can be heard on KPQX-92.5 and Noah Friedman will call it from Tilleman Field.
