Though the Lights scored first and led most of Saturday night’s game, MSU-Northern football heartbreakingly dropped to 1-2 on the season after host Arizona Christian University scrapped to a (21-20) victory on a last-second touchdown.
The Lights struck on their opening drive as Mason Dionne found the end zone from 10 yards out to go up (6-0) after missed extra point. ACU scored in the second quarter on a 1-yard TD rush and took a 7-6 lead. Northern put together a 10-play, 75 yard drive that resulted in an Oakley Kopp 27-yard touchdown pass to Cael White and the Lights regained the lead at (13-7).
Nik Hunchak was able to pin ACU deep at their own one-yard line, which secured good field position following a Firestorm three-and-out. Kopp ended up punching it in from one yard out and Northern held a (20-7) advantage with 3:28 to go in the third quarter.
ACU then started to respond early in the fourth, with another touchdown closing the gap to 20-14. On 4th down with 11 seconds to go in the game, Firestorm quarterback Tyler Duncan made a mad dash and ended up finding Jarrod Favors in the end zone from seven yards out to give ACU the win after a converted point after attempt.
Kopp finished with 171 yards passing and one score. Mason Dionne rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown. Cael White led the receiving corps with 71 yards and a touchdown. Spencer Lehnerz led the Lights with nine tackles and Joshua Rose recorded the lone interception.
Coach Souers now gets a two week reflection period to regroup. The Lights are on bye week next week, then will take to Tilleman Field on Saturday, September 30th, hosting the Carroll Collage Fighting Saints.
