New Media Broadcasters spoke with three of the senior captains for the Lights football team after the (19-13) win over Rocky Mountain College last Saturday. First, quarterback Zach Brooks, a graduate transfer who is earning his Masters of Science in Education, Instruction, and Learning, will go into coaching following his time in Havre. He echoed the message that head coach Jerome Souers has been preaching every week: trust the process and the rest will play out.
“Trusting all the work that we put in (for) the offseason,” Brooks said. “Just sticking to the process and trusting one another week in and week out.”
“Learning from our mistakes from the previous week and just getting better,” Brooks continued.
Senior linebacker Lucas Thacker, who will go into firefighting work after he graduates with his degree in health promotion, has been grinding for four years, leading the team in tackles the last two seasons. He said what went on behind the scenes and said this outcome was completely deserved for all the hard work put in.
“It means everything,” Thacker said. “These four years have been tough obviously with our record, but I wouldn’t trade this for nothing.”
“These boys here, they deserve this win and we worked hard all offseason,” Thacker continued. “All these years, we’ve been rebuilding and (it’s been) just a great experience. I’m glad we get sent off with a win.”
Another senior linebacker, criminal justice major Devin Carmona, was one of the lone holdovers from the last head coaching change from Andrew Rollin to Souers. He shared what this experience meant to him being able to leave Tilleman Field with a win and all that he has gone through in a Lights uniform.
“It’s just a great way to go out as a senior,” Carmona said. “We’ve been through a lot here, especially the guys that stuck around through the coaching change.”
“Going through all the adversity that we faced over the last three years (and going) out with this win against Rocky, it’s just the hunger that we’ve wanted all year,” Carmona continued. “But like I said, the adversity that we’ve faced and (this process) finally coming to fruition in this game, it was just nice to see everyone get it.”
“I’ll be grateful forever for this place and this team,” Carmona said.
Thacker shared one final message for his defensive unit and how that can be passed down to the next generation of Lights who want to come in and be great.
“Stick to it. It’s going to get tough, but your time is going to come. It’s going to be way worth it,” Thacker said. “There’s no better feeling than grinding out and then getting this last win.”
“We’re just a young defense, but I think we’re dominant,” Thacker continued. “I think we’re one of the most dominant defenses in the conference, really.”
“The offense keeping us off the field, keeping our legs fresh, shows what we can do.”
The Lights finished the 2024 campaign with a (1-9) record, but these seniors have left a legacy that will be forged into the new generation of juniors and underclassmen as 2025 rolls around.
