Saints shut down Lights in Helena

The start of Saturday’s Frontier Conference football game at Nelson Stadium in Helena was delayed by almost an hour due to a power outage. But, it did little to stops the host Fighting Saints from putting on an electric display against the Montana State University-Northern Lights.

Carroll broke its three-game losing streak Saturday by blasting the winless Lights, 62-7 in Helena. The loss added to Northern’s current losing streak, which is now at nine games, as the Lights fell to 0-8 in the Frontier Conference.

And the Carroll onslaught came right away as Ryan Gregory returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a Saints touchdown. Ryan Walsh would add a 51-yard score just two minutes later, and by the 6:37 mark of the first period, the Lights were behind 21-0 when Dylan Green scored from three yards out.

Mac Roche added a TD pass near the end of the quarter, then Carroll quickly went up 35-0 when Roche hit Troy Arnston for a 36-yard strike just six seconds into the second stanza. Things got worse for Northern from there, as Jess Krahn was picked off in his own territory, and Shayne Durbin took it into the endzone to put the Saints ahead 42-0 at intermission.

"Give credit to Carroll, they're a good football team," Northern head coach Christensen said to the Helena Independent Record. "And we knew that coming in, even with a couple losses. They're right there where they could only have about one loss. They came out ready to play, returning that opening kickoff return. Then we dropped a couple of passes, which was a little deflating. Carroll made the big play and we didn't."

The Lights’ only points of the day came when Krahn hit Jake Messerly for a 77-yard score early in the third quarter. But Carroll would add a pair of rushing touchdowns, one late in the third and another early in the fourth to complete its senior day victory.

Once again, turnovers and special teams plays hurt the Lights. Krahn threw three interceptions, while going 15-of-41 for 187 yards. Northern also gave up at least one special teams touchdown for the third straight game, while the MSU-N defense surrendered 405 yards, including the Saints’ best rushing day of the season. Carroll came into the game averaging just 98 yards rushing per contest, but the Saints rushed for 284 yards Saturday, including 154 yards on just 13 carries by Walsh. Alex Rodriguez led the Northern defense with seven tackles, while Pat Barnett tallied his third sack of the season.

On the flip side, MSU-N found running against a reeling Carroll defense tough. Zach McKinley fought hard for 70 yards on 25 carries, but as a team, the Lights managed just 91 yards on the ground. Messerly led all receivers with six catches for 106 yards, his third straight 100-yard outing. Mario Gobbato also had five catches for 52 yards.

"We wanted to shut down the running game," Carroll coach Mike Van Diest said. "McKinley is a great running back and he had his way with us last year. We wanted to make sure we didn't give up yards in chunks and first downs. Messerly, we saw what he could do. We had a blown coverage there. I don't like giving up 75- or 80-yard touchdowns. But other than that I really liked how we played on defense."

Carroll, which was un-ranked for the first time in years going into the game, improved to 4-4 on the season, and will play its final two games on the road.

Meanwhile, the Lights (0-9) head right back out on the road. MSU-N will be in Dillon this Saturday for a night game against the nationally ranked UM-Western Bulldogs. The Lights final home game will come Nov. 14 when they host Rocky Mountain College on senior day at Blue Pony Stadium.

Carroll 62, Lights 7

MSU-N 0 0 7 0 - 7

Carroll 28 14 14 6 - 62

Carroll: Gregory 87 kickoff return (Braesicke kick)

Carroll: Walsh 51 run (Braesicke kick)

Carroll: Green 3 run (Hamel kick)

Carroll: Ritter 9 pass from Roche (Hamel kick)

Carroll: Arntson 36 pass from Roche (Hamel kick)

Carroll: Durbin 15 interception return (Hamel kick)

Carroll: McGree 9 pass from Roche (Hamel kick)

Northern: Messerly 77 pass from Krahn (Toscano kick)

Carroll: Poulson 31 run (Hamel kick)

Carroll: Knoll 9 run (kick failed)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Northern: Zach McKinley 25-70, Mario Gobbato 6-14, Jake Messerly 1-10, Holden Maki 1-(-3). Carroll: Ryan Walsh 13-154, Conner Poulson 11-64, Travis Knoll 10-49, JT Linder 1-9, MAc Roche 4-4, Dylan Green 2-4.

PASSING: Northern, Jess Krahn 13-39-3–170, Holden Maki 2-3-0–17. Carroll: Mac Roche 13-18-0–121, JT Linder 0-1-0–0.

RECEIVING: Northern, Jake Messerly 6-106, Mario Gobato 5-52, Damen Jones 1-9, Bowe McKay 1-8, Zach McKinley 1-8, Kagen Khamenah 1-4. Carroll: Connor McGree 3-36, Troy Arntson 2-33, Eric Dawson 2-23, Chase Fossum 1-11, Andy Ritter 1-9, Stephen Delaney 3-6, Conner Poulson 1-3.