By Tiffany L. Rehbein
For the first time in 28 years, the MSU-Northern Lights football team will play ball as a full member of the Frontier Conference.
But being out of league play for almost three decades doesnt matter to head coach Walt Currie. He has one word on his mind.
Win.
Were going in there to try to win a football game, Currie said. Theres great excitement of getting to play someone for real.
The Lights joined the Frontier Conference last season but played only six games. They finished 3-3 on the season and defeated the semi-pro Bozeman Kodiaks twice.
The Lights extended that record to 3-0 Saturday when they downed the Kodiaks 33-12 in a pre-season scrimmage at Blue Pony Stadium.
But the Montana Tech Orediggers are not the Kodiaks. Butte is currently ranked at No. 25 in the NAIA preseason football poll. The Orediggers, who did not play the Lights, finished 5-5 last season.
The Orediggers have not opened a season against a conference team since 1988.
Were looking to give these people a good football game, Currie said.
Chris Jackson, a veteran on the Lights team, will get the start at quarterback.
Currie said offensive strenghs are found in the wide receivers and running backs.
But were pretty young yet on the offensive side of things, he said.
The overall team strength can be found on the defensive side of the ball where many of the 40 returning Lights play.
Kick-off will be at 1 p.m. at Alumni Coliseum at Butte.
