By Tiffany L. Rehbein
MSU-Northern Lights fans will get one last look at the football team in a game-like situation today, when they hold a Maroon and Gold scrimmage.
The Lights have been holding spring drills and will get an opportunity for some game-like touches at Blue Pony Stadium.
"Basically, we're under game conditions and we will see how we're doing," Lights head coach Walt Currie said. "We'll get an idea of what we need to emphasize in the fall."
The Lights have organized their depth charts and starters for the scrimmage, that is slated to begin at 6 p.m.
One major wrinkle in the program is the lack of a quarterback. Both Chris Jackson, the returning starting quarterback from last year's team, and Chris Hess, a new recruit for the Lights, will miss the game for disciplinary reasons.
Brandon Kerkes, an offensive flanker, and Travis Crawford, a quick tailback, both could get an opportunity to show off their quarterback abilities.
"We are just going to try to get a semblance of something together," Currie said.
With starting fullback Travis Hille out with an injury, and the recent quarterback problems, the offense could be shaky, but the defense has shown great strides.
"They have all made some great gains this year," Currie said. He emphasized that, although their will be no hands-on experience this summer, the athletes should still train to improve their strength, speed, and quickness.
"They must continue to work on their own over the summer," Currie said. "That will be the difference. If they don't work, we will be starting all over again in the fall."
The Lights will report back on Aug. 13, with their first game coming at Havre on Sept. 2 against the Western Montana Bulldogs.
The Lights split with the Bulldogs last season, collecting their first conference win as full members of the Frontier Conference with a 3-0 win at Dillon near the end of the season.
