Lights just one week away from season debut

The Montana State University-Northern football team is on a rushed schedule this fall with the team's opening game taking place next Friday when the Lights travel to Dickinson, North Dakota to take on the Dickinson State Blue Hawks.

The Lights began camp last week and after practicing for just over a week, their first and only scrimmage of the fall, which will take place this Saturday at the Northern practice field, is already on tap. The scrimmage will be controlled but will provide coaches with a key evaluating tool to determine the two-deep depth chart, as well as any other undecided bids for playing time. The MSU-N scrimmage will kickoff at 1 p.m.

"There is a lot of competition at a lot of positions," first-year Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said. "We have a lot of young guys and a lot of guys that are learning new things, so every practice is important and this scrimmage will be a really important evaluating tool."

Christensen has been installing a no-huddle offense throughout camp that emphasizes a quick pace and fast tempo. Yet, just because the Lights aren't huddling doesn't mean they will be throwing the ball all over the lot. In fact, the offense will be heavy on the run thanks to the presence of running backs Zach McKinley and Mario Gobbato.

Last season, those two players combined for over 1,800 yards. McKinley rushed for 1,495 yards and 14 touchdowns himself, which is why running the football will be a big emphasis early and often for the Lights this season.

Another reason why the running game will be key is because Christensen still doesn't know for sure who his starting quarterback will be against the Blue Hawks next Saturday. Sophomore Jess Krahn, who completed 55 passes a season ago, while throwing eight touchdowns and nine interceptions, has been getting the first-team repetitions in practice, but Christensen has been hesitant to name a starter.

"We are still a long way from deciding who the quarterback will be," Christensen said after practice Tuesday. "Jess and Holden (Maki) are playing well right now."

Maki is a redshirt freshman from Belt, and while he has done well throughout camp, he stands at just 5-9, compared to Krahn, who is 6-3 and has the ideal build for a quarterback. Junior college transfer Herman Smith may also be in the mix before it's all said and done, but after missing the first few days of camp, he has some catching up to do.

Christensen has been reluctant to commit to a quarterback, but once he does, it sounds like whoever it is will be given a long leash. Christensen said he is not in favor of using multiple quarterbacks if it can be avoided and that he wants to see one player emerge at the position.

"I don't really like the idea of playing two guys," Christensen said. "I think it's better to have an established leader there."

Krahn will look to lock down the position Saturday and can probably do so with a solid performance against a Northern defense that has been stout throughout camp. Led by Second-Team All-Frontier defensive end Tyler Craig, as well as defensive end Tyler Brusio, linebacker Tucker Dunn, defensive tackle Pat Barnett and cornerback Malcolm Manuel, the defense has gotten the better of the offense thus far this August, leading Christensen to believe it could be one of his team's strengths this season.

"I am very excited about our defense," Christensen said. "They have been playing really well and they are playing with a lot of intensity."

Yet, regardless of whether its first team against firs -team or backups against backups, there will be plenty at stake for every player on the Northern roster. Each individual will be looking to lock down a spot on the two-deep and freshmen, who are new to the program will be trying to give coaches a reason not to redshirt them. For some, Saturday will provide the last chance to make an impression, because with a game week to follow, time is running short for Christensen and the Lights to make lineup decisions.

"The scrimmage is going to be a big part of the evaluation," Christensen said. "And it's going to be very important because after that, it's a game week. So we need to make some decisions and we will use the scrimmage to help us do that."

The Lights will scrimmage Saturday at the Northern practice field at 1 p.m.