Lights competed from start to finish this spring

After close to a month of football, the Montana State University-Northern football team wrapped up its spring practice April 22.

For the second straight season, the Lights had a young team on the field. A large class of redshirt-freshmen took part in spring practice for the first time and by the time spring football had concluded, head coach Aaron Christensen felt that this team had improved.

“For some teams, some years, you use it as a learning tool,” Christensen said. “I think spring football for us this year, was competition. We have so many guys that needed reps, and we used it to get guys a lot more experience and a lot more reps, and I really think we got a lot better from the first practice to the last one because we had a lot of guys competing in spring football for the first time.”

Competition was the theme throughout the spring for Northern football, but it’s not just a slogan. There is competition across the depth chart, so much that MSU-N doesn’t have a two-deep roster at this point.

“Right now, we are just trying to keep things as open as possible,” Christensen said. “We have a lot of guys that are fighting for spots.”

The most intriguing battle during the spring and what will likely be the most interesting in the fall are the quarterbacks. There are four to be exact, Holden Maki, Bryce Missey, Tommy Wilson and Dylan Cook. All four played well at times and while Maki, who started the spring game with the first-team offense, might have a slight edge, the opening-day starter is far from determined.

“I think that we have had a good battle,” Maki said. “Knowing that the top spot is open has created a lot of competition. But we all get along really well, and we are all trying to help each other get better.”

The other skill spots aren’t as up in the air as quarterback is, with Jett Robertson and Trey Blanchard, the top guys at running back, as well as Sam Mix, Seth Roemmele, Donovan Garner and Beau Wilhelm at wide receiver.

“Seth Roemmele is a guy that had a really good spring,” Christensen said. “And Donovan Garner, when we had some padded scrimmages and in the spring game, he was able to make some big plays.”

The Lights are also deep at tight end with Kagen Khameneh, Kitrell Willingham, Jordan Pugh and Jess Krahn. The offensive line is led by Clint Willis, who Christensen said was voted to be a team captain. Other notable players from spring practice on the offensive line were Dylan Schmidt and redshirt freshman Ryan Hanley,

On the defensive side of the ball, the Lights are filling some holes from a season ago, especially up front. Josh Wright, a redshirt-freshman, is one player who will make an impact at defensive end. Others in the trenches include Elijah Dennison and Mitch Harmon.

At linebacker, the Lights have a solid group led by returning starter Garet Fowler. Alec Wagner is another player who saw significant snaps a year ago. Kyree Johnson and Jake Norby are two others who should see a lot of playing time next season.

“Garet is going to be a team captain,” Christensen said. “And Alec played a lot for us last season and then we have some other guys like Norby and Kyree Johnson that will play a lot next year for us.”

In the secondary, Corey Lee is a returning starter at corner. Other key players in the secondary are DeQuincy Bergren along with redshirt-freshmen Josh Kincen, Devariej Criss and Jordan Lucas.

“On offense, I feel pretty comfortable with all our running backs playing for us and our tight ends,” Christensen said when asked to assess his roster. “I just like what I have seen from those guys and the competition. On the defensive side of the ball, you look at some of our returners, Fowler and Dennison, and say those are strengths. But overall on defense, I just look at a lot of spots where there is a chance to compete and gain some playing time, and I think that has to do more with the experience and not the talent.”

Northern will open fall camp sometime in August and will play their first game of the 2017 season Sept. 2 on the road against Rocky Mountain College.