MSU-N Football 2010: Lights offense

One thing which held the Montana State University-Northern football team back last season was getting in the end zone.

The Northern offense moved the ball well at times, but the Lights didn't score enough points, finishing last in the conference in scoring offense in 2009.

But with a new season just two days away, the MSU-N offense in 2010 is looking to put the past behind it, and the Lights have the talent and the weapons to do just that.

"I'm really pleased with how things have gone so far this fall," sixth-year MSU-N head coach Mark Samson said. "The kids have really worked hard, we've thrown a lot at this offense in fall camp, and they've responded well.

"We're going to be really young on offense," he added. "We start just one senior. And we're going with a red-shirt freshman quarterback and a true freshman quarterback, so obviously there's going to be some growing pains there. But the offense has really come together in fall camp, and I think we have a chance to do really good things this season."

To things which Northern is hoping for on the offensive side of the ball, include scoring and staying healthy. The Lights were a solid rushing team last year, and they have a chance to be that again this season with a re-vamped and stout offensive line. But Samson said, staying healthy is crucial, especially on the offensive line."

"This offensive line has a chance to be as good as any we've had here," Samson said. "We've got some really good players up front, and everything starts with the line. We have to be good there right away in order to start the season off on a good note. We have young quarterbacks, and while we have full confidence in the fact they are going to do well for us, they have to have help and a big part of that is playing well on the offensive line. And I'm really excited about us up front."

The Lights will start several newcomers up front but they return some key guys too. Zeb Olson (6-4, 290) is a returning all-conference performer and will play left tackle. Joe Pittman (6-4, 300) is also back at left guard for the Lights, while newcomer Jorge Magana (6-2, 285) will play center, sophomore Brock Hyder (6-1, 265) will start at right guard and newcomer Matt Cervenka (6-5, 315) at right tackle.

And protecting starting quarterback Derek Lear will be key.

The quarterback position has been one of ups and downs for the Lights the last few years, but they think the future is very bright with Lear and true freshman Travis Dean. Lear won the starting job last spring and has looked very sharp in the fall, while Dean has come to Northern and played very well, and will back up Lear this season.

"Derek has had a really good camp, he's progressed quite a bit since the spring, and Travis has picked things up quickly, so I'm really excited about where we're at right now," Samson said. "But we are still young there and one of the ways we're going to get better is just through game experience.

"Neither of these kids have taken a snap in a real game and they will grow a lot once we start playing," he added. "But we have a lot of confidence in them, I think this team has a lot of confidence in Derek. He has a really good command of the offense and he's played well both in spring and in camp. Now its time for the quarterbacks to step it up and do the job this season. But I'm really impressed with how they've handled it and how they've played so far."

Behind Lear will be sophomore Stephen Silva. Perhaps the fastest player in the Frontier, Silva will be the go-to running back for the Lights this fall. Northern also has a workhorse at fullback in sophomore James Chandless. Sophomore Justin Montelius will also get plenty of work in the backfield. Montelius started at linebacker last season, but moved to offense last spring and has been impressive, and that trio should give MSU-N a solid running threat.

At receiver, the Lights are deep and very talented.

Senior Matt Stuart returns as the Lights' top receiver. Stuart is a three-year starter and an all-conference performer, and he leads a solid group of pass-catchers. Junior Kyle Kercher is also back to start his third straight year, and Samson said both he and Stuart have been outstanding in camp. Northern is also excited about the debut of Kentucky transfer Brandon O'Brien, a speedster with big-play capability. Behind those three, newcomers Orin Johnson, Brandt Montelius, Mick Miller and Tyson Lucier have been looking good. At tight end, MSU-N will start UM-Western transfer Luke Wildung.

"The running backs and receivers have played really well in camp," Samson said. "Offensively, with the talent we have, I think we have a chance to be really balanced and hopefully, pretty hard to defend. We've got a really good group of receivers and tight ends, and I think we have a chance to have a pretty strong running game.

"As far as what we'll do, we'll do a lot of the same stuff," he added. "We want to be as balanced as we can. But we've also added some wrinkles. Some wildcat stuff and we just want to make sure we're doing all we can to get the ball in our athletes' hands and take advantage of the talent we have on the field."

One place Northern is a veteran team is on special teams. Kercher will handle the kicking duties while Will Andrews is back at punter. The Lights will go with Stuart and Johnson as punt returners and Silva and O'Brien on kickoffs. Silva was the top kick returner in the league a year ago and Stuart is an all-conference punt returner.

And as an offensive unit, the Lights might be the youngest team in league, but there's no doubt, as the season approaches, the talent and explosive capabilities are there.

"I'm excited about the possibility of what this team can do on offense," Samson said. "I really like our personnel, and even though we're young, we are building some good depth too. They key is staying healthy and playing well right away. But I'm really impressed with our kids, with their attitude and how hard they've worked to prepare for this season. Hopefully, it all means we'll score some points, but I'm really excited about this team."

The Lights' offense gets their first chance to score on Saturday when they open the season at Western in Dillon.