Game Day Feature: Impact seniors say goodbye

There comes a time when every football player has to hang up his cleats and pads. For nine Montana State University-Northern Football players, that time is rapidly approaching.

Northern senior Matt Reyant makes a tackle during a Frontier Conference football game against Carroll College back in August. The Lights' seniors play their final home game Saturday.

And in most cases, there are two very significant games that lead up to the end of an athletic career. A players' final home game is one of those, and that is what lies ahead for those nine individuals on Saturday. The Lights will host Dickenson State on Saturday, the last time this years seniors will be able to take the field in front of home fans. The nine seniors that will be honored include Matt Reyant (defensive back), Ralphael Huizar (defensive back), Mike Carbone (defensive line), Johnny Figueroa (defensive end), James Chandless (full back/linebacker), Kyle Johnston (wide receiver), Justin Montelius (running back), Stephen Silva (running back) and Brock Hyder (offensive line).

"Looking back," Montelius said. "I can't believe how fast time has flown by. It seems like just a year ago we were all showing up as freshman, and now we have just two games left. It is kind of crazy to think about, but the experience has been good, and positive, and I couldn't be happier."

And to really understand just how special this group has been over the years, you have to dive right into some of their accomplishments.

Reyant is a four-year starter, and a 2012 captain. He has earned All Conference Academic honors the last three years, and even earned NAIA Academic All American honors this season. Montelius is also a four-year starter and a current captain for the Lights, and also earned Academic All Conference honors in 2011 and 2012. Carbone adds to the list, as he was a two-year starter, and also received Academic All Conference honors in 2011 and 2012, while Chandless has started all four years, is a 2012 captain, and currently

leads the Lights in tackles this season.

Johnston was a transfer, and has done a lot in his two-year stint with Northern. He was instantly a top weapon on the offense and special teams, and collected All Conference honors as a wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner last season. Hyder, another offensive standout is a four-year starter, and one of the more talented offensive linemen the Lights have had in recent years. Hyder was Academic All Conference in 2010, 2011 and 2012, as was as 2nd Team All Conference last season.

But the most decorated senior has to be standout running back Silva. He too has been a four-year starter for the Lights, and currently holds 17 school records at MSU-N as a running back and return man. In 2009 he was named a 1st Team All Conference kick returner, while in 2012 he was named a 2nd Team All Conference running back. And in 2011, he was named a 1st Team All Conference running back, as well as a 2nd Team All American Running back.

"They are great group," MSU-N head coach Mark Samson said. "And they are even working hard for us in the classroom. You look at this group, and I feel kind of bad because we haven't done better, but it is not because of lack of effort by these guys. They have worked really, really hard for us over the years, and losing a group of seniors like this is always tough."

But more than anything, this is a group of leaders for the Lights. And with players like Reyant and Chandless, willing to do anything for the Lights, it is easy to see why.

Reyant was recruited out of Helena as a quarterback, and Chandless, out of Marysville, Calif., was a running back when he first stepped onto the scene. But as things changed, and as the Lights needs grew in different areas, these two players stepped up big time. Reyant made the move to defensive back and has played well for four years, while Chandless also filled a team need, moving from running back, where he played the first three years, to the Lights' middle linebacker in his senior season.

"When they first told me they would like me to play defense," Reyant said. "I was just looking to do whatever I needed to do to help the team win. You have to put the team before yourself, and the coaches do a good job of putting you in situations to help the team do better, as well as better yourself. I wanted to do whatever it took to help out, offense, defense, special teams, or whatever else they needed, I was just willing to play for the team.

"I am always looking to help out the team wherever I can." Chandless added. "If I need to play offense I will play offense, but if they need a middle linebacker I will play middle linebacker."

And this group has been part of a lot big games and accomplishments while at Northern. A game that stood out to several of these guys was the 24-0 win over Rocky Mountain College last year, in the second to last game of the season.

"Shutting out Rocky at home in a night game was great." Montelius said. "That was a pretty cool game, we don't get a lot of shutouts, and that was just a good way to end the season and head into the offseason.

"A shutout is really the ultimate goal on defense," Reyant added. "So shutting them out 24-0 at home was huge for us, because Rocky was ranked at the time. That really sparked the team."

Unfortunately for the Lights, they only got to utilize the talents of players like Johnston for two seasons.

He has been a spark on the offense and special teams the last two years, and has been building on last year's successes all seasons long. But as he prepares to wear that maroon jersey for the last time at home on Saturday, Johnston would love nothing more than to grab a win over Dickinson State. When the two teams faced of early in the season, Dickinson defeated Northern 21-20 on the road.

"It has been fun this season," Johnston said. "It has kind of been a little different this year, but I have just tried to play my hardest every game and keep making memories. Preparation wise I haven't done anything different, but because it is my last year, I just really wanted to give it my all. Last year I finished the season with a couple of All Conference honors, so I just want to get those awards again this year. And I think the best way to go out is with a win, and to have a big game. It would be nice to get a win over a team that we haven't beaten yet this season."

It will be an emotional game on Saturday, but the Lights, especially the seniors, are excited to say the least. This is a winnable game for Northern, and the seniors know exactly what is on the line as they have just two games left in their college football careers.