Three Lights named to All-Frontier squad

It was a tough year for the Montana State University-Northern Lights on the football field, as Northern failed to win a game in 11 tries this fall. However, the Lights weren’t devoid of star power, and it showed on the 2015 Frontier All-Conference Team.

The league announced its postseason honors last Wednesday night, and three Lights were named to the All-Conference list.

Northern junior defensive end Tyler Craig received First-Team Defense honors, while junior running back Zach McKinley and junior offensive lineman Pete Morales were named to the Second-Team Offense. McKinley and Craig were repeat performers from the 2014 All-Conference Team.

Craig, a native of Great Falls, had an incredible season in which he totaled nine sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss, both of which were second to fellow First-Teamer, Reno Ward of UM-Western. He also tallied 82 tackles, which was second on the Lights, including 50 solo stops. Craig also forced three fumbles and recovered one in what should be an NAIA All-American season.

Despite Northern’s struggles on offense at times, McKinley was also brilliant. He went over 1,000 yards for the third straight year, as he totaled 1,162 yards on 259 carries. He finished second in the Frontier in rushing at 105 yards per game, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and scored five touchdowns. McKinley also went over 100 yards five times this season, including a 187-yard performance in MSU-N’s season finale against Rocky Mountain College earlier this month. Northern’s all-time leading rusher also caught 23 passes this season for 227 yards.

Morales, who started every game on the offensive line for the Lights, was a big help toanother record-breaking season by McKinley. He was the only returning starter on the MSU-N offensive line, and he will be back to anchor what should be a much more veteran O-line next season.

As for the league’s postseason awards, Montana Tech running back Nolan Saraceni was named the Frontier Offensive MVP. Despite playing in just eight regular season games, Saraceni led the league in rushing with nearly 1,400 yards and a 173-yard per game average.

UM-Western senior linebacker A.J. Wilson was named the Frontier Defensive MVP. He tallied 73 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four interceptions.

Montana Tech head coach Chuck Morrell was named the Frontier Coach of the Year. Morrell guided an impressive turnaround at Tech, where the Orediggers went 1-9 in 2014, but went 9-1 this season, beat rival Carroll College twice, won at Southern Oregon, and clinched the outright Frontier championship, while advancing to the NAIA quarterfinals.

Southern Oregon led all Frontier teams with 13 All-Conference selections. Tech, Eastern Oregon and Western each had nine, while Carroll College had six players selected. College of Idaho and RC each had four players named to the All-Conference Team.

2015 Frontier All-Conference Team

First Team Offense

Nolan Saraceni, RB, Montana Tech; Zach Bartlow, QB, Eastern Oregon; Jace Billingsley, RB, Eastern Oregon; Marcus Lenhardt, TE, College of Idaho; Andrew McCullouch, WR, Rocky Mountain; Matt Retzlaff, WR, Southern Oregon; Calvin Connors, WR, Eastern Oregon; Josh James, OL, Carroll College; Ty King, OL, Southern Oregon; Dylan Bratlie, OL, Southern Oregon; Ryan Armstrong, OL, Carroll College; Greg Dohmen, OL, College of Idaho.

Second Team Offense

Tanner Trosin, QB, Southern Oregon; Zach McKinley, RB, MSU-Northern; Sam Rutherford, RB, Montana Western; Matt Lickfold, TE, Montana Western; Clay Cavender, WR, Montana Tech; Tyler Higby, WR, College of Idaho; Jeremy Scottow, WR, Southern Oregon; Will Thacker, OL, Montana Western; Xavier Walker, OL, Rocky Mountain; Ryan Stemple, OL, Montana Tech; Caleb Degroot, OL, Caleb Degroot; Pete Morales, OL, MSU-Northern.

First Team Defense

Reno Ward, DL, Montana Western; Tyler Craig, DL, MSU-Northern; Tyler Sanders, DL, Montana Tech; Joel Leolofi, DL, Southern Oregon; A.J. Wilson, LB, Montana Western; David Meis, LB, Montana Tech; T.J. Benson, LB, Montana Western; Joe Coker, LB, Montana Western; Julius Rucker, DB, Southern Oregon; James Dowgin, DB, Carroll College; Karrington Jones, DB, Southern Oregon; Nate Moore, DB, College of Idaho.

Second Team Defense

Brendon Johnson, DL, Rocky Mountain; Tyrell Penner, DL, Montana Western; Kyle Lanoue, DL, Eastern Oregon; Jacob Crawford, DL, Montana Tech; Sam Woods, DL, Southern Oregon; David Weider, DL, Southern Oregon; Gary Posten, LB, Eastern Oregon; Dakota Wainwright, LB, Montana Western; Shane Durbin, LB, Carroll College; Dawson Osborn, LB, Carroll College; Jaylenn Hart, DB, Southern Oregon; Byron Benson, DB, Eastern Oregon; DeAngelo Bell, DB, Montana Tech; Ryan Gregory, DB, Carroll College.

First Team Special Teams

Thomas Giddens, P, Southern Oregon; Evan Connolly, K, Rocky Mountain; Calvin Connors, PR, Eastern Oregon; Jace Billingsley, KR, Eastern Oregon.

Second Team Special Teams

Derrick Holt, P, Montana Tech; Matt Berg, K, Montana Tech; Alec Bray, PR, Montana Tech; Matt Retzlaff, PR, Southern Oregon; Calvin Connors, KR, Eastern Oregon.