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Lights brace for a road rematch with Carroll

Over the course of a college football season, things will change. And it's only in the unique scheduling of the Frontier Conference where those changes clash between two teams who have already played each other.

And that will certainly be the case Saturday when the Montana State University-Northern Lights (1-6, 1-6) and Carroll College Fighting Saints (3-4, 3-4) kick off in Helena at 1 p.m. Because things have changed aplenty for the Lights and Saints since Northern shocked then nationally ranked Carroll 28-14 last month at Blue Pony Stadium.

For starters, both teams will likely start different quarterbacks then they did during the first meeting at Blue Pony Stadium. Northern has inserted junior Caleb McLaren into the starting role for the last three games, and McLaren has played well. He's thrown for 555 yards, two touchdowns and just two interceptions, while his mobility has allowed him to rush for 85 yards and only be sacked four times.

Meanwhile, Carroll saw senior starter J.T. Linder go down with an injury, so in comes freshman Tanner Gustavsen, who led the Saints to a big win over Rocky Mountain College last week. Gustavsen is a dual-threat quarterback who is very dangerous with his legs.

But, quarterbacks won't be the only thing different about both teams this Saturday. The way they've been trending is also a major difference. Carroll has won two of its last three, and it's been on the strength of an improving defense. In the loss at Northern, Carroll surrendered over 400 yards of offense, but the Saints have since risen to fourth in the Frontier in scoring defense, and they're now allowing just 140 yards rushing per game, which is second in the league.

That presents challenges to a Northern team that has lost four straight. MSU-N's offense continues to struggle with putting enough points on the board, as the Lights average just 17 points per outing. Northern has shown flashes of being able to move the football, especially with star tailback Zach McKinley averaging 100 yards per game, and McLaren throwing to emerging young receivers like Ethan Snow and Dylan Rychtarik. But the Lights have struggled to finish good drives, and with a Carroll defense that is maturing, scoring will be at a premium.

On the other side of the ball, the matchup will be two units who are struggling as well. Carroll is averaging a mere 110 yards rushing per game, and is seventh in the Frontier in both scoring and total offense. The Saints do have the most explosive wide receiver in the league in sophomore Connor Fohn, but, like Northern, they have had trouble finishing good drives. Meanwhile, Northern's defense has fallen on hard times. In three of their last four games, the Lights have given up 50-plus points. So, MSU-N will need to find the defensive groove it was in when it dominated the Saints last month in Havre. And that groove will come from Tyler Craig and Pat Barnett pressuring the quarterback, as well as plays from MSU-N's athletic linebackers, including emerging star David N'Guessa. With Fohn in the lineup, Northern's secondary will be tested, but the Lights will also look for opportunities to force turnovers with a freshman QB in the backfield for the Saints, especially Logan Sprouse, who has three interceptions this season.

So, while there's plenty of intriguing matchups and difference in Saturday's Northern/Carroll rematch, for the Lights, some of the basics to what has allowed them to find success this season still apply. Northern must take care of the football, finish drives in the redzone, and they must limit Carroll from making the big plays that have hurt MSU-N in recent weeks. And, especially important, the Lights must get off to a good start.

"In this league, you can't fall behind right from the start and expect to win games," Northern head coach Aaron Christensen said after the Lights' home loss to Montana Tech last Saturday. "You've got to be ready to play, and if you're not, the teams in this league will take advantage of that."

The Lights will look to sweep Carroll for the first time in school history when they meet the Fighting Saints Saturday at 1 p.m. at Nelson Stadium in Helena. Northern is also on the road next Saturday, making the long trip to Southern Oregon.

 

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