Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Dale Cummings, MSU-N Football

Dale Cummings is used to the cold weather, and since he is from Canada, it seems fitting that he should close out his college football career on a cold day inside Blue Pony Stadium.

The forecast doesn't look terrible for Saturday when the Montana State University-Northern will host College of Idaho in the regular-season finale but it will be a crisp 37 degrees, as he and the rest of the senior class try to go out with a Frontier Conference victory.

For Cummings, a fifth-year senior, it will be his final game as a member of the Lights football team, and he would like nothing more than to go out with a win.

"I am excited to play one more game at Blue Pony," Cummings said. "We definitely have grown into a large family and having that as your last year is awesome. I am just excited to play one more game at Blue Pony and I am really excited for our last home game."

Cummings' career has been filled with changes and one of those changes was in the coaching staff, as Andrew Rolin took over for Aaron Christensen before his senior season. Then, after winning the starting center job out of camp, Cummings switched over to guard in the middle of the season. After missing a couple of games due to injury, he made the switch and has started at right guard ever since.

While the Lights have struggled to score points at times this season, there is no doubt the offense has improved in recent weeks and the offensive line has been a big part of that. For one, the Lights have rushed for 120 yards or more in four straight games. In the four games prior to that, Northern had averaged just 68.4 rushing yards per game. However, in the last four games, the Lights have averaged 161. Last week, the Lights also scored 21 points, on the road against Southern Oregon, which was the highest point total of the season away from home.

A lot of those encouraging signs on offense go back to a physical running game that has re-emerged in recent weeks. The offensive line, Cummings included, deserves a lot of the credit for that. And while Cummings' college career will be over regardless of what happens Saturday against College of Idaho, he said he still has hopes of playing in the Canadian Football League, which requires teams to have at least 21 Canadian players on their rosters. Cummings came to Northern from Cocrahn High School in Alberta, Canada. He will also be pursuing a career in criminal justice if playing football doesn't work out.

Yet, right now, Cummings is focused on closing his Lights career out with a win, and before Northern takes the field for the final time this season, against C of I Saturday afternoon, the Havre Daily News caught up with Cummings for five questions.

HDN: So what is the biggest difference between center and guard?

Cummings: "Guard, you have to really pay attention to the center and you have to wait for him to make the calls. I like guard better. You can just put your hand in the dirt and get ready to go."

HDN: How would you compare football in Canada to football in the United States?

Cummings: "The biggest difference, I think, is the field. The end zones in Canada are just huge. I like American rules better. I don't think there is a huge difference, though."

HDN: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make playing American football?

Cummings: "It was definitely having the defensive lineman right on top of you. In Canada, they are about a yard off the ball, so that is a big difference when they can line up much closer to you."

HDN: What have you enjoyed the most about playing football at Northern?

Cummings: "I met my wife here and that was a big plus for me. I love her to death and that was one of the things that kept me here. We have a beautiful daughter and it has been awesome for sure. Seeing everyone I have gotten to play with and making friends along the way has been awesome, too. I appreciate all the other guys that have stayed and ground it out."

HDN: How much would a win mean to you on Saturday?

Cummings: "I want to go out with a bang for sure. It has been a long, hard ride for us seniors. We have been through it all and finishing it off with a home win would be spectacular for us."