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Nov. 8, 2019
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The swagger of a playmaker Bruce Bumgardner is, simply put, one of the best WR to suit up for the Lights in quite some time Aarron Thompson
Havre Daily News sports gferguson@havredailynews.com Football is full of excitement, and the game often finds talented players that light up their team, as well as the opposition. Some examples include quarterbacks that can sling a pass and lead offenses to highcaliber performances, running backs that break out into the open-field or truck down a defender, or the big offensive line that get to square off with another lineman so they can protect their quarterback. But, there’s a position that often catches the most attention, literall — the wide receiver. Being a wide receiver is something special to many and is a very versatile position to play, including Montana State University-Northern senior Bruce Bumgardner. Receivers can be used as kick/punt returners and tight ends are often just the taller-version of the receiver. Receivers are used in many different play-calls, too. One
can see them in a deep, shotgun, screen or slant-pass, to name a few. To be a receiver, one has to have multiple attributes. Many coaches will look for the guy with great hands, speed, jumping and rout-running knowledge. There is a lot to be said about receivers and being in the position gives one a great responsibility on the field. When it comes to the Lights, the team has had a great performer on the field for quite some time. Bumgardner has been one of the Lights’ best and is looking to go crazy in his last few games with Northern. Bumgardner has been involved with the game since he was in third grade. From there, it has been quite the journey. Bumgardner would go on to have a very nice high school career and then be recruited by the Lights. The 6-2, 185-pound receiver has been a big help to the Northern offense,
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Montana State University-Northern Bryce Bumgardner has been a huge asset to the Lights at wide receiver, including in 2018 when Bumgardner put up All-Conference type numbers, and, in turn, also helped the Lights become the dangerous passing team they are today. Bumgardner will play his final home game Saturday against Southern Oregon.
2018 record: 0-10, 1-10 Head coach: Andrew Rolin
Location: Havre, Mont.
Stadium: Blue Pony Stadium
Nickname: Lights
Streak: The Lights are looking to snap a 35-game Frontier Conference losing streak, and win their first home game since last August.
Colors: Maroon and Yellow 2019 record: 0-8, 1-8
Saturday, November 9th Blue Pony Stadium 1:00 p.m.
Southern Oregon Location: Ashland, Ore. Nickname: Raiders Colors: Red and White 2019 record: 3-5, 3-6
MSU-Northern Lights vs Southern Oregon
2018 record: 6-4, 6-4 Head coach: Charlie Hall Stadium: Raider Stadium Streak: Southern Oregon has never lost a game at Blue Pony Stadium, dating back to a first visit in 2001.
Nov. 8, 2019
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Yotes closing in on a historic first Frontier championship George Ferguson
Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com Two weeks and eight games is all that remains in the 2019 Frontier Conference’ regular season. And for the College of Idaho Yotes, they can put away their first Frontier title with one more big win. The Yotes will put their unbeaten record on the line Saturday when they host the Montana Western Bulldogs. If C of I beats the Bulldogs, they will clinch their first-ever Frontier championship. The game is also effectively an elimination game for Western. If the Bulldogs lose to the Yotes inside Simplot Stadium, then not only does Western not have a chance to at least share the Frontier title, but, they would essentially be out of playoff contention too. Speaking of the NAIA playoffs, Montana Tech is very much in that hunt. Sitting at 6-2 in the Frontier, the Orediggers have a very good chance of reaching the playoffs should they win out. That task starts Saturday with a rivalry game at much-improved Carroll College
■ See Bumgardner Page 6
Montana State University-Northern
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in Helena. And, if Tech prevails, and beats Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 16, the Diggers’ would very much be a team at least on the playoff bubble at 8-2. Tech is also still mathematically alive to earn a share of the Frontier title. But, for that to happen, the Diggers’ would need Western to beat C of I this Saturday, and MSUNorthern to do the same to the Yotes Nov. 16. Carroll meanwhile, can’t win a Frontier title this season, but, not only can the Fighting Saints spoil Tech’s playoff hopes this Saturday, with two wins, they could finish as high as second in the final Frontier standings, and earn the proud program's first winning season in three years. To ensure a winning season, Carroll needs to beat Tech Saturday, and Eastern Oregon Nov. 16. Leading the Way With two games left in the Frontier season, it’s pertinent to take a look at some of the top leaders in the league individually. Offensively, Western’s Jon Jund has been the top quarterback in
the league all season, averaging 268 yards per game. Jund has thrown for 2,057 yards and also averages 300 yards of total offense per game. He’s also thrown 25 touchdowns against six interceptions. To put that in perspective, C of I’s DariusJames Peterson’s 16 touchdowns is second best. Speaking of the Yotes, they have some outstanding leaders, including running back Nick Calzaretta, who is tops in the Frontier in rushing with 124 yards per outing. He’s also scored eight TDs on the season. Carroll freshman Matthew Burgess is the only other back in the Frontier averaging more than 100 yards per game. Montana Tech’s Trevor Hoffman continues to lead wide receivers. Hoffman has had a breakout 2019, averaging more than seven receptions per game, while hauling in 40 passes for 820 yards this season. On the defensive side of the ball, Western’s Jason Ferris is running away with the tackle title for the second year in a row. Ferris averages 13 stops per game and has 96 total tackles. Northern junior Jaren Maki is next with 80. The Lights also have an interceptions leader in safety Hunter Riley. He’s tied for the lead with four picks this season. Rocky’s Mason Price leads the Frontier in sacks with
Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Jett Robertson ad the other Montana State University-Northern seniors will play their final home game Saturday when the Lights host Southern Oregon. 6.5, while Tech’s Carter Myers and Western’s Joe Caceido each have 12.5 tackles for loss. Could it snow? The Frontier has probably had more games played in the snow this season already than in the last two seasons combined. And more is likely to happen down the stretch, including in Havre. The last time Southern Oregon came to Blue pony Stadium, the
Raiders had to play the Lights in a blinding snow storm. SOU is on its way to Blue Pony Stadium this week, and snow is predicted for Havre several days this week, including a possible 1-3 inches during Saturday’s game between the Lights and Raiders. Of course, the Lights already played in a blizzard this season, when they hosted Montana Tech in the now famous Sept. 28 snow game.
Today in the Frontier Conference 2019 Havre Daily News Power Rankings Week 10
Southern Oregon Raiders (3-5, 3-6)
1. College of Idaho; 2. Montana Tech; 3. Montana Western; 4. Carroll College; 5. Southern Oregon; 6. Eastern Oregon; 7. Rocky Mountain; 8. MSUNorthern
At
2019 Frontier Preseason Coaches and Media Polls
Montana State University-Northern Lights (0-8, 1-8) #17 Montana Tech (6-2, 6-2) at RV Carroll College (5-3, 5-3) in Helena 1 p.m.
#24 Montana Western (6-2, 6-2) at #6 College of Idaho (8-0, 8-0) in Caldwell, Idaho 12 p.m.
Eastern Oregon (2-6, 2-7) at Rocky Mountain (2-6, 3-6) in Billings 1 p.m.
1. College of Idaho 2. Southern Oregon 3. Montana Western 4. Montana Tech 5. Rocky Mountain 6. Eastern Oregon 7. Carroll College 8. MSU-Northern
1. College of Idaho 2. Southern Oregon 3. Montana Western 4. Eastern Oregon 5. Rocky Mountain 6. Montana Tech 7. Carroll College 8. MSU-Northern