The Montana State University-Northern football team came up just short Saturday afternoon, falling 13-10 to Mayville State University at Tilleman Field in a hard-fought Frontier Conference matchup.
The Lights opened the game with a strong first quarter, taking a 10-0 lead behind a pair of scoring drives.
Tate O'Neill connected on a 34-yard field goal with 4:40 remaining in the opening quarter to put Northern on the board.
Northern added to its advantage late in the first quarter when quarterback
Malakhi Statler connected with
Isaiah Woodley on a 23-yard touchdown pass with just 18 seconds remaining. O'Neill converted the extra point to give the Lights a 10-0 lead.
Mayville State responded early in the second quarter, putting together a 75-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Darnell Green. The Comets' extra point made it a 10-7 game, where the score remained through halftime.
The defenses controlled much of the second half as both teams battled for field position. Mayville State tied the game at 10-10 with a 43-yard field goal from Harry Cousins early in the third quarter.
The Comets then took the lead early in the fourth quarter when Cousins connected on a 22-yard field goal, capping a 12-play, 53-yard drive. The kick proved to be the difference as Mayville State held on for the 13-10 victory.
Northern continued to fight down the stretch, putting together a late drive in an attempt to regain the lead. The Lights moved the ball into Mayville State territory in the final two minutes, but the Comets' defense came up with a stop on fourth down to preserve the win.
Statler finished the afternoon completing 21 of 50 passes for 280 yards and one touchdown. Woodley led the Northern receiving corps with nine receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Cale White added three catches for 67 yards.
The Lights' defense was led by
Jackson Kink, who recorded 18 total tackles, including eight solo stops.
Julius Leapai added 15 tackles and an interception, while
De'Amoni Wright recovered a fumble and blocked a punt.
Northern finished with 302 yards of total offense and 19 first downs. The Lights' passing attack accounted for 280 yards, while the defense forced turnovers and kept the Comets within striking distance throughout the contest.
Mayville State totaled 287 yards of offense, including 231 rushing yards. Aiden Marcussen led the Comets on the ground with 129 yards on 31 carries.
The Lights will look to regroup as they continue Frontier Conference play on the road against Rocky Mountain College next Saturday in Billings.
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