MSUN football opens the 2026 season Thursday August 27^th, under the Lights in Helena as the Lights take on the No. 13 ranked Carroll College Saints.

The Lights hope to take a big step in their rebuild after adding an almost entirely new coaching staff while recruiting an impressive group of newcomers, in particular on the offensive side of the ball.

The offense is lead by former Sacramento State receivers coach Sid Krishnamurthi.  Coach Sid was a former receiver at Stanford and is excited about this year's version of the Lights. "I am very excited about our offense. If we focus on us and play for each other, the sky is the limit."
One of the tightest competitions in camp was at the QB spot. Transfer QB Malakhi Staler, (Junior, Bakersfield College), seems to have the upper hand, but returning QB Ethan Maroni (Soph., Canada) and Havre's own Griffin Terry (Freshman) have made the battle interesting. All three could likely see action in the early part of the schedule.

The team is well stocked at the skill positions with plenty of returners expected to start. Isaiah Woodley (Senior, Boston, Mass.), Cael White (Junior, Madras, Oregon) and Jeremiah Benson (Senior, Wolf Point, MT.) will lead a deep receiving core. 6' 4" newcomer Kohen Ollen (Freshman, Canada), has been impressive in camp and has worked his way into the rotation at receiver. 

Returning running backs Jayden Lopez (Junior, Anchorage, Alaska), Holton Miguel (Freshman, Canada), D'Shawn Hill (Freshman, Billings, MT.) and Ala'I Williams (Sophomore, Hanoa Valley, Hawaii) head up a physical group of RBs. The team added transfers Sadik Sadik (Junior, Canada) and Laighton Scott (Junior, Compton, CA) to the roster and both have looked like big playmakers in camp. Laighton's younger brother Kori, (Freshman, Compton, CA) adds to an impressive group of ball carriers.

RB/Fullback Ife Adebogun, (Junior, Canada) has changed positions and should line-up this season as one of the starting tight ends.

The cornerstone of any offense, the O-line, will be young this season. Sophomores Josh Cordes (Castle Rock, CO) and Dain McMann (Great Falls, MT) will play important roles in a revamped O-Line. 6'5" 350lb Salesi Anitema (Freshman, Kahului, Hawaii) as well as a pair of Canadians Zach Patching (Freshman) and Brock Van De Kraats (Freshman) are in the mix to play in their first seasons.

The defense returns both coaches, Head Coach Jerome Souers who guides the defensive line, as well as Defensive Coordinator and former Lights standout linebacker, Dylan Wampler.

The defense will be lead by an impressive group of returning lineman and linebackers. Tio Tupou (Sophomore, Kalihi, Hawaii) Lulio Atonio, (Sophomore, Honolulu, Hawaii) and De'Amoni Wright (Senior, Seattle, Wash.) lead a very good and deep group of D-lineman. This group is likely 8 deep and one of the strongest areas of the team.

The linebacking group is also a huge strength for MSUN. Deep, fast, big and strong, this group will be lead by Frontier All-Conference player Braydon Cline (Senior, Big Sandy, MT). Cline lead the Lights last season with a whopping 119 total tackles. He is joined by Crawford Terry (Senior, Havre, MT) and Jackson Kink (Spokane, Wash.) giving the Lights an experienced group of top line backers.

The secondary will be lead by a pair of returning safeties in Jesse Brawley (Junior, Baker, MT) and Brady Smelser (Senior, Power, MT). Transfer Jayden Woods (Junior, Redlands, CA) has looked good in camp and will also see action.

Returning corners Ty'Shaun Raine (Senior, Seattle, Wash), Tommy Sherry (Junior, Polson, MT) and Benjamin Lehnerz (Senior, Power, MT) seem to have the upper hand, but they have competition from a deep group of returners and rookies. George West (Sophomore, Aurora, Colorado) has been impressive and will push the vets for playing time.

There are three components to a football team. Long snappers, punters, place kickers as well as returners have all been battling it our for those few special teams spots on the travelling roster. Wylee Snapp (Junior, Big Sandy, MT) returns as the primary punter and Caleb Litzenger (Sophomore, Great Falls, MT) are the incumbents and will likely line-up at those spots to start the season.  Local Havre product, Teegan Soloman (Freshman), has put in a ton of time returning in camp and would seen to have earned some time as a primary returner.

The Lights travel to Carroll as huge underdogs, but Head Coach Jerome Souers is looking forward to the challenge. "Our guys have been working very hard to get ready for Carroll. Our staff is ready and I am looking forward to a great season of Lights football."

Notes: The team completed its coaching staff during the summer, adding newcomers Will McFarland, Special Teams Co-ordinator, previously at University of Montana, Offensive Line Coach Reagan Williams, a former NCAA Division I player at Stanford and Rice, Defensive Backs Coach Jordan Jeffries from South Salem, Oregon and former DB at Western Oregon and Assistant Offensive Line Coach Tryton Henley from Willow Springs, Missouri and former Lineman at Evangel University.

The Lights kickoff at 6:00pm in Helena. You can watch the livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@carrollathletics