Football Blitz: LC stays No. 2 in D-V, first computer ratings released

League losing its luster after back-to-back one-score losses

The Lewis-Clark State football team remained at No. 2 in the first NAIA computer ratings of the 2023 season released Monday by the national office.

LC (1-2) received 476.36 points in the Massey Ratings, trailing only Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), which has 553.23 points. The Blue Raiders improved to 3-0 last week with a 52-7 victory over Kentucky Christian.

Warriors host Montana State-Northern for homecoming

LC will host Montana State-Northern (0-3) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the LCSC Field in the Warriors’ homecoming game. The Lights fell to Rocky Mountain College 59-3 last week in Havre, Mont.

Rocky, which is located in Billings, upset then-No. 1 Carroll College 21-17 on Sept. 9. The Saints, who lost to LC 42-21 in the Frontier Conference opener on Sept. 2, dropped to No. 4 in the Massey Ratings.

Frontier Conference teams dominate top 10 in Massey Ratings

The Frontier Conference has four teams ranked in the top 10 of the Massey Ratings, with Eastern Oregon at No. 5, Montana Tech at No. 7 and Southern Oregon at No. 10.

The Warriors have lost consecutive one-score games to Eastern Oregon (37-34) and Montana State-Northern (20-19) after routing Rocky Mountain 49-19 on Aug. 26 in their opener.

LC hopes to improve offensively without injured Zark

LC will be trying to improve offensively without senior receiver Cade Zark, who suffered what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury in the loss to Montana State-Northern.

Zark had 10 catches for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games. He transferred to LC from Idaho and had 28 catches for 551 yards and seven touchdowns last season for the Vandals.

Warriors will rely on defense, running game

The Warriors will likely rely on their defense and running game against Montana State-Northern. LC has allowed just 30 points in its past two games, and the Warriors have rushed for at least 200 yards in each of their first three games.

Senior running back J.D. Woods leads LC with 288 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Senior quarterback Hunter Hays has completed 59.4% of his passes for 550 yards and four touchdowns, but he has also thrown four interceptions.

LC-Carroll rematch looms on Oct. 14

LC will have a bye next week before hosting No. 14 College of Idaho on Sept. 30. The Warriors will then travel to No. 4 Carroll on Oct. 14 in a rematch of last year’s Frontier Conference championship game, which LC won 20-14.

Carroll, which is averaging 51.7 points per game this season, will host No. 5 Eastern Oregon on Saturday in Helena, Mont.