The Lights pulled off a 20-3 Frontier Conference football victory in the opener for both teams Saturday at Vigilante Stadium, as redshirt freshman quarterback Derek Lear paced the Lights offense.

Lear threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns, 28- and 55-yarders to Brandon O'Brien.

Northern's defense, however, was just as responsible for the final outcome. The Lights forced four turnovers - all interceptions - and held the Bulldogs to a field goal. Senior defensive back Casey Varner snagged three interceptions and his freshman brother Tanner Varner grabbed another.

"We didn't show up offensively," said third-year Western head coach Rich Ferris. "We've got to score more than three points, and we can't turn the ball over like that and expect to win."