MARQUETTE – It has been a long and frustrating season for the Northern Michigan University football Wildcats, but thanks to a record-setting performance by quarterback Shaye Brown on Saturday, the Wildcats closed out their season on a high note.

Brown set an NMU passing record with 490 yards and threw for five touchdowns as the Wildcats defeated GLIAC foe Findlay (Ohio), 66-38, at the Superior Dome.

In addition, Northern running back Terrance Dye scored four touchdowns on the ground.

“We thought we’d be able to throw the football a bit today,” Wildcats head coach Chris Ostrowsky said. “Our plan was to throw it, but we didn’t plan to throw for 490 yards.

“If that was the case every week, we’d be where we want to be. It was just a great day throwing the football on all ends.”

Brown was unaware of how many yards he threw and credited his teammates for his performance.

“We did a great job with protection,” he said. “I didn’t get sacked one time and I think I was only touched once.

“The receivers did their jobs. They got open and we didn’t have a drop, either. Against the team we played, that was amazing.

“I think this game helped us find our identity,” he added. “

After Findlay took a 3-0 lead to start the game, the Wildcats were able to march down the field and Dye scored his first touchdown of the afternoon to give NMU a 7-3 lead.

NMU (3-8 overall, 2-8 GLIAC) then padded its lead to 14-3 on its next possession. Brown found a wide-open Austin Young in the corner of the end zone. Young made a diving 32-yard catch to set up the score.

Brown connected with Young again for a touchdown on its next drive and then hit Trey Hipke for a 57-yard TD to give the Wildcats a 28-6 lead.

The score came when Brown threw a pass to Young, who then returned the ball to Brown, and the sophomore found a wide-open Hipke for the score.

“I thought it was a great moment for it after the sudden change in possession,” Ostrowsky said. “It was a play we practiced for weeks and weeks and it was executed perfectly.”

Findlay (5-6) was able to close the gap to two scores late in the second quarter, thanks to two touchdown passes from Verlon Reed.

However, NMU senior Kelvin Smarwt snagged a 61-yard bomb from Brown for a touchdown and NMU never looked back. Smarwt led the Wildcats with 143 yards receiving and eight catches.

“We had an amazing game,” Smarwt said. “That’s the way I wanted to end my season and end my career here.”

Brown threw his final touchdown pass, a 66-yarder to Marcus Tucker. Dye carried the load the rest of the way, ending with 117 yards rushing on 21 carries.

“This has been a humbling year, certainly for me,” Ostrowsky said. “Maybe it was what we needed.

“It feels phenomenal to end this way to beat a bona-fide solid program in this league, which is what Findlay is. The way we beat them was a really good thing.”

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.