Northern Michigan University quarteback Drake Davis, right, runs out of bounds to avoid a tackle by Wisconsin-Oshkosh defender Kyle Scharenbroch during their game played in the Superior Dome in Marquette on Saturday. (Journal photo by Travis Nelson)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University football team plays its final nonconference tuneup before its GLIAC campaign when the Wildcats host Davenport at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Superior Dome.

The game is unusual in that the visiting Panthers are also members of the GLIAC, but it will be the teams’ meeting in Grand Rapids on Oct. 9 that counts in the conference standings. That’s according to NMU sports website, www.nmuwildcats.com, and the GLIAC website, www.gliac.org.

Northern has played Davenport three times previously, winning the first encounter in 2017 and losing the most recent two.

Even though it only counts on their overall record, the Wildcats (1-1) are eager to right themselves after being dealt a 28-10 home-opening loss to Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the No. 5-ranked team in NCAA Division III. NMU opened the season with a 27-20 win over McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois.

Against Oshkosh, Northern was tagged with 17 penalties, several of which called back big offensive plays, as there were no turnovers by either team. The Titans also held a nearly 2-to-1 advantage in yardage, 359-189, and a 25-9 edge in first downs.

The Wildcats did score with a Daniel Riser 43-yard field goal late in the first half and a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drake Davis to receiver Benjamin Loutsis in the third quarter. Those scores cut the Titans’ 21-0 lead almost in half, making it 21-10 with about 21 minutes to go.

Davis, a sophomore, is tied for the GLIAC lead in passing TDs with three and fourth in passing yards per game with 113.

Northern sophomore running back Tyshon King is second in the conference in rushing yards per game with 91.5. Both he and Davis have one rushing TD as only three conference players have more than one.

King leads NMU rushers with 183 yards on 23 carries, including his longest run of 46 yards.

Defensively, senior linebacker Andre Whitley has a team-high 19 tackles, 11 solo, and a quarterback sack. Freshman linebacker Will Borchert has 16 tackles, nine solo, while linemen John McMullen, a junior, and Rashad Harris, a freshman, each have a QB sack.

NMU requires a mask to be worn by everyone, vaccinated or not, when inside an NMU facility, including indoor athletic venues like the Superior Dome. The only exception is while actively eating or drinking.

Ticket information is available online at nmuwildcats.com/links/nb7133.

To follow NMU football, go to @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter at any time. For audio during the game, visit online at rrnsports.com or listen to radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point. For video, visit nmuwildcats.com/links/0j1o2m and for live statistics, visit nmuwildcats.com/sports/fball/2021-22/boxscores/20210918_fco8.xml.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.