Northern Michigan University’s Noah Hofmann, left, gains several yards on this run wide right in the first quarter of the Wildcats’ GLIAC game against Wayne State on Oct. 28 at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University football team has a different type of opponent on Saturday, but will probably be just as much of a challenge as others faced since Shane Richardson took over as coach before the 2023 season.

The Wildcats have yet to win a game under Richardson’s tutelage, going 0-11 last season and 0-2 so far this summer.

The opponent at 2 p.m. EDT Saturday is NCAA Division III powerhouse Wisconsin-La Crosse, which is ranked No. 6 in the nation and reached the D-III quarterfinals last year before falling to eventual national runner-up North Central College 55-42. The game will be played in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Last year, the La Crosse Eagles came to the Superior Dome and took a 34-3 victory home with them.

Fans can listen to the game on WUPT 100.3 FM The Point or follow these Wildcats @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game. In addition, fans can go online to the NMU athletics website, nmuwildcats.com, and look under the football schedule for links to live audio, live statistics, a game preview and a history of their series.

“We have to make sure we are improving week-to-week,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. “Our team is going where we are leading them, they are willing to take on our messages, and there is a ton of buy in.

“For almost half of the team being first-year guys, that’s a really good sign.”

Last week on Sept. 5, Northern lost 33-13 in Owensboro, Kentucky, at first-time opponent Kentucky Wesleyan despite 96 rushing yards posted by freshman Jahi Wood, along with a 1-yard touchdown run by Negaunee High School graduate and Wildcats redshirt freshman Nico Lukkarinen that gave NMU an early lead.

Michael Karlen, who kicked the extra point following Lukkarinen’s TD to give Northern a 7-6 lead, also kicked a pair of 18-yard field goals as the Wildcats outgained the Panthers on the ground, 123-72, but were outgained overall 382-222.

NMU was in the game well into the second half as Karlen’s second field goal, off a Wildcats possession set up by a Max Larkin interception, pulled the visitors to within 19-13 with 1:47 left in the third quarter.

Larkin, a junior linebacker, led the GLIAC in tackles last season with 118, nearly a hundred more than his previous freshman season. He tied for third in Division II in tackles. Fellow linebacker and sophomore Jax Hertel had 65 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a freshman as both LBs were All-GLIAC Honorable Mention in 2023.

NMU starting quarterback Aidan Hoard, who pressed into service in that role as a freshman last year due to injury, looks to improve upon a 101-of-196 passing season in eight games as he totaled 1,059 yards and five TDs through the air.

Wideouts Michael Love and Sam Peiffer combined for 680 yards and five TDs receiving in ’23, while freshmen Wood and Kaleb Isom are also looking to make an impact as pass catchers.

In the secondary, Ricky Lancaster, Tim Shannon Jr. and Jeremiah Gossett will each play a big role after seeing significant time last season.

The Wildcats field one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 42 of 96 (44%) of the roster consisting of first-year players. Underclassmen will make up 68 of the 96 (71%) roster spots.

The Wildcats were the least penalized team in the GLIAC in 2023, totaling 54 for an average of 4.9 per game. At two per game thus far, NMU is tied for third in the country in fewest penalties.

And Owen Halverson is third in the GLIAC and 22nd in the country averaging 43.1 yards per punt.

La Crosse defeated RPI in its opener 35-0 as QB Zach Weir threw for 279 yards and three TDs and Braedon Ott rushed for 99 yards in just six carries. Receiving-wise, both Jack Studer (173) and Wyatt LeMoine (102) broke the century mark.

La Crosse was 11-2 last season, averaging 39.3 points per game while allowing 23.2 ppg. Through the air, the Eagles averaged 283.3 yards a game, and on the ground, La Crosse ran for an average of 190.6 yards.

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