From left, these Northern Michigan University football players, freshman defensive back Xavier Martinez, sophomore linebacker Jax Hertel and junior defensive back Ja’shawn Braswell, celebrate a play during the Wildcats’ football game against Minnesota-Duluth played in the Superior Dome in Marquette on Aug. 29. Martinez and Hertel each had four tackles in that game, while Braswell had two. Hertel also had a pass breakup. (Photo courtesy NMU)

On Saturday: NMU hosts Alma at 1 p.m. at the Superior Dome; Radio: WUPT 100.3 FM The Point

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MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University football team plays Alma as a featured event of Homecoming weekend at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Superior Dome.

But the Wildcats have started this season 0-3 and have yet to win a game in 14 tries under second-year head coach Shane Richardson.

Alma is 1-1 and considered a powerhouse with a ranking of No. 16 nationally in NCAA Division III. The Scots advanced to the D-III quarterfinals a year ago and finished with a 12-1 record.

With the game to be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, fans can also follow these Wildcats @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game.

In addition, visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the football schedule for links to live audio, live video, live statistics, ticket information, a game preview, a look at the game program and a history of the teams’ series.

“I think the expectations of our team is that we don’t lose heart,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. “We have to be able to move forward and push the reset button.

“If we’re able to compare ourselves to improvement and what we can do better, we will come out with great energy and with the hopes that this is going to come to fruition.”

Last Saturday, Northern lost to another D-III powerhouse, at Wisconsin-La Crosse, 35-21. The Eagles are also nationally ranked and also advanced to last year’s D-III quarterfinals.

In that game, quarterback Aidan Hoard and wide receiver Michael Love connected for two scores, the first multi-touchdown performance in the college careers of each of them.

Teammate Elizin Rouse led the 269-yard rushing attack with 137 yards, including a 77-yard scamper to the end zone on the third run of his career. Jahi Wood gained another 91 yards, while Negaunee High School product Nico Lukkarinen added 21 yards.

For the Wildcats, it was the most yards they gained on the ground in a single game since the 2018 season.

La Crosse made its mark throwing for 340 yards and three TDs while adding two more scores on the ground. NMU also struggled with fumbles, dropping the ball five times and losing three of them.

Northern junior linebacker Mitch Larkin guides the defense after leading the GLIAC last season in tackles with 118. That marked a near 100-tackle increase from his freshman campaign, when he had just 22.

He finished tied for third in NCAA Division II in total tackles, while he currently sits atop the conference tackles leaderboard with 27.

Fellow linebacker Jax Hertel, a sophomore, will look to take a leap in his second year after recording 65 tackles and a pair of interceptions when he was a true freshman. Both Larkin and Hertel earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention last year.

Wood is second among GLIAC rushers with 209 yards and Rouse is in the top 10 with just his one-game performance.

Placekicker Michael Karlen is 2 of 2 on field goals and 5 of 5 on extra points.

Meanwhile, Alma is coming off a 38-30 win over Denison as QB Carter St. John has thrown for 537 yards and seven TDs in two games. Zach Poff is the Scots’ leading receiver with 142 yards and a TD, while Marquette Senior High School graduate Ty Lotterman has 129 yards and two TDs in his catches.

The Scots average 36.5 points and 431.5 yards per game. But defensively, they are allowing 489 yards overall each contest, 357.0 through the air and 132.0 on the ground.

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