Wildcats fall to host NU in football season opener
MIDLAND – The Northern Michigan University football team’s season got off to a rough start Saturday, as the Wildcats committed five turnovers in a 20-7 GLIAC loss to host Northwood University.
The Wildcats also gave up 206 rushing yards to the Timberwolves’ option offense.
NMU junior quarterback Shaye Brown threw for 195 yards and a touchdown, but also had three interceptions.
Northwood got its first points of the game at the 8:00 mark of the first quarter on a 30-yard field goal by David Knudsen.
Knudsen added another kick, a 35-yarder with 3:10 left in the quarter.
The Timberwolves picked up their first touchdown with 26 seconds left in the first half when quarterback Mark Morris hit Terrance Stocker with a 4-yard pass.
Northwood took a 13-0 lead into the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, Northwood padded its lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Jared Briguglio with a 11:10 left in the fourth. Briguglio led the Timberwolves’ running game with 25 carries for 120 yards.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard with 3:04 left in the game when Brown found Marcus Tucker for a 18-yard touchdown pass, but that’s all they could get.
Defensively, L.J. Liston led NMU with 19 tackles. Austin McCarthy recorded a sack.
NMU (0-1) plays its home opener at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Superior Dome against Quincy, Ill.
Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.