A Northern Michigan University player, partially hidden at bottom center, comes close to the goal line trying to score as a teammate, top left, signals a touchdown during their game against Minnesota State-Moorhead at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Thursday. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — Negaunee High School graduate Nico Lukkarinen capped off a big-scoring first half by Northern Michigan University that gave the Wildcats football team a two-score lead in its season opener at home on Thursday night.

But NMU couldn’t produce any points for much of the second half and lost a tough 44-37 decision to Minnesota State-Moorhead in the Superior Dome.

Lukkarinen’s 1-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left before halftime made it 27-15 in favor of Northern. He culminated a 13-play, 80-yard drive over nearly six minutes on the clock.

That helped the Wildcats hold a big 197-134 advantage in first-half yards, including a big 181 coming on the ground.

For the night, Lukkarinen had a modest 10 yards rushing on four carries, while Marquette Senior High School graduate Austin Ridl, still listed as a quarterback on the NMU roster on its website, ran for 106 yards in only 13 carries while not attempting a pass.

The game showcased each team’s strength, as Northern dominated the ground game, 291-18, while Moorhead held almost as big of an advantage through the air, 336-92.

Overall, NMU had a 383-354 yards advantage, but Northern had four turnovers to just one for the Dragons while also whistled for 42 penalty yards to just 10 for Moorhead.

NMU actually held an even bigger lead than its halftime edge, 21-0 about three minutes into the second quarter.

With the game still scoreless, the Wildcats got excellent field position following a muffed punt, scoring on a 35-yard drive when Jahi Wood ran it in from 19 yards out just before the midpoint of quarter No. 1. Michael Karlen hit 4 of 4 extra points, including this one, to make it 7-0.

Northern’s Jax Hertel quickly made it 14-0 when he jumped a route at midfield, returning the interception to the end zone only 43 seconds later.

NMU then tried something else that worked, a fourth-down stand that turned the ball back to the Wildcats’ offense, which converted a 65-yard drive after a 9-yard TD toss from QB Duke Shovald to receiver Jake Heemstra. With 11:49 left in the second quarter, NMU already had a three-score lead.

But Moorhead, with its potent passing attack, was unfazed. The Dragons scored less than a minute apart over the next six minutes, the second score set up by an NMU fumble on its first play on offense.

Jack Strand completed TD tosses of 4 yards to Madden Thorson and 1 yard to Gage Florence, and with a two-point conversion on the first score, Northern’s lead was just 21-15.

After Lukkarinen culminated the first-half scoring, the visitors scored three straight TDs to start the second half, taking a 37-27 lead.

Florence caught 20- and 25-yard TDs, while Kelly Johnson snagged a 14-yarder, all from Strand, that gave Moorhead its 10-point lead 43 seconds into the final quarter.

In that span, the NMU offense coughed the ball up on fumbles twice.

But Northern also didn’t have a don’t-die attitude. Wood caught a 22-yard pass from Shovald later into the final period, setting up a 35-yard run by Noah Dobert to get into the red zone. On 4th-and-goal, Shovald shoved the ball in the end zone on a 1-yard run that got NMU within 37-34 with 8:18 to go.

But the Dragons rebought insurance, driving nine plays over 75 yards and capped off by Carson Elgert catching a 30-yard TD from Strand with 3:09 left that re-established a 10-point lead, 44-34.

Northern got the ball back and tried to be efficient with its run-first style as the Wildcats moved it 56 yards to set up a Karlen 24-yard field goal with exactly one minute left that got them within a single score.

While the ensuing onside kick didn’t work, NMU still forced a quick three-and-out by the Dragons, getting the ball back with 26 ticks left.

But following two incomplete passes, Shovald was intercepted as Northern had the ball at its own 43 with 7 seconds to go.

Shovald finished 7 of 14 passing for 92 yards with an interception and TD, Dobert catching two for 28 yards.

Strand impressed, going 35 of 48 for 336 yards, six TDs and one pick. Florence caught 17 balls for 147 yards and three TDs.

Rushing-wise, after Ridl, Dobert carried it 19 times for 97 yards and Wood 17 for 85 for Northern, while Moorhead’s top runner was Tyson Brandt with 23 yards in six attempts.

Hertel not only had his pick-six, but made 11 tackles, seven solo, a QB sack and pass breakup. Teammate Mitch Larkin led NMU tacklers with 12, seven solo, while Jaylen Houston had seven tackles with a sack and breakup.

Additionally, Northern’s Tim Shannon Jr. had four tackles but also four pass breakups.

The Wildcats now hit the road, visiting former GLIAC member Northwood in Midland at noon next Saturday. 

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the game. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.