The Wildcats host St. Thomas at 1 p.m. The Tommies are one of the newer members of the CCHA in hockey, having just taken on the task about the time they joined that league of becoming Division I in all sports.

So this may not be the mismatch it sounds like it could be facing a Division II school like NMU.

Still, Northern hasn’t won a game since 2022, the year before current third-year head coach Shane Richardson took over the program.

The Wildcats have come close in both games so far this season, though, falling at home to Minnesota State-Moorhead 44-37 on Aug. 28 then coming up short in downstate Midland to Northwood 23-18 last Saturday.

Northern Michigan University’s Jake Heemstra, left, catches a pass and would score a touchdown in the second quarter of a game played against Minnesota State-Moorhead at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

So there’s hope to be found.

Today’s matchup is a first ever both for the teams playing each and for Northern hosting a Division I school in the dome since it opened back in 1991.

Turnovers have been key in NMU not stopping its 24-game skid. Last week, the passing game was awakened as Northern threw for 232 yards, the most since November 2023 and a stark contrast to a couple games in the last two seasons when the Wildcats didn’t complete a pass.

And in the opening game, though there wasn’t a whole lot of passing, NMU did roll up 291 yards on the ground.

Today’s game is available on WUPT 100.3 FM The Point or can be watched on FLO College.

You can also follow @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game, or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the football schedule for links to live video, live audio, live statistics, ticket information and a game preview.

“Defensively, I think we bring a really aggressive mindset to practice consistently,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. “We’re continually building, we’re continually trying to find ways to get better, trying to find ways to eliminate mistakes and big plays that maybe we’ve given up.

“We just continue to try to find a way to move forward each week. Sometimes you’ve gotta be able to have chemistry, and the guys really are excited just to go out there and play together. That’s continually coming along, and I really like that about where we’re at defensively right now.”

Last week, redshirt freshman quarterback Duke Shovald completed 14 of 24 passes for 232 yards for NMU, but despite outgaining Northwood by nearly 150 yards, couldn’t overcome his two interceptions and the team’s lost fumble and lost by five points.

On the ground, back Noah Dobert led the Wildcats with 89 yards as Jahi W

Jax Hertel led the defense with seven tackles, while Damarcus Chappell scored two points himself with a safety.

Marquette Senior High School graduate and NMU junior Austin Ridl will also see plenty of time at QB, with him leading an option-style offense as he’s been more of a runner himself — he has 140 yards on the ground in two games, only attempting one pass (incomplete) so far.

Dobert has 187 rushing yards, while Wood matches Ridl with 140.

Shovald had 38 completions for 324 yards, Isaac Olson leading receivers with 80 yards including a 60-yard snag last week.

Northern is 19th in rushing defense at 64.0 yards per game and 48th in overall defense at 304.5 yards per game in the nation.

St. Thomas is 1-1 after a 6-6 campaign a year ago. The Tommies defeated Lindenwood 35-13 then lost at FCS No. 11 Idaho 37-30.

Seventeenth-year head coach Glenn Caruso’s offense is led by senior QB Andy Peters, who’s thrown for 436 yards and five TDs, with the team in the top-20 in scoring offenses in FCS.

St. Thomas averages 241.5 yards per game, seventh in FCS among 118 teams as Joseph Koch leads the way running with 226 yards.

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