NMU didn’t have many of those during his first two seasons in Marquette, each producing an 0-11 final record.

Now the Wildcats have to learn to protect that lead.

Northern travels to downstate Midland at noon Saturday to take on former Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Northwood after NMU opened with a 21-0 lead against Moorhead only to give it up and lose 44-37.

“There is great belief in being so close and jumping out to a 21-0 start,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. “We need to learn how to handle the success of being in the game and knowing you have to continue to put the hammer down.

Northern Michigan University quarterback Austin Ridl, right, keeps the ball and carries it for several yards in the first quarter against Minnesota State-Moorhead at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Aug. 28. Ridl is a Marquette Senior High School graduate. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

“Our guys take great responsibility with it, and they are hungry to come back and do it even better this week.”

The game, Northwood’s season opener, will be available on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, can be seen online live on Flo College, or fans can follow @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game. And there’s also the choice of visiting the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and looking under the football schedule for links to live video, live audio, live statistics and a preview.

Last week, Northern built their three-touchdown lead quite quickly in the first half and still had a 27-15 advantage at halftime. But the Dragons scored 29 of the second half’s 39 points to send NMU to an 0-1 record.

The game held true to each team’s strength, as NMU dominated on the ground, rushing 59 times to Moorhead’s 14, and not surprisingly putting up 291 yards there as part of the Wildcats’ 384 total yards.

Quarterback Austin Ridl, a Marquette Senior High School graduate who didn’t attempt a pass, instead ran for a career-best 106 yards, while teammate Noah Dobert had 97 and Jahi Wood 85.

Ridl, Wood and Negaunee High School product Nico Lukkarinen each found the end zone, with QB Duke Shovald connecting with Jake Heemstra for the team’s lone passing TD.

Meanwhile, Moorhead completed 35 passes to NMU’s seven, with QB Jack Strand tying their program record with six TD passes while throwing for 336 yards. His top target was Gage Florence, who made 17 catches for 147 yards and three scores.

The Wildcats threw for 92 yards while Mankato only had 18 rushing yards on 14 attempts.

Leading defenders for Northern were Mitch Larkin with an even dozen tackles and Jax Hertel with 11, Hertel also returning an interception all the way for a TD for his second career pick-six.

Wood, Hertel and offensive lineman Daniel Babcock return as GLIAC Second Team honorees a year ago. In all, there’s 30 returning lettermen, more than half being starters in 2024.

Wood led an NMU backfield that was third in rushing in the GLIAC last season at 177.9 yards per game. Wood totaled 668 yards, Vince Martin 346 and Lukkarinen 258, all top-20 totals in the league.

Redshirt freshman Dobert, MSHS grad and redshirt freshman Tucker Welch, and true freshman Tyler Van Sluys give those backs plenty of depth this year, too.

Hertel was top 10 with 40 solo tackles in ’24, while

Northwood, a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, was 6-5 last season and picked fifth this year in its coaches poll.

The Timberwolves averaged 25.4 points per game and allowed 18.5 ppg last year. They’re expected to be led by redshirt sophomore QB Ethan Hamby, who threw for 882 yards and seven TDs in 10 games in ’24. On the ground, senior running back Devin Brown returns after a season with 687 yards and six TDs. Defensively, back Cole Simpson leads the unit after 66 tackles and a pair of turnovers in 2024.

All-time, NMU is 27-14 vs. Northwood, with their last meeting in 2021 when the Wildcats won 34-26 in Marquette. But NU has won the last three meetings played in Midland.

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.