Northern Michigan University’s Jahi Wood, left, runs the football into the end zone to score a touchdown against St. Thomas at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Sept. 13. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The football team at Northern Michigan University returns from its open week looking to get the first win of third-year coach Shane Richardson’s reign in Marquette this afternoon.

The Wildcats travel to University Center between Saginaw and Bay City to face Saginaw Valley State for the Cardinals’ homecoming at 2 p.m.

While NMU is just 0-4 with one conference game under its belt, the Cardinals are only 1-3 and are opening their schedule in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The teams have one opponent in common, former GLIAC member and SVSU next-door neighbor Northwood. The Timberwolves edged Northern 23-18 on Sept. 6 in Midland, while Northwood took care of the Cards 38-14 in University Center a week later in the teams’ annual Axe Bowl.

So that comparison certainly looks promising for the Wildcats.

Saginaw Valley is also coming off its bye week.

In its most recent game, NMU’s 35-16 homecoming loss to Davenport, each team’s contrasting strengths were borne out. While Northern won the rushing battle, 278-181 in yardage, the Panthers had as clear an advantage in passing as is just about possible — 211-0.

The Wildcats didn’t complete a pass, going 0 for 5, after regular passing quarterback Duke Shovald went down with an injury in the second quarter. The team’s more run-oriented QB, Marquette Senior High School graduate Austin Ridl, threw two interceptions in the late going as a last-gasp effort to catch up.

Davenport’s D’Wan Mathis completed just 12 of 20 passes, but for more than 200 yards and one touchdown.

On Northern’s side, running back Noah Dobert led the team with 156 rushing yards on 23 carries, two of them for TDs of 32 and 22 yards.

NMU had a 10-7 lead about halfway through the second quarter before the Panthers scored the go-ahead score just two plays after Northern took its last lead.

The Wildcats remained within a single score, 21-16, until the visitors put up two fourth-quarter TDs for a more comfortable final margin.

Fans can follow @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during today’s game.

This contest will be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, or fans can go to the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the football schedule for links to live video, live audio, live statistics and a preview.

“I think it’ll be a good opportunity (today) for us to go down there and show what we can do on the road in the GLIAC and be able to put a full four quarters together,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. “We’ve gotta be ready, we certainly have to make sure that we come off the bye with a good hunger and a great anticipation to go out there and play with great energy.” 

For the season, Northern averages 215.5 rushing yards per game, second in the GLIAC and 21st in NCAA Division II. But the passing has been anemic, with just 32 completions in 63 attempts over four games, with five interceptions and only two TDs.

Dobert and fellow back Jahi Wood carry the biggest load on the ground, Dobert averaging 5.5 yards per carry and Wood 3.2.

Defensively, the Wildcats are sixth among eight conference teams allowing 30.5 points per game, though that is one spot ahead of SVSU’s seventh-place 32.3 ppg allowed.

Northern’s rushing defense, though, allows just 90.8 yards a contest, a top-20 statistic nationally. Jax Hertel leads NMU with 36 tackles and Mitch Larkin has 28, while safety Tim Shannon Jr. has a team-high five pass breakups.

In contrast, the Cardinals are quite balanced with their offense, averaging 190.5 yards per game rushing and 194.3 yards per game passing.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Mason McKenzie has nearly 3,000 yards in 18 collegiate appearances over parts of three seasons, averaging 183.8 yards a game, and he’s also the SVSU’s leading rusher.

In what may or may not be a good sign for the Wildcats, Saginaw Valley is dead last in the GLIAC in passing defense, allowing 325.0 yards per game, while ranking third in rushing defense, giving up just 85.0 yards per game.

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.