Northern Michigan University quarterback Austin Ridl, center, fakes handing the ball off to running back Noah Dobert, left, but would actually pitch it to another back, Jahi Wood, not shown, during a GLIAC game played against Michigan Tech at the Superior Dome in Marquette last Saturday. Ridl is a Marquette Senior High School graduate. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — With a bit of confidence from a road victory just two weeks ago, the football team at Northern Michigan University has to go into a matchup today against the No. 1 team in the nation with a little bit of trepidation.

But bigger upsets have certainly happened, so the Wildcats will take on conference foe Ferris State at the Bulldogs’ home field in Big Rapids at 1 p.m.

FSU is a perfect 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while NMU is 1-7 and 1-4, ahead of winless Roosevelt and Wayne State in the league standings.

While Northern went to suburban Chicago and knocked off Roosevelt 42-21 two weeks ago, they returned home and lost in their annual Miner’s Cup game to Michigan Tech 56-17 a week ago at the Superior Dome.

The Wildcats extended their losing streak to MTU to 15 straight a week after snapping an overall 28-game loss skid.

With the game to be broadcast on Marquette radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, fans can 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 and a preview.

“To me, it’s just how can we get back to some of the things that we hold close to the program, how we’ve really invested in our process, and get back to being true to ourselves in terms of Wildcat football,” Wildcats head coach Shane Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information preview of today’s game.

Despite the rather lopsided score last week, Northern rolled up 345 total yards with its patented potent rushing attack, gaining 270 on the ground. But Tech established a 21-3 lead at the half, forcing the Wildcats to get away from the run game somewhat after that. NMU had three trips to the red zone in the first half, only to come away with three points in total from them.

Menominee High School graduate and NMU redshirt freshman quarterback Trevor Theuerkauf led the Northern offense with 106 rushing yards and 75 more through the air.

Negaunee product Ian Engstrom caught four passes, including his first career touchdown in the final minute.

In today’s game, the Wildcats will have to pick their poison, either trying to dent a Ferris defense that allows just 12.3 points per game — more than a TD better than anyone else in the conference — or slow down a Bulldogs offense that puts up 51.9 points each time out, well over two TDs better than anyone else in the league.

Not surprisingly, yardage numbers are similar for FSU — No. 1 in rushing offense, passing offense and overall offense at 522.9 yards per game, and No. 1 in defense at 257.5 yards per game.

While the Bulldogs are also No. 1 vs. the run, they’re only No. 4 vs. the pass, allowing 193.6 yards each time out.

Northern is second in the GLIAC and No. 8 in the nation in rushing offense at 261.1 yards per game. Wildcats running back Noah Dobert is No. 2 in the league with 890 rushing yards, averaging 111.3 yards a game.

On defense, NMU is led by Jax Hertel, Mitch Larkin and Jhermari Mabry as opponents average just 136.3 yards rushing a game and 4.5 yards per carry.

Ferris’ dual-threat QB Wyatt Bower throws for 182.8 yards a game and also averages almost 75 yards rushing.

Among a quintet of receivers who average more than 20 yards receiving, junior Taariik Brett is nearly double that and was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week this week for his four-TD performance in a 38-31 win over No. 8 Grand Valley State.

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.