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Wildcat Football Takes Another Rough Loss, 73-14
 Photo and statistics courtesy of NMU Sports Information MARQUETTE---The Northern Michigan football team lost to the second-ranked team in the country, Grand Valley State, 73-14, on Saturday at the Superior Dome. Among the highlights for the Wildcats: Iron Mountain's Charlie Gerhard scored a 54-yard touchdown and Brock Franklin also found the end zone for the Wildcats in the losing effort. NMU's Mitch Larkin continued to lead the GLIAC in tackles, adding 13 more to his total in this contest. And Ricky Lancaster caused the lone turnover with an interception. But beyond that, it was all Grand Valley, as the Lakers had 609 yards in total offense to just 279 for NMU. The young Wildcats have faced some of the toughest competion in the country, and it has showed on the scoreboard. NMU lost at top-ranked Ferris State (who has since dropped to No. 9 after losing to Grand Valley), 78-3, a month ago, then NMU lost to 13th-ranked Davenport (who are still undfeated with a 7-0 record). Then there was the 62-0 loss to Michigan Tech, and now this loss to the second-ranked and 6-1 GVSU Lakers. The loss drops the Wildcats to 0-8 on the season under new Coach Shane Richardson, who has had to build the team almost from scratch after the program lost players to the NCAA Transfer Portal, among other issues. GVSU marched 75 yards in five plays on its opening drive, capped by a Tariq Reid 7-yard touchdown. Reid had a 56-yard run to set up the Lakers a few plays prior. On their next drive, they went 69 yards in four plays, scoring on a 31-yard run from Cody Tierney. Northern crossed midfield late in the first but failed to convert on 4th down. Leading by two scores after one, GVSU's Reid found the endzone again moments into the second quarter to lead 21-0. An interception on the ensuing NMU drive set the Lakers up at the 5-yard line, scoring again for a 28-0 lead. The Green and Gold methodically moved the ball on its next drive, crossing midfield on three first downs. What looked like a fourth that would have moved the ball near the redzone was negated by a questionable offensive pass interference call, giving possession back to GVSU. Ricky Lancaster secured his first interception for Northern on GV's following drive, but GVSU tacked on a 53-yard FG as time expired, making it 31-0 at halftime. The Lakers scored to open the second half, a 30-yard connection from Cade Peterson to Tierney. On the next play, a botched exchange for NMU resulted in another score for GVSU, making it 45-0 minutes into the half. Kellen Reed would score again to make it 52-0. On NMU's following possession, Aidan Hoard connected with Charlie Gerhard over the middle, who then cut back and out-raced the defender to the endzone for a 54-yard touchdown. It was the longest reception of his career and just the second time he's found the endzone in his collegiate tenure. Grand Valley scored three more times from Derrick Woods and Reed along with a pick-six from Tommy Barnett. NMU's Brock Franklin punched in his second score of the season in the final minute to finalize the score at 73-14. |
