This story was written by NMU Sports Information
CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Northern Michigan football team battled at No. 16 Davenport on Saturday afternoon, falling 28-12. The Wildcats kept it close throughout most of the contest, but back-to-back scores from Davenport early in the fourth quarter put it away.
NMU found the endzone on the final play of the game, a connection between freshmen Aidan Hoard and Michael Love, the first in each of their careers. Michael Karlen drilled each of his field goal attempts to complete the scoring for the 'Cats.
Northern gained 247 yards on the afternoon to Davenport's 466. NMU turned the Panthers over three times in the contest, all in the first half, with Kade Manzo leading the way on an interception and forced fumble.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 0-6 on the season heading into rivalry week.
Being driven deep into their own territory on the game's opening drive, the Wildcat defense answered the bell. Manzo read a deep ball over the middle of the field, snatching in at the 3-yard line and returning it 39 yards. The 'Cats were able to move the ball as well, backed by 31 ground yards from Brock Franklin, but stalled out in the red zone. Karlen connected on a 28-yard FG to give NMU a 3-0 lead with 6:18 on the clock in the first.
As they were able to do on the first drive, the Panthers moved the ball down the field again via the ground attack on the second drive, making for a snappy first quarter of play. Once again for the Green and Gold, Kade Manzo came up big, forcing a fumble inside the 5-yard line. Jeremiah Gossett recovered in the endzone to make it two big stops in a row when backed up against the wall.
Davenport broke through on its third drive on a 67-yard connection from Jason Whittaker to Peyton Brown to make it 7-3 with 11:40 on the first half clock. On DU's next drive, NMU once again kept Davenport off the board by forcing a turnover with a fumble at the goalline, recovered by Mitch Larkin.
The Panthers found the endzone again from Myren Harris with two minutes to go to make it a 14-3 deficit for Northern at the half.
The third quarter consisted of defense, with the only points coming on a 27-yard FG from Karlen late in the stanza to make it 14-6. Hoard entered the game under center for NMU into the second half with Mariano Valenti exiting with an injury and led the 'Cats into the redzone before Davenport was able to get off the field on third down.
Opening the final 15 minutes, the Panthers marched down the field and connected on a pass to Brenden Sherrod over the middle to make it a 21-6 score with 13 minutes left. Less than a minute later, DU's Travis Reece intercepted a deflected Hoard pass and returned it to the two. Caleef Jenkins scored on the following play, stretching the gap to 28-6.
On the final play of the afternoon, Hoard found Michael Love down the right sideline for a 47-yard score, the first in each of their careers.
Northern will contend for the Miner's Cup next weekend. The Wildcats and Huskies will clash in the Superior Dome on Saturday, October 14 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Northern Michigan football team battled at No. 16 Davenport on Saturday afternoon, falling 28-12. The Wildcats kept it close throughout most of the contest, but back-to-back scores from Davenport early in the fourth quarter put it away.
NMU found the endzone on the final play of the game, a connection between freshmen Aidan Hoard and Michael Love, the first in each of their careers. Michael Karlen drilled each of his field goal attempts to complete the scoring for the 'Cats.
Northern gained 247 yards on the afternoon to Davenport's 466. NMU turned the Panthers over three times in the contest, all in the first half, with Kade Manzo leading the way on an interception and forced fumble.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 0-6 on the season heading into rivalry week.
Being driven deep into their own territory on the game's opening drive, the Wildcat defense answered the bell. Manzo read a deep ball over the middle of the field, snatching in at the 3-yard line and returning it 39 yards. The 'Cats were able to move the ball as well, backed by 31 ground yards from Brock Franklin, but stalled out in the red zone. Karlen connected on a 28-yard FG to give NMU a 3-0 lead with 6:18 on the clock in the first.
As they were able to do on the first drive, the Panthers moved the ball down the field again via the ground attack on the second drive, making for a snappy first quarter of play. Once again for the Green and Gold, Kade Manzo came up big, forcing a fumble inside the 5-yard line. Jeremiah Gossett recovered in the endzone to make it two big stops in a row when backed up against the wall.
Davenport broke through on its third drive on a 67-yard connection from Jason Whittaker to Peyton Brown to make it 7-3 with 11:40 on the first half clock. On DU's next drive, NMU once again kept Davenport off the board by forcing a turnover with a fumble at the goalline, recovered by Mitch Larkin.
The Panthers found the endzone again from Myren Harris with two minutes to go to make it a 14-3 deficit for Northern at the half.
The third quarter consisted of defense, with the only points coming on a 27-yard FG from Karlen late in the stanza to make it 14-6. Hoard entered the game under center for NMU into the second half with Mariano Valenti exiting with an injury and led the 'Cats into the redzone before Davenport was able to get off the field on third down.
Opening the final 15 minutes, the Panthers marched down the field and connected on a pass to Brenden Sherrod over the middle to make it a 21-6 score with 13 minutes left. Less than a minute later, DU's Travis Reece intercepted a deflected Hoard pass and returned it to the two. Caleef Jenkins scored on the following play, stretching the gap to 28-6.
On the final play of the afternoon, Hoard found Michael Love down the right sideline for a 47-yard score, the first in each of their careers.
Northern will contend for the Miner's Cup next weekend. The Wildcats and Huskies will clash in the Superior Dome on Saturday, October 14 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
