DETROIT — The Northern Michigan football team fell to Wayne State, 34-31, Saturday afternoon at Tom Adams Field in front of 1,994 fans.

The Warriors scored a touchdown and posted a successful two-point conversion with 36 seconds remaining in the game to down the Wildcats, who fall to 4-3 (3-3 GLIAC) on the season.

Through the first two quarters, the teams traded scores. Northern Michigan found the end zone less than two minutes into the game when Shaye Brown connected with Marcus Tucker for a 39-yard touchdown reception. Wayne State answered with a touchdown of its own at 4:27 in the quarter.

The Wildcats pulled ahead, 10-7, at 6:51 in the second quarter on the strength of a 33-yard Tyler Blackburn field goal, but the Warriors took their first lead of the game less than three minutes later, capping a 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush. 

Northern Michigan would go to the locker room with a 17-13 lead after CJ Washington forced a fumble well in the Wayne State end and Jared Vuksan came up with the ball. After Brown found Paris Woods for a 24-yard gain to the Wayne State one-yard line, Edward Christian bulled his way into the end zone.

Wayne State retook the lead at 12:06 in the third quarter, but the Wildcats responded with two-straight touchdowns to build a 31-20 lead going into the final frame. First, Brown hit Keyondre Craig for a 58-yard score at 10:26 and then he found Woods for a 12-yard touchdown at 1:29.

The Warriors would score 14-unanswered points in the fourth quarter to complete their comeback.

Northern Michigan outgained Wayne State, 378-366. Brown went 24 for 38 passing with 344 yards and three touchdowns while Craig (96), Tucker (88), Austin Young (62) and Woods (61) each totaled more than 60 yards through the air.

On defense, LJ Liston paced the Wildcats with 10 tackles, and Levi Perry posted two tackles for a loss.

The Wildcats return to action Oct. 24 when they put their Superior Dome winning streak on the line against Ashland at 1 p.m.