MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan football team fell just short of upsetting No. 8 Ashland Saturday afternoon at the Superior Dome in front of 2,576 fans. 

Jake Mayon broke free for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:39 left on the clock in regulation to give the Wildcats a 40-35 advantage, but the Eagles found the end zone with seven seconds remaining to seal a 41-40 victory.

After the Eagles ran out to a 21-0 lead, the Wildcats responded with a touchdown of their own at 9:47 of the second quarter when Austin Young managed to come up with a lofted 35-yard Shaye Brown pass despite being draped by an Eagle.

From that point on, the teams traded points until the end of the half. Brown connected with Keyondre Craig for a 10-yard score at 4:15 on a 4th and 3 and Edward Christian for a five-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left.

In the second half, Northern Michigan scored 19 unanswered points to pull ahead, 40-35. The Wildcats got on the board early in the third quarter, capitalizing on a botched Eagle punt to set up a Tyler Blackburn 32-yard field goal. 

With five seconds left in the third, after a 27-yard Young punt return and an Eagle penalty set Northern Michigan up deep into Ashland territory, Terrance Dye plowed through a seam for a five-yard touchdown.

Blackburn pulled the Wildcats within one at 8:24 in the fourth quarter, setting up Mayon's go-ahead score. 

Brown went 30 for 49 passing with 371 yards and three touchdowns. Dye totaled 104 yards on the ground while Paris Woods (125), Craig (92) and Trey Hipke (60) surpassed 50 receiving yards.

Defensively, the Wildcats were led by Levi Perry and Julian Hornback, who each posted 10 tackles. Dante Holmes finished with seven tackles, a sack and Northern Michigan's lone tackle for a loss.

With the loss, their first of the season at the Superior Dome, the Wildcats fall to 4-4 (3-4 GLIAC). They return to action Oct. 31 when they take on Walsh at 8 p.m.