DETROIT, Mich.  --  Northern Michigan University's last minute drive came up short as the football team fell in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference action to Wayne State University 26-23 Saturday. 

Taking over at their own 18–yard line, freshman quarterback Ryan Johnson (De Pere, Wisc./Ashwaubenon) hit freshman Marcus Kidd (University Park, Ill./Crete-Monee) for eight yards.  Junior Jake Mayon (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) then ran to the NMU 32-yard line, which Johnson followed by hitting freshman Dallas Dixon (Phoenix, Ariz. / Tolleson) for gains of 17-yards and nine-yards to move the Wildcats to the Wayne State 42-yard line. 

However, Johnson's next pass would be intercepted in Wayne State territory ending the last Northern Michigan opportunity of the afternoon. 

Johnson finished with his second game of over 250 yards, throwing for 272 yards on 20-35 passing.  He also added two touchdowns.  Leading the receivers was Dixon, who posted 127 yards on five receptions with a touchdown.  Senior Jaranta Lewis (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay) posted 48 yards and redshirt freshman Dan Van Effen (Escanaba, Mich./Escanab) added 44 yards and a touchdown. 

On the ground, Mayon continued his successful season with his fifth game of 100-yards or more, rushing for 122 yards and his seventh touchdown of the season.

Senior Pat Ryan (Linden, Mich.) led the defense with 14 tackles.  Sophomore Troy Mayon (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) added 12 while senior Darryl Williams (Cooper City, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) chipped in with 11. 

Freshman John McMullen (Kankakee, Ill.) and senior Jalen Brooks (Macomb, Mich./Romeo) both recorded a sack on the afternoon while sophomore Austin Potter (Warren, Mich./De La Salle) recovered a fumble. 

Wayne State took an early 14-0 lead, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter.  The Warriors then added two fields goals to take a 20-0 advantage with 7:07 remaining in the first half. 

NMU responded immediately on their next drive.  Johnson hit Lewis for a 36-yard gain through the air.  Freshman Deandre Caldwell (Kankakee, Ill.) then rushed twice for 12 yards to move the Wildcats to the Wayne State 21-yard line.  On the next play, Johnson hit Van Effen for a 21-yard score.  Freshman Dalton Ray (Clemont, Fla./Lake Menneola) kicked in the extra point. 

The next drive saw NMU go 62 yards in 12 plays which Ray capped with a 25-yard field goal to move the Wildcats within 20-10 as the teams headed into the break. 

In the third quarter, the Warriors extended the lead with their own field goal, taking the 23-10 lead with 5:42 left in the third quarter. 

NMU answered on the very next offensive play.  Taking a handoff from the NMU 35-yard line, Mayon scampered 65 yards for a touchdown. After Ray made the extra point, NMU was now within 23-17. 

The Warriors took over control of the ball and drove down to the NMU 12-yard line.  This time, the defense put a stop to the drive, forcing a fumble which Potter recovered to give the Wildcats a chance at the lead. 

The NMU offense moved the ball to the 50-yard line before finding the end zone.  On the eighth play of the drive, Johnson hit Dixon for a 50-yard touchdown throw, which Ray followed with his third extra point kick of the game to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, 24-23, heading into the fourth quarter.

In the final frame, the Warriors opened the quarter by running 15 plays as they marched down the field, ending the drive with a field goal to take a 26-24 lead with 9:04 left in the game. 

To close out the game, Wayne State's defense clamped down on the NMU offense until the final drive, which ended in an interception to close out the game at 26-24.

With the loss, Northern Michigan falls to 1-8, 1-7 in the GLIAC while Wayne State improves to 4-6, 3-5 in league play.  The Wildcats will finish their season next Saturday as they take on Northwood University.  The team will honor their seniors prior to the game.  All veterans and a guest will also receive free admission to the game.