ASHLAND, Ohio – Northern Michigan University Football finished their 2018 season by taking on Ashland University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest and senior Jake Mayon (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) broke NMU's single season rushing record in the process.

In the game, NMU fell 41-7.

MAYON BREAKS THE RECORD, PART TWO

Earlier this season, Mayon broke the school's career rushing record and will finish his career as a Wildcat with 4,220 yards rushing.  He entered Saturday's game just 59 yards away from the single season record, and accomplished the record with a five-yard touchdown in the third quarter.  Mayon finishes the season as the first player in NMU history to reach 1,500 yards in a season, posting 1,502 this year.  He scored 14 touchdowns on the year and notched 38 for his career for NMU. 

GETTING DEFENSIVE

Freshman Isaac Darkangelo (Brighton, Mich./Detroit Central Catholic) led the defense with 10 tackles, including two for a loss.  Redshirt freshman Jacob Dudeck (Manhatten, Ill./Lincoln Way West) recorded one tackle for loss.

Sophomore safety Brady Hanson (Kewaskum, Wis.) finished with seven tackles and also got his first career interception with the Wildcats. 

Senior Austin McCarthy (Mosinee, Wis.) had six tackles on the day.  Senior Jalen Saunders (Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale) added a pass breakup to the effort. 

WILDCATS ON THE BOARD

The Wildcats continued their streak of a score in each game as they found the end zone in the third quarter, using a 15-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:18 off the clock.

Mayon started the drive with a three-yard gain, then sophomore Latrell Giles (Chicago, Ill./Leo Catholic) took it eight yards.  After Mayon took it for another two yards, Giles found redshirt freshman Benjamin Loutsis (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) for an 11-yard completion. 

An incomplete pass was followed by Mayon's longest carry of the day, an 11-yard gain to push NMU into Ashland territory.  He then went for a yard, but an Ashland penalty helped the Wildcats get the ball to the AU 26-yard line. 

A loss brought up 2nd and 11 when Giles hit sophomore Ravon Johnson (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South) for 10 yards. On 3^rd and 1, Mayon gained two yards and followed it with a seven-yard gain to get NMU inside the 10-yard line. A gain of two yards then put them on the six.  Giles carried it on third and 1 for a first down and moved NMU to the five-yard line.  On the very next play, Mayon found the end zone and after the extra point by freshman kicker Daniel Riser (Ada, Michigan/Forest Hills Central) NMU had seven points.  However, it would be only score for the Wildcats as NMU fell 41-7.

END OF THE YEAR

NMU falls to 3-8 on the season which is two more wins than last year and 1-7 in the GLIAC, picking up a 34-24 victory over Wayne State University last week. NMU made significant strides rushing the ball as they posted a school record for rushing yards. They have also reduced the yards allowed per game, including reducing the rushing yards allowed per game by over 100 yards compared to just two years ago.