MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University Football celebrated Homecoming weekend Saturday and scored the most points #6 Ferris State University has allowed all season, but ultimately fell 35-19 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup.

THE GROUND ATTACK

Senior Jake Mayon (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) finished the day with 97 yards on 23 carries, averaging 4.2 yards a carry. He also found the end zone twice. Mayon is now less than 600 yards away from becoming the leading rusher in school history.

ATTACKING THROUGH THE AIR

Sophomore quarterback Latrell Giles (Chicago, Ill./Leo Catholic) threw for a career-high 177 yards, completing a long of 42 yards. He also averaged 17.7 yards per completion.

Sophomore receiver Ravon Johnson (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South) led the receivers with four catches and 61 yards. Sophomore Dallas Dixon (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson) added two catches for 25 yards.

Junior Ryan Knight (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Eastern) brought in one pass for 42 yards while Mayon and Giles connected for a 28-yard completion.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS

Junior Troy Mayon (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) totalled 16 tackles on the day and also recorded the first interception of the season for the Wildcats. Sophomore Brady Hanson (Kewaskum, Wis.) notched 11 tackles and a forced fumble and freshman Anthony Ladd (Columbus, Ohio/Grand Rapids Christian) had nine tackles. Jacob Dudeck (Manhattan, Ill./Lincoln Way West) added eight tackles.

Junior Jeremy Statz (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) recorded a sack for 10 yards and finished the game with seven tackles.

Freshman Jack Reiger (Hoffman Estates, Ill./James B. Conant) recovered a fumble and returned it eight yards. 

Junior cornerback Nick Barnes (Chicago, Ill./Hales Franciscan) led the team with two pass breakups.

WILDCATS GET 3

 The Wildcats faced a 14-0 deficit with three minutes left in the first quarter and took over at their 17-yard line. Mayon and Giles combined for 16 yards before Giles found Dixon for a 13-yard completion. A facemask penalty by FSU helped the offense cross the 50-yard line to start the second quarter.

After sophomore Deandre Caldwell (Kankakee, Ill.) rushed for three yards, Giles found Johnson for 13 yards. However, the drive stalled and freshman kicker Daniel Riser (Ada, Michigan/Forest Hills Central) made the 40-yard field goal to put NMU on the board.

MAYON FINDS THE END ZONE

After the Bulldogs answered with a touchdown, NMU took over with 6:36 to go on the half, starting on their 20-yard line. A completion to Dixon gave them a first down and an 11-yard run by Mayon gave them another. On the next play Giles found redshirt freshman Benjamin Loutsis (Aurora, Ill. / Metea Valley) for 14-yards and got the team on the FSU side.

On third and two, Giles was dropped behind the line of scrimmage but an unnecessary roughness call put NMU on the FSU 19-yard line. Mayon and Giles then ran the Wildcats down to the two-yard line.  With second and goal from the Bulldog two, Mayon plunged into the end zone to make it 21-10 after Riser's extra point.

MAYON SCORES AGAIN

Taking over at the 6:15 mark in the third quarter, Giles connected with Johnson for 18 yards and Mayon for 28 yards to get NMU to the FSU seven-yard line. After getting to the one, Giles pitched out to Mayon who crossed the goal line for the second time today, and scored his fifth touchdown of the season. The two-point conversion was stopped an inch from the goal line.

HURTING THEIR AVERAGE

Entering the game, the Bulldog defense was allowing just 13.3 points per game and the most they allowed was 17 in a game. Early in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats drove the ball down the field, highlighted by a Johnson completion for 22 yards. NMU's drive would stall inside the ten-yard line, but Riser kicked another between the uprights to give NMU 19 points, the most allowed by the FSU defense this season.

UP NEXT

NMU falls to 1-3 on the season and 0-2 in the GLIAC while FSU moves to 4-0, 2-0 in the league.  After facing two top-six teams to open GLIAC play, the Wildcats now hit the road for the first time since week one, heading to Davenport University Saturday seeking their first GLIAC victory of the season.