MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University football team (3-4, 1-2 GLIAC) led from 9:47 of the third quarter to a little over nine minutes left in the game before falling in heartbreaking fashion 21-14 to the Huskies of Michigan Technological University in the battle for the Miner's Cup.

The Huskies scored first with a touchdown coming for MTU at 8:20 in the opening quarter of action.

With 4:34 left in the first quarter, NMU took over at their own 24-yard line after a Huskies punt.

Drake Davis began the drive with a 13-yard pass to Charlie Gerhard.

The Wildcats lost two yards on the next play, a DJ Stewart rush, but then bounced back with a five-yard pass to Benjamin Loutsis.

The Davis to Davis connection shone on the next play as Drake Davis threw a 47-yard pass to his brother Wyatt Davis to set NMU up at the opposing 13. The pass was the longest reception for Wyatt Davis in a WIldcat uniform.

It only took three rushes after the long pass for the home team to find the end zone. The score was punched in by Drake Davis on a one-yard rush.

A Daniel Riser extra point tied the score at 7-7 with 34 seconds left in the first quarter.

After a scoreless second quarter for both teams, NMU was the next to put a touchdown up.

The score came on the 'Cats first possession of the second half and took over six minutes of game time off the clock.

Tyquan Cox took the kickoff return 13 yards to the NMU 20 to set the Wildcat drive up.

DJ Stewart rushed for six yards on the first offensive play of the half and, after an incomplete pass, Drake Davis found Wyatt Davis again for an 11-yard strike. The pass set up first down.

A rush that went for no gain was next but two positive yardage passing plays put NMU at third and six on their own 41-yard line.

DJ Stewart got the 'Cats a fresh set of downs with a three-yard rush. 

Drake Davis found Yale Van Dyne on the next play, a five-yard pass, which placed the Wildcats at the 50. Davis then rushed for three yards to set up a third and two at the MTU 42.

The next play showed off the Davis brother-to-brother connection yet again as Drake Davis threw a long ball to Wyatt Davis who received it in the end zone for the NMU score.

The 'Cats went up 14-7 after a Riser extra point went through the uprights.

Michigan Tech was able to put up two touchdowns in the final quarter to take a 21-14 lead.

With 14 seconds left on the clock, NMU received the ball at their own 36-yard line with one last chance to tie or take the lead in the Miner's Cup game.

An incomplete pass was followed by a nine-yard Drake Davis rush out of bounds. The quarterback found the sideline with three seconds left in the game.

The final play was a short pass to Tyquan Cox who took it 25 yards before a lateral attempt sent the ball out of bounds and ended the game 21-14 in favor of the visiting Huskies.

In the Wildcat passing game, Drake Davis went 17-25 for 230 yards, which was a season-high in passing yards for the quarterback. He also led the team in rushing yards with a total of 37 and a touchdown.

Wyatt Davis was the leading receiver with had 119 yards receiving. The mark is the highest for any NMU player this season and a career-high for Davis.

Isaiah Popp had a season-high 15-yard punt return in the game.

Howard also led the NMU defense with a season-high 12 total tackles. The sophomore also tallied one and a half tackles for loss for two yards while adding two quarterback hurries.

Will Borchert and Andre Whitley had 10 tackles each. Borchert had nine assisted and one solo while Whitley had four solo and one assisted. Whitley also had a team-high three quarterback hurries.

It was Antonio Howard Jr. and Tavion McCarthy who led the team in solo tackles with both WIldcats having five each. Howard also forced a fumble.

McCarthy was also key in disrupting the passing game with four pass breakups.

Edward Pierson had 1.5 sacks in the game, a team-high on the season, for a total loss of 20 yards and also forced a fumble. Andre Whitley assisted on one of those sacks. John McMullen also had a sack in the contest which led to a loss of nine yards.

NMU remains in Marquette to take on Grand Valley State University on Band Day. Kick-off from the Superior Dome is slated for 1 p.m.