BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - After trailing the No. 1 team in the nation by only four in the first quarter, the Northern Michigan University football team (3-6, 1-4 GLIAC) ultimately fell 44-24 to Ferris State University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Saturday matchup.

BETWEEN THE UPRIGHTS

After the Bulldogs scored a touchdown on their first drive, the Wildcats looked to answer back.

Tyquan Cox returned a kick 23 yards to set NMU up at their own 29-yard line.

Drake Davis completed a five-yard pass to Wyatt Davis before he was forced out of bounds.

DJ Stewart found open field and was off to the races on the next play. The sophomore took the ball 62 yards down the field to the Ferris State four-yard line.

Unfortunately for the 'Cats, the offense sputtered and found themselves backed up to the FSU six with fourth and goal to go. 

Daniel Riser attempted a field goal from the 24 and it was good. The successful kick pulled NMU within four at 7-3.

DAVIS FOR SEVEN

The Wildcats found themselves down 30-3 to No. 1 Ferris State late in the third quarter in need of their first touchdown of the game.

Drake Davis began the drive, at the NMU 24, with a 70-yard pass to Isaiah Popp. The play placed the 'Cats with a first and goal at the six-yard line.

A roughing the passer call against the defense on the next play moved the Wildcats to the FSU three-yard line.

Davis ran for two yards to the one-yard line after the penalty before taking the ball into the end zone on a rush on the next play.

A Daniel Riser extra point made the score 30-10 in favor of the Bulldogs.

NMU was able to show off a successful two-minute drill on the drive as the 'Cats only needed 2:12 of game time to march down the field.

EVEN FOURTH

Ferris State opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown and the Wildcats took the ball with 14 minutes left in the game on their 25-yard line.

An incomplete pass followed by two FSU penalties moved the ball to the NMU 44 and gave the 'Cats a fresh set of downs.

Zach Keen took over at quarterback for the Wildcats on the next play and handed the ball to Cox who was stopped at the line of scrimmage.

Cox was targeted through the air on the next play and received an 11-yard pass to give NMU the first down.

Two rushes and an incomplete pass later, the visiting team was faced with a fourth and eight at the FSU 19. It proved to be no problem as Keen threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Cox on the play.

Riser made the extra point and the score moved to 37-17.

Each team scored one more touchdown in the game with the Bulldogs striking first.

The last Wildcat touchdown pass was similar to the first as it was a Keen connection with Cox through the air that added the score.

Riser's extra point was the last score of the game and it made the score 44-24 in favor of Ferris State.

STAT LEADERS

Drake Davis led the Wildcats in passing with 143 yards on 13-21 passing. 

Zach Keen came into the game to take over at QB late for NMU and threw for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter with a 50-percent completion percentage.

Isaiah Popp had a team-high 87 receiving yards while Tyquan Cox pulled down both of the 'Cats touchdowns that came through the passing attack.

In the running game, DJ Stewart led the Wildcats with 79 yards on the ground with an average of 8.8 yards per rush. He had a long of 62 yards.

Andre Whitley had a season-high 13 tackles in the game. His six solo tackles led both teams. The senior also forced a fumble.

Brady Hanson was next in tackles with 11 total. Hanson also picked off the Bulldogs for a one-yard return.

Both Will Borchert and Davion Brooks recovered fumbles for NMU.

The Wildcats led the Bulldogs as a team in time of possession (33:11), fourth-down conversions (2 of 3), and kickoff return yards (108).

UP NEXT

NMU takes on Saginaw Valley State University on the road next week in their final GLIAC road game of the year. Kick off is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.