Box Score CALEDONIA, Mich. – After going down early, the Northern Michigan University football team (3-3, 1-1 GLIAC) came back to cut the deficit to three before a final drive fell short in the 18-13 loss at Davenport University.
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ON THE BOARD |
After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, the Wildcats got on the board with a rushing touchdown.
The scoring drive started for the visiting team with three minutes left in the first quarter.
It was a rough start to the drive as an incomplete pass and a sack kicked things off. The bad luck continued for the 'Cats as they found themselves on their own 25-yard line facing second and 15.
What came next turned the drive around for NMU, as quarterback Drake Davis completed three straight passes to three different receivers to move the Wildcats to the 50-yard line. The final pass of that sequence was a 44-yard pass to Jake Witt.
The next play was the first of the second quarter and spelled success for NMU. DJ Stewart took off for a six-yard touchdown rush that put the Wildcats on the board.
A successful field goal from Daniel Riser made the game 10-7 in favor of the home team.
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'CATS SCORE LATE |
It was the Panthers who struck next with two field goals and a safety pushing their lead up to 18-7 with seven minutes left in the game.
It was a crucial play for the NMU defense that set the Wildcats up for their next success on offense.
Brady Hanson forced the Davenport running back to fumble the ball at the Panther's 28-yard line. Will Borchert picked up the fumble at the opposition's 33 which set NMU's offense up with excellent field position.
Two plays were all it took for the Wildcats to score.
A 26-yard pass from Davis to Isaiah Popp set NMU up with a first and goal at the seven-yard line. Tyquan Cox carried the ball all seven yards into the end zone on the next play for a Wildcat touchdown.
After an unsuccessful two-point conversion NMU trailed 18-13.
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LAST PUSH |
The Wildcats defense held stout on the ensuing Panther drive and only allowed the home team to run three plays over 44 seconds of game time before forcing a punt.
Popp grabbed the fair catch at the NMU eight-yard line to begin the last-chance drive.
Drake Davis shined on the first four plays as he had back-to-back rushing plays for a total of 18 yards followed by back-to-back passing plays for a total of 13 yards.
It was a Wildcat timeout that followed the first four plays with 23 seconds left in regulation.
Two incomplete passes in a row plus an NMU penalty had the Wildcats facing fourth and six with eight seconds remaining.
A rush by Davis with a lateral to Popp was the final play the Wildcats were able to get off as the home-standing Davenport team held on to win 18-13.
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STAT LEADERS |
Drake Davis was 16-27 for 135 yards as the NMU quarterback. He also contributed 25 yards on the ground with a long of 11 yards.
DJ Stewart was the top rusher for the Wildcats in the contest as he rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown.
Jake Witt had 44 yards receiving for NMU with Isaiah Popp next for the 'Cats with 35 yards. A total of nine Wildcats caught passes in the game.
Antonio Howard Jr. had the longest kickoff return of the game which went for 35 yards.
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 Brady Hanson each had nine total tackles. Borchert also assisted on a tackle for loss and had a quarterback hurry while Hanson forced a fumble and was responsible for a pass breakup.
Hasan Jackson registered a solo sack for a five-yard loss and added a quarterback hurry.
Tavion McCarthy had a team-high four pass breakups in the game.
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UP NEXT |
NMU hosts Michigan Technological University on Saturday in the battle for the Miner's Cup. The game is scheduled for 12 p.m. inside the Superior Dome and will be televised locally on TV6.
