HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University Football team will travel up to Houghton for another installment of the Northern Michigan vs Michigan Tech rivalry. The Wildcats will look to bring the Miners Cup back to Marquette for the first time since 2009.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats welcomed the Davenport University Panthers to town for a GLIAC matchup. After a strong second half by the Wildcats on both sides of the ball, they came up short in overtime. The Panthers kicked a field goal on their opening possession of overtime. The Wildcats need a field goal to send it to the second overtime or a touchdown to win the game. The Panthers came away with an interception that sealed the win.
SECOND HALF SURGE
After a slow first half by the Wildcats, they trailed the Panthers 14-3 at halftime. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Tyquan Cox returned down to the one-yard line. In the next play, Tyshon King punched it in to close the gap to 14-10.
After a touchdown by the Panthers, Drake Davis entered the ballgame at QB. He led the Wildcat offense down the field and found themselves on the doorstep of the endzone. Davis saw the rush coming and escaped the pocket, ran down the right sideline, and dove for the endzone for a Wildcat touchdown. This brought the score to 21-17.
The Wildcats got the ball back and needed a touchdown to take the lead. With 45 seconds left Drake Davis found a wide-open Tyshon King who found the pylon for a touchdown. The Wildcats took the lead 24-21.
The Panthers drove down the field and kicked a field goal to send the game to overtime. The Panthers kicked a field goal to take a 27-24 lead. The Wildcats on their possession in overtime turned it over and the Panthers escaped with a victory.
STATS LEADERS
Drake Davis led the way through the air with 126 yards passing on ten completions. Davis also found the endzone once in the air and once on the ground.
Tyshon King was the teams leading rusher on the day with 56 yards. King also had one catch for seven yards and a touchdown.
Wyatt Davis finished the day with three catches for 66 yards, with a long of 25 yards.
Antonio Howard (15), Justin Peake (14), and Brian Schieweck (10) all had double-digit tackles in the game.
Tavion McCarthy and DJ Hutcherson each had an interception.
Tyquan Cox had 154 total return yards, including a 98-yard return that set up a touchdown.
WILDCATS TO WATCH
Drake Davis is fourth in the conference in passing yards per game.
Tyshon King is second in the conference in rush attempts, rushing yards, and rushing yards per game. King is also third in the conference in all-purpose yards.
Wyatt Davis is fifth in receiving yards and receiving yards per game in the conference.
Justin Peake is second in the conference in total tackles with 57, and Antonio Howard is right behind him in third with 54.
NMU VS MICHIGAN TECH
The NMU vs MTU rivalry dates back to 1920. The Miners Cup trophy was first handed out in 2002 to Michigan Tech. The Huskies lead the trophy series 16-3. The Wildcats will look to break an 11-game losing streak to the Huskies.
