MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU Football team is back at the Superior Dome this Saturday, September 9, as they are set to host the Lake Erie College Storm at 1 p.m.
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Saturday, September 9 - vs. Lake Erie College at 1 p.m. ET
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Game Notes
Community and Faculty-Staff Appreciation Day
Saturday's football home opener will mark Community and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day.
Residents of Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaunee, and Gwinn get $3 off general public tickets, available online only at
tickets.nmu.edu.
NMU faculty and staff can get a free ticket with their NMU ID, available online or in person. You'll also get $4 off general public tickets for family and there will be a giveaway at the game for faculty and staff.
A Word from Coach Richardson
"We made some executional mistakes that were due to our inability to rep things consistently (in week one). On a short clock, you come up on things and dig yourself into a hole. We now have a chance to improve as a team and play in front of our home crowd and that will give us some great energy.
Shane Richardson Press Conference
Last Week
NMU dropped the season opener at Minnesota Duluth, 47-10.
Sam Peiffer hauled in the lone score for the 'Cats, snagging nine catches for 44 yards.
Mariano Valenti threw for 173 yards, the one score, and a pair of interceptions, while
Tyquan Cox ran 18 times for 62 yards on the ground.
The Bulldogs had their way on the ground, gaining 379 total yards on 45 attempts (8.4 yards/carry).
Wildcats to Watch
On the offensive side of the ball, returning TE
Charlie Gerhard (25 catches for 281 yards in 2022) and FB/TE
Kyle Sahr (17 catches for 140 yards) will both play an important role through the air. Fifth year senior
Tyquan Cox will look to head the ground attack for the Wildcats, coming off of a season where he paced the GLIAC in kickoff return yards (764).
Northern Michigan will also look to Division I graduate transfer QB
Mariano Valenti (Temple) to guide the offense this season. Out wide for Valenti, two more transfers in
Zach Person (Toledo), and
Tyree O'Neil (University at Buffalo) will look to fill in for what was lost and help lead the offensive attack.
On defense,
Jason Coulter,
Hunter Soletski,
Darryl Obasuyi, and
Caleb Wright all return along the defensive line after each recording at least one sack last season. They'll be joined by the linebacker pair of
Justin Peake and
Mitch Larkin both back as well.
Tim Shannon Jr.,
Kade Manzo, and
Bo Bell all return as upperclassmen in the defensive back field, accompanied by transfer
Ricky Lancaster (Sacred Heart).
Notes on Lake Erie
The 'Cats and the Storm have met two times previously, including the season finale last year. The Wildcats were victorius 33-11 and are 2-0 against the Storm.
Tyquan Cox returned the 2nd half kickoff 81-yards for a TD in the last meeting.
In the opener, the Storm fell at home to Franklin Pierce, 26-10. Xavier Bullock threw for 192 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, and ran for another 69 yards on the ground.
Shane Richardson and Company
Shane Richardson was named the 23rd head football coach at NMU right before the calendar flipped to 2023. Coming from UNC-Pembroke, Richardson brings with him
Billy Lindquist (Associate Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator) and
Jeff Fantuzzi (Offensive Line Coach).
Mike DuFrane (Defensive Coordinator) joins the staff after serving as the head coach at Finlandia.
Michael Kaiser (Defensive Line),
DeAndre Riddick (Wide Receivers),
Ezekiel Combs (Cornerbacks),
Ahmed Saleh (Safeties), and
Brett Sylve (Running Backs and Tight Ends) round out the new-look staff.
GLIAC Preseason Poll
1. Ferris State, 34 (5)
2. Grand Valley State, 31 (1)
3. Davenport, 27 (1)
4. Saginaw Valley State, 21
5. Michigan Tech, 16
6. Wayne State, 10
7. Northern Michigan, 8
