MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University Football team is back in the Superior Dome this Saturday and looking for its first victory of the season. The 'Cats will host the newest member of the GLIAC, Roosevelt, also looking for its first win. Opening kick will take place at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats (0-6) and Lakers (0-5) are each looking to get in the win-column for the first time this season in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
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Saturday, October 19 - vs. Roosevelt at 1 p.m.
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A Word from Shane Richardson
"We wanted to make sure our mentality of approaching last weekend's game had a courageous thought of attacking the opponent and coming off the ball hard…This week, we have to focus on how we play and not who we play."
Last Time Out
Northern Michigan was downstate last Saturday to take on the nation's number two team Grand Valley State in a night clash under the lights at Lubbers Stadium. The Wildcats fell 49-17.
The game was one of the most run-dominant games you will see with heavy rain throughout the night, as there were just five completions in the entire contest. The run games were looked to early and often, with NMU gaining 206 yards and GVSU rushing for 288.
Vince Martin paced the ground attack for the Green and Gold with a career high 82 yards and a score.
Elizin Rouse (55) and
Jahi Wood (48) each found moments of success running the rock, while
Tucker Welch also found the endzone on 16 yards.
Cat Nips
- The Green and Gold field one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 42 of 96 (43.8%) of the roster consisting of first-year players. Underclassmen makeup 68 of the 96 (70.8%) roster spots.
- Freshman Jahi Wood (361) is 5th in the conference in rushing while Elizin Rouse (211) is ninth. Nico Lukkarinen (141) and Vince Martin (94) are ranked 21st and 22nd. Lukkarinen's 3 TD runs rank in the top-10 in the conference. The Wildcats have the 4th best rushing attack in the league at 149.0 yards/game.
- Mitch Larkin is currently 3rd in the GLIAC with 44 tackles. Larkin paced the conference last season with 118.
- Michael Love is tied for 2nd in the conference with 4 TD catches this season. His two touchdown catches against UW-La Crosse marked the first time a Wildcat receiver found the endzone twice in a game since September 24, 2022 when Wyatt Davis went for two scores on Homecoming in a 42-14 win over Post. He is 4th in the GLIAC with 341 receiving yards.
- NMU's 269 yards on the ground at UW-La Crosse earlier this year marked its best ground effort since the 2018 season.
- Michael Karlen is 5-5 on FG's and 12-12 on PAT's so far this season.
A Look at Roosevelt
The newest member of the GLIAC, the Lakers enter the weekend at 0-5 in its first season of Division II. Roosevelt is coming off of a close battle at home last weekend against Saginaw Valley State where they fell 27-14.
Roosevelt ranks 3rd in the conference averaging 226.0 passing yards/game. QB Carson Budke has thrown for 1,130 yards this year, with 5 TD's and 5 INT's. Keonta Nixon has been his top target, as his 546 yards are 2nd in the conference while he's found the endzone three times.
The Lakers are ranked last in the GLIAC on the ground, averaging just 61.2 yards/game. They are the least penalized team in the league with just 21 infractions this season.
