LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Northern Michigan football team hit the road for a Saturday contest against the UW-La Crosse Eagles, falling 35-21.

Aidan Hoard and Michael Love connected for two scores, the first multi-touchdown performance for each of them in their careers. Elizin Rouse led the 269-yard ground attack with 137 yards, including a 77-yard scamper to the endzone on the third run of his career. Jahi Wood added another 91. It was the most yards the team gained on the ground since the 2018 season.

The Eagles made their mark throwing for 340 yards and three TD's while adding two more scores on the ground. 

The game was tied 7-7 after 15 minutes. Northern looked to gain momentum back in its favor early in the 2nd quarter when Adam Saleh jumped an out route for an interception, but the 'Cats coughed the ball up in the red zone, one of three lost fumbles in the first half and one of two in the UWL redzone. 

The Eagles took advantage of the NMU mishaps, adding two more touchdowns in the final six minutes of the opening half to lead 21-7.

UWL stretched its lead to 28-7 out of the half, but NMU answered quickly on the first of two between Hoard and Love, this one from 29 yards out. The Eagles responded by eating clock with a long march down the field that resulted in another touchdown. Hoard and Love would connect again late in the fourth quarter from 12-yards for the final score.

The Wildcats ran on 43 of 62 (69.4%) of its plays, including 26 of 28 (92.9%) in the first half. 

NMU fell to 0-3 with the defeat, while the Eagles improved to 2-0.


Up Next
The Wildcats will return to the Superior Dome next weekend, hosting Alma College on Saturday, September 21 at 2 p.m. in the Homecoming game.