MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University Football team will be back home in the Superior Dome this weekend against St. Thomas University. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two schools, as St. Thomas competes in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in Division I. Saturday's contest will also mark a historic moment, as it is the first time since the Dome opened in 1991 that a Division I opponent has played inside the Superior Dome. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 13.

Eager to snap a 24-game losing streak dating back to November 2022, the Wildcats have been close in both contests to start the year, dropping a pair of one-score games to Minnesota State Moorhead (44-37) and Northwood (23-18). Turnovers have been a key factor, with Northern losing the battle in each of its first two outings.

While the passing game took center stage last week with 232 yards, the program's most since November 2023, the opener featured a dominant rushing attack that piled up 291 yards on the ground.

The game can be watched on FLO College or listened to live on 100.3 The Point, with Casey Ford on the call.


Follow The Action
Follow @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game.

Tickets  |  Watch  |  Live Results  |  Listen

From the Coach
"Defensively, I think we bring a really aggressive mindset to practice consistently," said head coach Shane Richardson. "We're continually building, we're continually trying to find ways to get better, trying to find ways to eliminate mistakes and big plays that maybe we've given up. We just continue to try to find a way to move forward each week. Sometimes you've gotta be able to have chemistry, and the guys really are excited just to go out there and play together. That's continually coming along, and I really like that about where we're at defensively right now."



A Look Back at Last Week
Northern fell short to the Northwood Timberwolves 23-18 last weekend in Midland, Michigan. The Wildcat offense was more productive with 396 total yards, but three costly turnovers ultimately determined the outcome of the game.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Duke Shovald completed 14 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown. Running back Noah Dobert led the team in rushing with 89 yards, while Jahi Wood had 50 yards and the Wildcats' only rushing touchdown.

The Northern defense was strong, holding the Timberwolves to just 255 yards offensively. The unit was led by standout linebacker Jax Hertel with 7 tackles, while Damarcus Chappell chipped in with a safety. The defense has also been opportunistic, highlighted by Hertel's pick-six in the opener, and five different Wildcats have recorded at least half a sack through two games.


What to Expect
Third-year head coach Shane Richardson and the 0-2 Wildcats will run into the Superior Dome Saturday afternoon with a tough opponent lined up across from them. Junior quarterback Austin Ridl leads the option-style offense for the 'Cats, being used more as a runner than a thrower. Ridl has 140 Rushing Yards on 18 attempts, while only attempting one total pass on the year. Running backs Noah Dobert and Jahi Wood have been the main ballcarriers alongside Ridl this season, with Dobert accumulating 187 yards and Wood not far behind with 140. 

Quarterback Duke Shovald has been Northern's main thrower thus far, tallying 324 yards on 38 passes, with Issac Olson leading the team in receiving (80) following a 60-yard reception in last weekend's matchup. Other receiving leaders include Noah Dobert (57), Chris Battley (51), and Lachlin Acker (34).

The Wildcats rank 19th in rushing defense (64.0 ypg) and 48th in overall defense (304.5 ypg) throughout Division II. The defense is led by the experienced linebacker duo of Hertel and Mitch Larkin, who have combined for 34 total tackles in the first two games. Senior safety Tim Shannon Jr. has 10 total tackles, while also being responsible for four pass breakups.


A Look at St. Thomas
St. Thomas will come into this matchup 1-1, looking to build on their 6-6 record a season ago. The Tommies defeated Lindewood 35-13 in the opener and fell just short last week to No. 11 Idaho, 37-30.

Led by 17-year head coach Glenn Caruso and senior quarterback Andy Peters (436 yards, 5 TD's), the Tommies field a top 20-ranked scoring offense in FCS through week two, averaging 32.5 points per game. Through two games, the running game has been at the forefront of the offense, averaging 241.5 yards/game, the 7th-ranked FCS ground attack of 118 teams. Joseph Koch (226), Peters (108), and Ryan Sever (105) have all rushed for over 100 yards.