MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan football team held a 7-6 lead halfway through the fourth quarter against Division I St. Thomas, but two late touchdowns from the Tommies proved enough to down the Wildcats, 20-7. The matchup also marked a historic moment, as it was the first-ever game against a Division I opponent inside the Superior Dome since its opening in 1991.

The Wildcats gave the Tommies everything they had. The defense was stellar, limiting a high-octane offense to 12.5 points below its season average. The unit generated three sacks, two pass breakups, and seven tackles for loss. They also held St. Thomas to just 54 rushing yards on 29 attempts, an average of 1.9 yards per carry.

Jax Hertel was everywhere on the field, recording a game-high and career-best 14 tackles, with seven of those solo. He also added a pass breakup and was a part of three tackles behind the line.

Offensively, Duke Shovald completed 11-of-19 passes for 133 yards. Sebastian Boyea (49), Trevor Theuerkauf (43), and Isaac Olson (41) all broke 40 yards receiving. On the ground, NMU racked up 129 yards, led by Jahi Wood's 49. Wood was also the lone Wildcat to find the end zone.

NMU fell to 0-3, while the Tommies improved to 2-1.


How it Happened
A big third-down tackle for loss from Hertel on the game's opening drive set the tone for how the defense would play. NMU would also go 3-and-out on its first drive. The Tommies got on the board with 6:43 left in the first when Andy Peters connected with Eli Paulson from 13 yards out. A failed 2-point conversion kept the score 6-0.

NMU marched down the field on its ensuing drive, covering 67 yards, but a fourth-down stop by St. Thomas inside the 10-yard line turned the ball over on downs.

The Tommies started to move again in the second quarter, but a highlight pass breakup from Tim Shannon Jr. on third down forced another punt. The Wildcats managed another drive into UST territory, but a penalty and sack led to another punt.

The Tommies carried a low-scoring 6-0 lead into halftime. NMU outgained St. Thomas 112-70, limiting UST to just 3.0 yards per play.

After a Northern 3-and-out to open the second half, the Tommies missed a 46-yard field goal to try and extend their lead to two scores. NMU capitalized, as Shovald found Theuerkauf for 33 yards and Wood capped off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead with 4:45 left in the third. The drive covered 70 yards in eight plays over three and a half minutes.

Holding a 7-6 lead into the fourth, Northern missed a 41-yard field goal, but the defense stood tall yet again. Hertel recorded a pass breakup, a sack, and another pressure came from his teammates on third down to force a quick punt.

With the fourth quarter nearing its halfway point, the Tommies completed a 33-yard pass that was followed by a 24-yard touchdown. A successful 2-point conversion made it 14-7 with 6:10 to play.

After the Wildcats fell just short of a first down, a 72-yard pass by St. Thomas to Patrick Wagner set up Wagner for another Tommies touchdown just a couple of plays later. Jhermari Mabry blocked the PAT, keeping the score at 20-7 with 3:04 left.

In a last-ditch effort, NMU pushed the ball over midfield but was stopped on fourth down in the final minute to seal the game.


Up Next
The Wildcats will be back at home next weekend to begin GLIAC play, hosting the Davenport Panthers for Homecoming on Saturday, September 20 at 1 p.m.