UP Gazette

The Northern Michigan football team traveled to La Crosse, Wisconsin, for a Saturday contest against the UW-La Crosse Eagles, resulting in a 35-21 defeat.

Aidan Hoard and Michael Love connected for two scores, marking 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 run to the end zone on the third carry of his career. Jahi Wood contributed another 91 yards. This was the most rushing yards the team has gained since the 2018 season.

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

The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter. Northern looked to gain momentum early in the second quarter when Adam Saleh intercepted an out route, but the Wildcats fumbled in the red zone—one of three lost fumbles in the first half and one of two within UWL's red zone.

The Eagles capitalized on NMU's errors, adding two more touchdowns in the final six minutes of the opening half to lead 21-7.

UWL extended its lead to 28-7 after halftime, but NMU responded quickly with Hoard and Love connecting from 29 yards out. The Eagles then consumed time with a long drive that resulted in another touchdown. Hoard and Love would connect again late in the fourth quarter from 12 yards for NMU's final score.

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

With this defeat, NMU fell to a record of 0-3, while UW-La Crosse improved to 2-0.

Up Next:

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