UP Gazette

After a week off, the Northern Michigan University football team is set to face Saginaw Valley State University in their first conference game of the season. The Wildcats will host the Cardinals on Saturday, October 5, at 1 p.m.

Northern Michigan, currently with a record of 0-4, aims to improve as they begin league play. In contrast, Saginaw Valley State enters the game with a 3-1 record and has won its last two matches.

Fans can follow updates for this weekend's game by following @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Head Coach Shane Richardson shared his thoughts on the team's preparation: "I think it was really good for us to get some time and refresh. We worked on a lot of fundamentals and got back to making sure some building blocks were better and in place."

In their last outing, Northern Michigan lost to Alma College during Homecoming with a score of 44-27. Despite trailing significantly at halftime, the Wildcats attempted a comeback but ultimately could not overcome Alma's lead.

Key players for Northern Michigan include junior linebacker Mitch Larkin, who led the conference in total tackles last season with 118. Sophomore Jax Hertel also stands out in defense after recording 65 tackles last year. Quarterback Aidan Hoard appeared in eight games as a freshman due to an injury to starter Mariano Valenti.

The Wildcats are one of the youngest teams nationally, with nearly half of their roster consisting of first-year players. Freshman Jahi Wood ranks second in conference rushing yards.

Saginaw Valley State's senior defensive lineman Leonard Henry leads Division II with eight sacks this season. The Cardinals' quarterback Mason McKenzie has contributed both passing and rushing touchdowns to their offensive efforts.