UP Gazette

The Northern Michigan University football team is set to face off against Michigan Tech in the annual Miner's Cup game this weekend. The Wildcats, who are currently winless with a record of 0-7, will travel to Houghton in hopes of securing their first victory of the season and claiming the Miner's Cup for the first time since 2009. This year's match marks the 22nd iteration of the event.

The game will be broadcast locally on TV6, featuring commentary by Mark Evans and Dave Ellis, with Kevin McNulty reporting from the sidelines. TV6 and FOX-UP have been covering this rivalry since 2013.

Fans can follow updates on social media via @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter). The game kicks off at noon on Saturday, October 26.

Head Coach Shane Richardson commented on his team's defensive efforts in their last outing, saying: "Really proud of the way that we kept points off the board. When it comes down to it, that's what you want. We bent a little bit at times, but we did not break."

In their most recent game, NMU narrowly lost to Roosevelt in overtime with a score of 16-10. The Wildcats relied heavily on their running game during this matchup.

Notably, NMU fields one of the youngest teams nationally, with many underclassmen contributing significantly. Freshman Jahi Wood ranks fifth in conference rushing yards. On defense, Adam Saleh stands out with notable tackle statistics.

On special teams, kicker Michael Karlen remains perfect for field goals and extra points this season.

Michigan Tech enters the game with a record of 4-3 after a significant loss to Ferris State last weekend. Their quarterback Alex Fries has impressive passing statistics within the conference alongside standout receivers Ethan Champney and Darius Willis.