UP Gazette

The Northern Michigan Wildcats football team lost to Division I St. Thomas 20-7 in a game played at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Michigan. The contest marked the first time a Division I opponent has played inside the dome since it opened in 1991.

Northern Michigan led 7-6 halfway through the fourth quarter, but St. Thomas scored two late touchdowns to secure the win. The Wildcats' defense performed strongly, holding St. Thomas well below its average points per game and limiting them to just 54 rushing yards on 29 attempts, an average of 1.9 yards per carry. The defensive unit also registered three sacks, two pass breakups, and seven tackles for loss.

Jax Hertel led all players with a career-high 14 tackles, including seven solo stops. He added a pass breakup and contributed to three tackles for loss.

Quarterback Duke Shovald completed 11 of his 19 passes for 133 yards. Receivers Sebastian Boyea, Trevor Theuerkauf, and Isaac Olson each surpassed 40 receiving yards. Running back Jahi Wood led Northern Michigan with 49 rushing yards and scored the team's only touchdown.

Northern Michigan is now 0-3 on the season while St. Thomas improved to 2-1.

The game began with both teams struggling offensively before St. Thomas scored first on a touchdown pass from Andy Peters to Eli Paulson in the first quarter. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 6-0.

NMU's best drive of the first half ended inside St. Thomas' ten-yard line but fell short on fourth down. Tim Shannon Jr.'s third-down pass breakup forced another Tommies punt later in the half as NMU outgained their opponent but still trailed at halftime.

After halftime, NMU took advantage of a missed field goal by St. Thomas when Shovald connected with Theuerkauf for a big gain that set up Wood’s five-yard touchdown run and gave Northern Michigan a brief lead late in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, after NMU missed a field goal attempt that would have extended its lead, St. Thomas responded with consecutive scoring drives—a long touchdown pass followed by another touchdown set up by a deep throw—taking control of the game in its final minutes.

NMU will return home next weekend to start GLIAC conference play against Davenport during Homecoming on September 20 at 1 p.m.