UP Gazette

In a game that lasted over three and a half hours, the Northern Michigan Wildcats lost 47-25 to the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals at Wickes Stadium on Saturday. The Wildcats outscored the Cardinals 22-14 in the second half, but could not recover from a 26-point second quarter by Saginaw Valley.

Northern Michigan scored three touchdowns during the game, with Noah Dobert, Jahi Wood, and Sebastian Boyea each reaching the end zone. Dobert rushed for 102 yards on 15 carries, building on his performance from the previous week against Davenport. Wood also had 95 rushing yards on 15 attempts. The Wildcats finished with 289 rushing yards, marking their third time in five games surpassing 275 yards.

Saginaw Valley State balanced its offense with 222 rushing yards and 276 passing yards. Both teams recovered two fumbles, but the Cardinals also forced two interceptions.

Trevor Theuerkauf made his first appearance at quarterback for Northern Michigan. He completed six passes for a touchdown and added 66 rushing yards.

The loss puts Northern Michigan at an overall record of 0-5 and 0-2 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play. Saginaw Valley improved to 2-3 overall and is now 1-0 in conference games.

The game began with Saginaw Valley scoring quickly on a long drive capped by a touchdown pass to Braden Hill. Northern Michigan’s offense struggled early, throwing an interception on its first possession and being pinned deep in its own territory by strong punting from SVSU. The Cardinals took advantage of field position but only managed field goals until they converted a Wildcat fumble into a touchdown run by Michael Jamerson III.

Michael Karlen put Northern Michigan on the board with a 44-yard field goal, making it 17-3. However, Saginaw Valley closed out the first half with three more scores: two rushing touchdowns—one from Jamerson and one from quarterback Mason McKenzie—and another field goal after an interception as time expired. At halftime, SVSU led in total yardage (305-79) and first downs (16-6).

In the second half, Theuerkauf sparked NMU with a long run into SVSU territory before a fumble ended the drive. The defense responded when Jaylen Houston forced a fumble recovered by Luc Damiani at midfield, but NMU missed a long field goal attempt.

Saginaw Valley extended its lead midway through the third quarter before Dobert broke free for a long run that set up his own short touchdown rush late in the period. In the fourth quarter, Wood added another touchdown for NMU and Karlen ran in a two-point conversion after a botched extra point attempt.

SVSU answered quickly with another touchdown pass before Theuerkauf connected with Boyea for their first career passing and receiving touchdowns near the end of regulation.

Next week, Northern Michigan will return home to face Grand Valley State at Superior Dome on October 11 at 7 p.m., during celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of NMU's national championship season in 1975.