Northern Michigan University’s Michael Love stretches out for a pass just a little bit out of his reach during the Wildcats’ game against Northern State played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)• Northern Michigan University vs. Michigan Tech
Northern Michigan University’s Tim Shannon Jr., right, successfully deflects a pass away from Michigan Tech’s Darius Willis in the second quarter of their GLIAC football game played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)
Northern Michigan University’s Michael Love stretches out for a pass just a little bit out of his reach during the Wildcats’ game against Northern State played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Northern Michigan University’s Michael Love stretches out for a pass just a little bit out of his reach during the Wildcats’ game against Northern State played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Northern Michigan University’s Tim Shannon Jr., right, successfully deflects a pass away from Michigan Tech’s Darius Willis in the second quarter of their GLIAC football game played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Oct. 14, 2023. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)
Northern Michigan University quarterback Mariano Valenti, center, reaches the goal line to score the Wildcats’ first touchdown during a football game played against Lake Erie College on Sept. 9, 2023, at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
, noon Saturday, at Houghton
• TV: WLUC-TV6
• Radio: WUPT 100.3 FM The Point
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Northern Michigan University’s Tim Shannon Jr., right, successfully deflects a pass away from Michigan Tech’s Darius Willis in the second quarter of their GLIAC football game played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Oct. 14, 2023. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)MARQUETTE — Football games between Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech have often gone in a completely different direction than the teams’ records entering the game would indicate.
The Wildcats sure hope that’s true at noon Saturday when they play the Huskies for the Miner’s Cup in Houghton.
Not only has NMU struggled while going 0-7 this season — and 0-18 since head coach Shane Richardson took over to start the 2023 season — but Tech has won this rivalry trophy 13 times in a row, the last Northern victory coming back in 2009.
Since the Miner’s Cup was established in 2002, the Huskies have won it 18 times in the 21 times it has been contested. Overall in a series that dates back more than a century to 1920, Tech leads 50-41-5.
Tech isn’t exactly lighting up the GLIAC and likely won’t challenge national powerhouses Grand Valley State or Ferris State for the conference title. But the Huskies have put together a solid 4-3 season while going 1-2 so far in conference contests.
Northern Michigan University quarterback Mariano Valenti, center, reaches the goal line to score the Wildcats’ first touchdown during a football game played against Lake Erie College on Sept. 9, 2023, at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)Saturday’s game will not only be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point as usual, but will also be televised on WLUC-TV6 with Mark Evans and Dave Ellis on the call and TV6 sports director Kevin McNulty as sideline reporter. This is the 12th year TV6 or its sister station Fox-U.P. have covered this Upper Peninsula rivalry.
Fans can also follow @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game, or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the football schedule for links to live video, live audio, live statistics, ticket information and a series history.
Last weekend, Northern had probably its best chance for victory in Richardson’s two seasons when the Wildcats lost to previously winless and GLIAC first-year member Roosevelt 16-10 in overtime in the Superior Dome in Marquette.
With NMU committing to the run, the Wildcats attempted just two passes and for the second straight week, completed none. The previous game, however, was in a driving rainstorm at national No. 2 Grand Valley State. This time around was in a climate-controlled indoor venue.
“(I’m) really proud of the way that we kept points off the board,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game. “When it comes down to it, that’s what you want. We bent a little bit at times, but we did not break.”
Redshirt freshman Vince Martin led Northern’s ground attack, gaining 120 of the Wildcats’ 201 rushing yards in 18 carries, an average of 6.7 yards per rush. Freshman Jahi Wood added 45 yards, while quarterback Aidan Hoard had 24 yards and Negaunee High School product Nico Lukkarinen had seven yards in just two attempts.
Roosevelt outgained NMU 363-201 overall even as the Wildcats had a nearly 80-yard advantage on the ground.
After Northern’s Michael Karlen made his sixth field goal of the season without a miss in the first quarter to give his team the early lead, the Lakers came back to go ahead 10-3 before NMU forced OT when Hoard ran in a 1-yard TD early in the fourth quarter. Karlen added the crucial extra point, where he’s also perfect at 13 for 13, to knot the score 10-10.
While Roosevelt missed a 49-yard field goal as regulation ended that would’ve won then, the Wildcats fumbled away their possession in the first overtime, while the Lakers answered with a TD much to the heartbreak of team and fans alike.
Wood is fifth in the GLIAC in rushing with 406 yards, while fellow backs Elizin Rouse (220 yards), Martin (214) and Lukkarinen (148) rank 13th, 14th and 20th, respectively, on that list.
Despite the recent focus on rushing, Northern receiver Michael Love is tied for second in the league with four touchdown catches and sixth in receiving yards with 341. He is also third in yards per catch at 18.9.
The Huskies got blown out playing one of the GLIAC powerhouses last weekend, falling 51-13 to now-No. 4 Ferris State.
Tech QB Alex Fries leads the league in passing completions and attempts, 138 of 247, and second in yards with 1,613, just 36 yards behind leader Trinidad Chambliss of Ferris.
Huskies receiver Darius Willis and Ethan Champney lead the GLIAC in pass catches with 49 and 36, respectively, as Champney is second in receiving yards with 591 and Willis a close third with 576. Willis also leads the league with seven TD catches.
On the ground, MTU’s Jake Rueff is ninth with 329 yards, the only Tech running back in the top 25.
Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is [email protected].