Wildcats squander 21-0 second quarter lead
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan football team jumped out to a 21-0 lead and carried a 27-15 advantage into halftime, but Minnesota State University Moorhead rallied with a 29-10 second half to defeat the Wildcats in shootout fashion, 44-37, in the first game of the 2025 season.
The game would hold true to each team’s strength, as Northern dominated the ground game, rushing 59 times to MSUM’s 14. NMU rushed for 291 yards while totaling 384 yards of offense. QB Austin Ridl ran for a career-best 106 yards while Noah Dobert (97) and Jahi Wood (85) weren’t far behind.
Ridl, Wood, and Nico Lukkarinen found the endzone for NMU on the ground, while Shovald connected with Jake Heemstra for the lone score through the air.
In stark contrast to the Wildcats, Moorhead utilized the aerial attack, completing 35 passes to Northern’s seven. The Dragons were led by standout QB Jack Strand, who tied a Moorhead program record with six touchdown passes while throwing for 336 yards. His top target was Gage Florence, who hauled in 17 catches for 147 yards and three scores.
The Wildcats threw for 92 yards while MSUM only had 18 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Mitch Larkin (12) and Jax Hertel (11) led the team in tackles, with Hertel finding the endzone with his second career pick-six.
How it Happened
Each team struggled to move the ball on its first possession. Following a muffed punt that gave Northern excellent field position, the Green and Gold struck first with a 5-play, 35-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard TD run from Jahi Wood to lead 7-0 at 8:09 of the first.
Just two plays into MSUM’s ensuing drive, Hertel jumped a route at midfield, securing the interception and returning it to the house for a sudden 14-0 lead.
The Dragons moved the ball into NMU territory on their next drive, but a 4th-down stand kept the momentum in favor of the home squad. The ‘Cats continued to prowl, putting together a 14-play, 65-yard drive that resulted in a 9-yard TD reception from Duke Shovald to Jake Heemstra. NMU had one of the largest leads they’ve seen in the last few seasons, 21-0, with 11:40 left in the opening half.
The Dragons answered with a 12-play march down the field, finished by a 4-yard TD catch by Madden Thorsen. A successful 2-point attempt made it 21-8. NMU would fumble on its first play of offense, and Moorhead capitalized with a Gage Florence score. NMU led 21-15 with 6:09 before halftime.
NMU would persevere with a 13-play, 80-yard drive over 5:41 of action, capped by a Nico Lukkarinen 1-yard run with just 23 seconds left in the half. Ridl added runs of 23 and 32 yards to lead the march down the field, and the ‘Cats would carry a 27-15 lead into the break.
NMU outgained MSUM 197-134 in the first half, with a staggering 181 of those coming on the ground.
The Dragons crawled back within one possession out of halftime with a 6-play, 59-yard drive that ended in a Gage Florence TD, his second of the day, to make it 27-22.
Northern would answer with a march into Moorhead territory, but a fumble set up the Dragons with a chance to take their first lead. They’d do just that, as Strand connected with Florence yet again. Another successful 2-point conversion gave MSUM a 30-27 lead with 5:28 left in the 3rd.
A beautiful one-handed catch from Noah Dobert on 3rd down kept NMU’s following drive alive, but another lost fumble led to yet another MSUM touchdown and a 22-0 run. Moorhead led 37-27 moments into the fourth quarter.
Needing to get back in it, Northern kept another drive alive with a 22-yard reception from Wood on third down. That was followed by a 35-yard run by Dobert to get into the red zone. Facing 4th and 1 at the 4, the Wildcats picked it up and would punch it into the endzone shortly after on a Shovald sneak up the middle. NMU was back within a possession, trailing 37-34 with 8:18 to go.
MSUM’s lethal offense would get it right back, however. Strand’s 6th TD pass went 30 yards to Carson Elbert and the Dragons led 44-34 with 3:09 left.
NMU moved the ball over midfield with the clock winding under two minutes. After being stopped on 3rd down inside the red zone, Michael Karlen converted a 26-yard field goal to pull within one possession, 44-37, with 60 seconds left.
After a successful defensive stint, NMU would have one last chance with 26 seconds left, but the Dragons sealed the game and the road victory with an interception over the middle of the field.
Up Next
The Wildcats will hit the road next week, visiting Northwood for a meeting on Saturday, September 6th, with a noon kickoff.
