Wildcats score more points than any other Bulldog opponent this season
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The Northern Michigan football team took on the nation’s top team in the Ferris State Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon, falling 70-35.
The Wildcats scored first and outgained Ferris 116-88 after 15 minutes, where they were tied 14-14. Northern trailed 35-21 at the break, but the Bulldogs turned it up another gear out of halftime to put the game away.
Nonetheless, it was an impressive offensive performance for the Wildcats, who put up 355 yards of offense, nearly 100 more than what the Bulldogs had been giving up entering the game (257.5). The 35 points scored by the Green and Gold is also a season-high allowed by the Bulldogs.
Quarterback Trevor Theuerkauf had his best game to date, throwing for 131 yards and two touchdowns while adding 42 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. He was a part of four of NMU’s five scores. Tucker Welch accounted for the other touchdown, while Sebastian Boyea and Jake Heemstra hauled in the TD receptions from Theuerkauf.
Noah Dobert totaled 117 yards, giving him 1,007 on the season. He is the first NMU rusher to eclipse 1,000 yards since Jake Mayon (1,505) in 2018.
The game saw seven fourth-down attempts with all seven being converted, including five from the Wildcats. The Bulldogs did not punt on the afternoon and totaled 597 yards of offense. Eight different Bulldogs found the endzone, led by Chase Carter with three.
The Wildcats are now 1-8 overall and 1-5 in the GLIAC, while Ferris State remained unbeaten at 9-0, 5-0
How it Happened
Northern opened the game with the ball, and a 25-yard run from Theuerkauf set the Wildcats up at the 2-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal, he would punch it in for a 7-0 lead at 6:23. NMU’s opening drive was a methodical 17-play, 75-yard drive taking 8:37 off the clock.
The Bulldogs answered, making the score 7-7 with 3:47 left in the first, but NMU punched right back. Dobert broke off a 37-yard run, and Tucker Welch finished off the drive with a 2-yard run to lead 14-7 with 1:57 left in the first. The Bulldogs answered before the quarter’s end, making it 14-14 after 15 minutes.
The Bulldogs scored three straight touchdowns in the first seven minutes of the second quarter to make the score 35-14. NMU ended the half with a 19-play, 76-yard drive over 7:49 that was finished with Theurkauf’s second score of the game.
Northern trailed 35-21 at the break and ran 51 plays to FSU’s 18.
The Bulldogs scored both touchdowns in the third quarter to lead 49-21 heading to the fourth. They’d add the next two in the fourth to build a 63-21 lead with 9:08 to play. Northern continued to move the ball, as Theuerkauf threw a beautiful 8-yard corner fade in the endzone to Boyea to make it 63-28.
On the following possession, Jeremiah Gossett recovered a fumble, setting up the offense in plus field position. From there, Theuerkauf connected with Heemstra from 27 yards out with 3:52 left to make the score 63-35.
Ferris added one last touchdown in the closing seconds for the 70-35 final score.
Up Next
The Wildcats will travel to Davenport to take on the Panthers for the second time this season. The first kick on Saturday, November 8, will take place at noon.
