UMD ranked 17th in Division Two
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan Football team is set to open up the 2024 campaign with Thursday Night Football at the Superior Dome. The Wildcats will welcome the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Thursday, August 29th with the opening kickoff set for 6 p.m. ET on a brand new blanket of turf.
The Wildcats will be eager to get on track early this season after an 0-11 record in 2023. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs enter the new campaign with high hopes after a 9-2 record a season ago.
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A Word from Shane Richardson
“The vibe around what we’ve been doing is so positive. The whole mentality of how guys have approached what we’re doing is much more clear.”
Wildcats to Watch
Junior linebacker Mitch Larkin will guide the defense after leading the conference last season in total tackles with 118. That marked a near 100 tackle increase from his freshman campaign where he recorded 22. He finished tied for third in Division II in total tackles (118) and fifth in tackles/game (10.7). Also in the linebacker room, sophomore Jax Hertel will look to take a leap in his second year after recording 65 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a true freshman. Both Larkin and Hertel earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention last season.
After being forced into action as a true freshman following an injury to starter Mariano Valenti, quarterback Aidan Hoard appeared in eight games, throwing for 1,059 yards and five TD’s. The 6’4″ Frankenmuth native completed 101 of 196 (51.5%) of his passing attempts. Wideouts Michael Love and Sam Peiffer will look to play roles as top targets through the air, as they combined for 680 receiving yards and 5 TD’s last season. Kaleb Isom will also look to make an impact at receiver as a freshman.
In the secondary, Ricky Lancaster, Tim Shannon Jr., and Jeremiah Gossett will each play a big role after seeing significant time last season.
Cat Nips
- Northern’s 11-game schedule will include bouts in three different states in the first three games (Michigan, Kentucky, Wisconsin). The final eight games will all take place in the Great Lakes State.
- The Green and Gold will field one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 42 of 96 (43.8%) of the roster consisting of first-year players. Underclassmen will make of 68 of the 96 (70.8%) roster spots.
- The Wildcats were the least penalized team in the GLIAC in 2023, totaling 54 over 11 games for an average of 4.9/game.
- Michael Love’s 90-yard kickoff return for a TD against SVSU last season was just one of four from GLIAC teams in 2023, joining Ferris State and Grand Valley State (2).
Notes on Minnesota Duluth
The Bulldogs enter the season ranked No. 17 in the National AFCA Preseason Poll. UMD is one of the best teams in the country in the trenches. A season ago, Duluth ranked sixth in the nation in rushing yards/game (243.8) and 21st in rushing defense (99.5).
Graduate tight end Sam Pitz and sixth year offensive lineman Aiden Williams were named to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watchlist. Pitz is a three-time NSIC All-Conference selection and caught nine touchdowns passes last year. Williams plays a pivotal role in UMD’s rushing offense and was a part of blocking for the NSIC’s top rushing TD player last year, Kyle Walljasper, helping him put up 16 rushing touchdowns in 11 games.
The Series
Northern holds an 11-2 advantage all-time against the Bulldogs. The teams have matched up only once in the last 25 years, the season opener last year, a 47-10 defeat in Duluth. Sam Peiffer hauled in the lone touchdown for the Green and Gold.
Before last season’s meeting, the ‘Cats won the previous 10 against UMD by an average margin of 19.3 points.
Shane Richardson and Company
Head coach Shane Richardson, along with Associate head coach Billy Lindquist and assistant’s Mike DuFrane, Michael Kaiser, DeAndre Riddick, and Ezekiel Combs all enter their second season on the Wildcat staff. New to the sidelines will be Joe Gatz guiding the offensive line and Kadalls Siner working with tight ends.
2024 GLIAC Football Preseason Poll
1. Ferris State – 46 (4)
2. Grand Valley State – 44 (3)
3. Davenport – 38 (1)
4. Saginaw Valley State – 30
5. Michigan Tech – 26
6. Wayne State – 20
7. Northern Michigan – 13
8. Roosevelt – 7