Panthers win 33-13
OWENSBORO, Ken. – Despite an impressive 96-yard effort on the ground from freshman Jahi Wood, the NMU football team fell 33-13 on Thursday night at Kentucky Wesleyan, falling to 0-2 on the season.
Northern got a first-career touchdown from Nico Lukkarinen and a pair of field goals from Michael Karlen, but 310 passing yards from the Panthers was too much to overcome. The Wildcats held a 123-72 advantage on the ground, in large part thanks to Wood’s breakthrough performance.
Wesleyan opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game, a 23-yard pass to Jatavian Churchill. The 2-point attempt was intercepted by Max Mouranie and nearly returned for two the other way, but the Panthers secured the tackle a few strides before the endzone.
The Wildcats claimed the lead with 4:23 left in the first on Lukkarinen’s score. A 45-yard connection between Aidan Hoard and Michael Love set the team up inside the five yard line and the back from Negaunee capitalized two plays later.
The sides exchanged field goals early in the second quarter, with Karlen connecting on his first of two from 25 yards out. The Panthers would control the rest of the opening half, scoring on a 34-yard pass play and following it up with a field goal in the final seconds to lead 19-10 at the break.
The lone third quarter score came off the foot of Karlen once again, a chip shot field goal that closed the game to one possession, 19-13, ahead of the final frame.
Unfortunately for NMU, KWC struck just over a minute into the fourth on a 25-yard pitch and catch to double up NMU, 26-13. The Wildcats were never able to claw back and Wesleyan put it away with less than 2 minutes left, punching in a 1-yard TD run for the 33-13 final.
Outside of Wood’s performance, Love also had a nice day, hauling in three catches for 72 yards. Leading the defensive effort was All-GLIAC tandem Mitch Larkin and Jax Hertel with six tackles apiece. Freshman Kennarius Chandler recorded three solo tackles for a loss, a mark that is currently tied atop the GLIAC.
Up Next
The Wildcats will be back on the road next weekend, taking the gridiron on a Saturday for the first time this season. The ‘Cats will head to UW-La Crosse on September 14, starting at 2 p.m. ET.
