Wildcats could not slow down Scots’ Offense
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan football team fell in a high-scoring affair to Alma College on Homecoming, 44-27.
Trailing 30-10 at halftime, the ‘Cats battled back to two separate 10-point deficits in the second half, but a fumble recovered by Alma for a TD early in the final quarter made it a three-score game that the Green and Gold couldn’t overcome.
Nico Lukkarinen found the endzone twice on the ground for the Wildcats and Michael Love broke the century mark receiving for the first time in his career, going for 107 yards and a touchdown.
The Wildcats were outgained 469-340 on the afternoon, but the defense held Alma to just 98 second half yards to make it a game. Carter St. John threw four touchdowns with 315 yards through the air, while Marquette native Ty Lotterman caught six passes for 145 yards and two scores.
The Scots struck first four minutes into the game, putting together a 12-play, 65-yard drive to lead 6-0. They’d grab another score at the goaline to lead 13-0 after one. Lukkarinen got NMU on the board early in the second with his first of two from 2-yards out. Alma would hit a 78-yard home run TD pass sandwiched between a pair of Michael Karlen FG’s, but Alma found the endzone again before intermission to lead to 30-10 at the break.
NMU broke out on the ground in the third with 110 yards to get them back in the contest and outgained the Scots 110-15 in the quarter. Getting the ball back early in the fourth trailing 30-20, a fumble that was scooped up and brought in for a score flipped the momentum back to the visitors and ultimately made the deficit too much to overcome.
Up Next
The Wildcats will be off next week in preparation for the GLIAC slate to start on Saturday, October 5 at home against Saginaw Valley State.
