The Northern Michigan University Wildcats football team suffered a 49-17 loss at Grand Valley State | News, sports, jobs

ALLENDALE – It was a tough day awaiting the first win for Shane Richardson in his career as head football coach at Northern Michigan University.

Not only because the Wildcats had to play in a persistent rainstorm, as the home team’s sports information department reported, but also because they made the long road trip to the state on Saturday night to play at the No. 2 national team, Grand Valley State to play before they were handed a 49-17 setback.

NMU (0-6 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) has an easier task this Saturday when it hosts GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt at the Superior Dome at 1 p.m. The Lakers – this new team from downtown Chicago and not the one Northern faced on Saturday night – are also struggling at 0-5 overall and 0-2 after a 55-13 loss to No. 5 Ferris State and a 27-14 loss at home to Saginaw Valley State in their final conference games.

But in the rain against Grand Valley, things seemed to be looking up for the Wildcats, as the team took a 28-3 lead at halftime and extended it to 35-3 early in the second half.

It couldn’t have helped that Northern managed zero total passing yards, as quarterback Aidan Hoard was just 0 of 5, albeit without an interception. These Lakers weren’t particularly effective through the air even in wet conditions, as a trio of their QBs managed just 5 of 11 for 94 yards and an interception by NMU’s Kade Manzo, the second of his college career.

Instead, Northern lost three fumbles and was outrebounded 382-206.

The Wildcats were outrebounded 288-206 as NMU was led by Vince Martin, who gained 82 yards on eight carries, including a 69-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Elizin Rouse added 55 yards on 16 attempts while Jahi Wood managed 48 yards on 17 carries. Teammate Tucker Welch had just 16 yards on seven attempts, but one of those was a 1-yard TD run in the final minute and a half of the game.

Five GVSU ball carriers scored a touchdown, led by Avery Moore, who had 92 yards on six attempts on a 29-yard run in the first two minutes of the game before the Lakers’ second TD.

The Lakers also had a special teams touchdown and a defensive TD. Kellen Reed returned the opening kickoff 92 yards to the house, while Isaiah Johnson picked up a fumble and returned it 23 yards, leading to an early score in the fourth quarter.

Northern kicker Michael Karlen continued his perfect season, hitting a 32-yard field goal and both extra point boots, while Tim Shannon Jr. led NMU defenders with eight tackles as well as a forced fumble and pass breakup.

Teammate Jax Hertel had 2 1/2 tackles for a loss out of his six total tackles, while the Wildcats’ Carter Schmitt and McKinley Underwood each had a forced fumble.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is [email protected].