The Northern Michigan football team (0-2 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) will be looking for their first win of the season on Saturday, Sept. 22 in the Superior Dome. Stepping onto the field to face off against the ‘Cats will be the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals (2-1, 2-1). Last year’s game went down to the wire, with the Cardinals coming away victorious, 37-35.

Leading the Wildcats on offense is quarterback Buddy Rivera, who has passed for 539 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions on the season. Rivera’s favorite target has once again been junior Fred Wells, who led the team in receiving last season, has brought in 14 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown.

Leading the ‘Cats-and the GLIAC-in rushing is sophomore running back Mark Bossuah, who has 351 yards on 47 carries. Bossuah has also found the endzone twice this season.

“We will definitely try to use the running game-that has always been our main focus-and use it to open up the pass,” Anderson said. “We try not to be a one-dimensional offense.”

The Cardinals are led on offense by quarterback Chris Dougherty who has 982 yards passing with 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions through three games. Ric Cottengim leads the team with 19 catches on the year for 316 yards and four touchdowns. The Cardinals leading rusher, Brandon Emeott, has carried the ball 45 times for 221 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Wildcat defense has given up a total of 865 yards in their first two games of the year and will be looking to improve.

“I don’t think that we made any drastic changes on defense,” Anderson said. “We’ve tried to make things a little simpler so less thinking has to be done on the field.”

NMU led in all statistical categories in last year’s game against SVSU as Rivera went 20-of-27 for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Dan Elmore had eight catches for 134 yards and a score and running back Brad Anderson led the ground attack with 71 yards on 21 carries.

The two teams will face off in the Superior Dome at 7 p.m.