Looking to make a name for itself in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Association Conference, the Wildcat football team kicks off the 2008 football campaign Saturday Sept. 6 against conference opponent Northwood.

According to a couple members of the football team, the game, once considered to be a regular conference game, has reached higher aspirations after NMU’s win last season.

“Northwood is going to come up here ready to play,” junior running back Mark Bossuah said. “So we have to have our intensity up. This just isn’t another game anymore.”

Partly due to the The Wildcats won last season’s contest 28-18, much in part due to the help of the running game, with Bossuah who rushed 42 times for 205 yards. The ‘Cats held the ball for 20 of 30 minutes in the second half after starting the game on a 21-0 lead. The team will need to start strong once again this season.

“Defensively speaking we want to get off to a good start,” junior linebacker Nathan Yelk said. “Northwood runs their offense and they run it well. So if we start well it will be a good stepping stone for us to start.”

Key players for both sides include the Wildcats new starting quarterback Ben Hempel, who will be starting his first colligiate game, Bossuah, senior receiver Fred Wells, linebacker Yelk, and defensive back Alex Grignon. The team will count on these returning leaders for the game to be a success.

“We have to prove that were getting to where we want to be and expect to be,” head coach Bernie Anderson said.

Northwood returns running back Torris Childs along with quarterback Spencer Klukowski. Defensive leader Leroy Goulbourne, also returns for the Timberwolves.

The game will be the first of the year for both programs as both were off last week. The game will take place at 4 PM in the Superior Dome.

“We ran the ball well last year,” Hempel said. “We expect a few more guys in box now and they may blitz more, so we have to play a physical game.”