The Northern Michigan Football team made quick work of the Tiffin Dragons last Saturday, Oct. 30, with a 43-14 victory.
“The game was pretty easy. They really weren’t that good,” said junior linebacker Robert Edmonds.
The Wildcats came out of the gates fast, scoring 17 points in the first quarter. The defense started the offensive onslaught, as junior linebacker Eddie Knobloch returned an interception for 52-yard score on the first drive of the game.
“It feels great to go out and help the offense,” Knobloch said. “Usually, our goal on the defense is to go and give the ball to the offense. Whenever we can go out and put up points on the board and take the load off and give the offense a rest, it’s a good thing.”
Knobloch had three interceptions in the game and senior defensive back Ricky Neaves added another pick to give NMU a +4 turnover ratio, the best turnover ratio in a game all season.
NMU’s offense shined in the rushing attack, with three tailbacks scoring touchdowns in the win. Overall, the Wildcats had 327 rushing yards on 67 attempts, scored four touchdowns and converted 23 first downs.
“I feel like it’s all because of the offensive line,” said junior running back Philip Smith. “I just go out there and do my job, but I feel like they blocked the best they have all year and opened up big holes for me. They made my job easier for me.”
Smith and fellow running back John Privitelli both ran the length of the field against the GLIAC’s worst run defense. Smith gained 175 yards on 26 attempts with one touchdown and Privitelli went for 105 yards in 20 tries for two touchdowns. This is the first time since last year’s season finale that two Wildcats broke the triple digit mark in the running game.
“It felt good for us to both finally get in a rhythm in a game together,” Privitelli said.
The offensive side of the ball wasn’t the only unit controlling the running game, as the Wildcats’ defense held the toothless Dragons to -53 yards on the ground. Tiffin’s top rusher, freshman running back David McKnight, gained just seven yards on six attempts and the -37 yards lost on five sacks also added to the poor rushing attack by the home team.
“Coach Awrey really put (the defense) in good position to make plays,” Edmonds said.
In a resurgent performance from last week, sophomore kicker Rockne Belmonte made three of four field goal attempts and made all four PAT’s for 13 of NMU’s 43 points. This is a big improvement from last weeks .333 field goals made against University of Indianapolis.
“I had a terrible kicking week after the Indy game,” Belmonte said. “It was bad all the way up to game time and I just focused and worked hard and everything came together with the first kickoff.”
With the victory, NMU improves to 5-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play. They are tied for third in the GLIAC North with Ferris State and both teams are tied for fifth in the overall GLIAC with Ashland. With two games left in the season, the ’Cats must win at least one of their games to solidify their second straight winning season.
The ’Cats will try to get a win against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals on Saturday, Nov. 6. It will be the last home game of the season and will also be Senior Day for the team.
“It means a lot to send our seniors out on a good note,” Knobloch said. “There are people on the team that have been around since I’ve been here and this is the last game at home for them.”
