The Northern Michigan Wildcats are now sitting eighth in the GLIAC after falling 23-45 to the now 5-2 Ferris State University Bulldogs at FSU’s Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan.
The Wildcats now prepare to kick-off a 3-game home stand starting Oct. 22. With Ohio Dominican University which stands seventh in the conference.
“Clearly we are disappointed with the outcome. We’ve got to get an understanding of how to be the same team on the road that we are here in the Superior Dome,” head coach Chris Ostrowsky said. “At the same time it’s about the process and understanding that we are a solid football program, and we are excited to play home for the next three weeks.”
With 5:44 left in the first quarter, Ferris State quarterback Reggie Bell ran the football into the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown giving the Bulldogs the first score of the game. This would be the first of four Bulldog touchdowns run in by Bell.
A 46-yard field goal in the last minute of the first quarter from senior kicker Tyler Blackburn trimmed the FSU lead and brought the score to 3-7.
Two more Ferris State touchdown runs by Bell and a field goal brought the Bulldogs to 24 points while the Wildcats were able to respond with another Blackburn field goal.
The Bulldogs widened the score gap with two more touchdowns in the third quarter entering the final quarter 32 points above Northern Michigan 6-38.
After Blackburn’s third and final field goal and another touchdown from FSU, sophomore running back Jake Mayon earned NMU’s first touchdown with 4:09 left after penetrating Ferris’ defensive line for a 1-yard rush into the endzone.
Mayon struck again in the last minute of the game with a 39-yard run into the endzone to cap off the scoring for the day leaving the final score at 23-45.
The Wildcats now look to host the Ohio Dominican University Panthers for their first matchup in a 3-game homestand.
The Wildcats have a 2-1 record on their home turf this season and the team is looking forward to their last home games of the season.
“I feel like in the Dome we are a hard team to beat,” junior wide receiver Julian Crum said.
“[Playing in the Dome] has everybody playing in front of people we know. The fact that we practice in here, and not a lot of teams have indoor facilities or have been in anything like this, I just feel like it’s tough for them to come and play.”
The last time these two teams faced off was in an exhibition match in the 2013 season. The Panthers defeated the Wildcats at the Superior Dome 23-30. NMU is 0-3 all-time versus the Panthers.
“For us, right now, it’s just about one weekend at a time not getting ahead of ourselves,” Ostrowsky said. “The results on Saturday will take care of itself as long as we take it one day at a time.”
