For their conference opener, the Northern Michigan Football Team was handed a decisive 42- 10 loss by NCAA Division II’s number two team, the Ferris State Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs scored 35 of their points in the first half, but were held off by the Wildcats for the rest of the game till the final quarter.
“Was I disappointed in losing the game? Absolutely. But the one thing I can say about the team: they battled,” head coach Kyle Nystrom said.
Nystrom went on to say that last weekend’s performance against Ferris was Northern’s best performance he had seen in years and that, although the score didn’t show it, the teams fought an even battle.
“I think when you play an elite team like that, it’s the same as when little brothers play sports with their big brothers,” Nystrom said, “They develop faster and better because the competition is above what their peer status is.”
Junior running back Jake Mayon finished with 153 total yards of offense and a touch- down, picking up 61 yards rushing and 92 yards receiving. Junior wide receiver Walter Jackson posted 30 yards on four catches and senior quarterback Jaranta Lewis threw for 167 yards.
The Wildcats return to the field for their first home game of the season next Saturday against the Davenport University Panthers.
This is the Panthers’ first year in GLIAC but Nystrom, who interviewed for Davenport’s head coach position when they first started their program, said he expects them to be tough competition for his gridders.
“You’re looking at a private school that has abundant resources and is meticulously well-operated. If you look at their history in the sports they started, lacrosse, rugby, basket- ball, women’s soccer, they win,” Nystrom said. “So when they decide to put football into their plan, you know they’re going to do it the right way.”
Davenport has lost all three of their games so far in the sea- son including losses against fellow GLIAC members Grand Valley State University and Tif- fin University.
The Panthers fell 27-14 against the Tiffin Dragons last Saturday.
