It’s always a coach’s toughest decision in overtime. Down seven in overtime, you get a touchdown and are one extra point away from tying the game. Do you kick the point after attempt or go for two points for the win?
The Northern Michigan University Football team chose the latter, but the attempted game-winning pass from sophomore quarterback Latrell Giles to senior running back Jake Mayon was unsuccessful as the Wildcats dropped a 31-30 overtime decision to Davenport University (DU) on the road last weekend on the road.
The Wildcats now have a 1-4 record on the season and are 0-3 in GLIAC play while the Panthers improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference matchups.
NMU used its opening drive of the contest and took the ball 91 yards downfield before Giles took it himself into the end zone himself for a one-yard score.
DU added a field goal and the score was 7-3 at the half.
The second half was the main storyline of the game as the Wildcats put up two more touchdowns in the third. An early field goal from freshman kicker Daniel Riser in the third followed by a 24-yard touchdown run from Jake Mayon and a fumble recovery touchdown from senior linebacker Alex Hamilton put NMU up 24-9 going into the fourth quarter and held that lead until 7:45 was left on the clock.
At the 7:45 mark, Davenport junior wide receiver Nate Couturier took an 85-yard punt return to the end zone to pull the Panthers within eight points.
DU then tied the game with 3:12 left in regulation when junior QB Haiden Majewski found junior running back Michael Catching downfield for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was successful to tie the game up at 24-24 and send it to overtime.
The Panthers began overtime with the ball as Majewski found Couturier for a 25-yard touchdown pass and the extra point made it 31-24 DU.
NMU answered the call when Giles connected with freshman wide receiver Benjamin Loutsis for a 13-yard end zone grab. That’s when NMU went for two and the win but was unsuccessful.
Giles went 10-for-13 through the air with 132 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for 63 yards. Mayon chipped in on the ground with 47 yards. Sophomore Ravon Johnson led NMU receivers with two catches for 64 yards while Loutsis had three catches for 28.
Majewski went 15-of-25 through the air for 188 yards and two touchdowns while junior running back Seth Acda led DU with 68 yards on the ground.
Defensively, sophomore safety Brady Hanson led the Wildcats with 11 tackles while sophomore cornerback Deion Powers led the Panthers with 12.
The Wildcats return to the Superior Dome this weekend to face Northwood University. The Timberwolves are 0-5 on the season and 0-3 in GLIAC play.
NMU also hosted Northwood during last season’s finale and dropped the game by a score of 24-21.
This will be the 38th meeting between the two schools. NMU holds a 26-11 advantage in the all-time series.
Family Weekend kickoff from the Superior Dome is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6.
After rushing for 397 yards in the first two games of the season, the yards have been hard to come by since for Mayon. In the three games to follow, Mayon has only been able to scamper for 181 yards. In his effort to break the school career-rushing record, Mayon needs 393 more yards.
