Following a historic win last week, the Northern Michigan football team fell to Michigan Tech 56–17 on Saturday afternoon in the Superior Dome, as the Huskies reclaimed the Miner’s Cup in dominant fashion. This marks the 15th consecutive year the Michigan Tech Huskies have successfully won the Miners cup over Northern.  

The annual rivalry matchup started with promise for the Wildcats, who moved the ball efficiently on their opening drives. But a series of costly penalties and missed chances in the red zone quickly shifted the momentum. Michigan Tech capitalized, turning early NMU mistakes into touchdowns and never looking back. 

“It’s uncharacteristic,” Head Coach Shane Richardson said after the game. “We had four false starts on one drive alone, and that can’t happen. It comes back to our discipline and focus.” 

Freshman running back Jahi Wood continued to be a bright spot for the Wildcats, punching in another touchdown midway through the third quarter. Later in the game quarterback Trevor Theuerkauf connected with Ian Engstrom for an 18-yard completion to close out NMU’s scoring. 

Despite those highlights, NMU’s offense struggled to convert drives when it mattered most. The Wildcats made several trips deep into Tech territory but failed to come away with touchdowns. 

“We moved the ball really well early,” Richardson said. “But when you get inside the 20, you’ve got to finish. That’s where games are won and lost.” 

On the other side of the ball, the Huskies’ offense proved too much to handle. Quarterback Elliott Larner led the charge for Michigan Tech, recording multiple rushing touchdowns and adding a passing score as the Huskies built their lead.  

Even with the tough loss, Richardson said the team’s focus now turns to growth and regrouping before next weekend’s matchup. 

“You’ve got to look at it in the big picture,” Richardson said. “That’s not who we’ve been this season. We’ve been competitive and improving every week. This is about how we respond.” 

The Wildcats will travel to Big Rapids next Saturday to take on the No. 1 ranked powerhouse Ferris State, looking to bounce back and show the progress they’ve made this season. 

“I want to see a better product on the field this Saturday than what I saw last Saturday,” Richardson said. “If our program keeps growing and learning, we’ll be competitive.”