The Northern Michigan University football team faces a tall task as it plays undefeated No. 2 Grand Valley State | News, sports, jobs

These Northern Michigan University football captains prepare to take the field before a Wildcats home football game at the Superior Dome in Marquette. From left are senior linebacker Justin Peake, junior offensive lineman Chris Burnhoeft, junior linebacker Mitch Larkin and sophomore offensive lineman Daniel Babcock. (Photo courtesy of NMU)

MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University football team faces a tall task tonight as it travels to face the No. 2 team in all of NCAA Division II.

The Wildcats travel to Allendale State to face GLIAC opponent Grand Valley State at 7 p.m. NMU is 0-5 while the Lakers are 5-0.

The game will be broadcast on WUPZ 94.9 FM The Bay radio station, while the NMU hockey game will be simulcast on a sister station. Fans can watch @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on audio.

“You have to make things happen, and you have to continue to find ways to fight back and forth and (continue to) find a way to be more productive and just more persistent.” Northern head coach Shane Richardson said in a press release from NMU Sports Information previewing the game.

Still looking for his first win at NMU in his second season, Richardson’s charges fell 63-14 at home to Saginaw Valley State in both teams’ conference opener last Saturday.

While freshman running back Jahi Wood scored his first varsity touchdown early in the game, the Wildcats allowed four touchdowns in the final five minutes of the first half to put the game out of reach at halftime, 42-7.

It tempered a great special teams play from Northern’s Kale Manzo, who blocked a punt early in the second half to set up NMU’s other TD. There was also a great defensive effort from Kennarius Chandler, who recovered a Cardinals fumble late and nearly returned it for a touchdown.

NMU’s Michael Love broke the 100-yard receiving barrier with six catches for 103 yards.

Wood is fourth in the GLIAC in rushing with 313 yards, while fellow backs Elizin Rouse with 156 yards and Negaunee High School graduate Nico Lukkarinen with 141 also rank in the top 20 in the league.

Lukkarinen’s three TD runs are fourth in the GLIAC.

Linebacker Mitch Larkin is second in the league with 40 tackles after leading the GLIAC with 118 last year.

Love is tied for second with four touchdown catches, and kicker Michael Karlen still has a perfect record of 4-for-4 on field goals and 10-for-10 on extra points this season.

Grand Valley, coming off a 24-7 win over Davenport, is third nationally with 304.6 rushing yards per game, fourth as the Lakers allow 9.6 points per game, fifth in third-down conversion rate of 53.5% and seventh with 483.0 total yards of offense.

Khalil Eichelberger has 487 yards, an average of 6.7 yards per carry, and five rushing TDs. Quarterback Kenneth Moore, who has 296 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground himself, has thrown for 610 yards and four more touchdowns with no interceptions.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is [email protected].