Northern Michigan University defensive linemen Chance Bridgers, center, and Jason Coulter, front right, line up for a play against the Michigan Tech offense during their GLIAC football game played at the Superior Dome in Marquette on Oct. 14. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University football team will probably have its best chance to snag a win in more than a month when the Wildcats host GLIAC foe Wayne State at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette.

NMU is winless in eight games this season under first-year head coach Shane Richardson. But in the last month, NMU has faced three nationally ranked NCAA Division II squads along with traditional Upper Peninsula rival Michigan Tech.

The results have shown that out, with the Wildcats losing 78-3 at then-No. 1 Ferris State, 28-12 at then-No. 15 Davenport, 62-0 at home to MTU and 73-14 at home to No. 2 Grand Valley State.

While the Davenport game was still a one-score game entering the fourth quarter, NMU’s previous game before that gauntlet was a relatively close 45-27 setback at nonconference Quincy in Illinois. That game was a low-scoring 14-13 in favor of Quincy midway through the third quarter before the hosts, led by ex-NMU quarterback Drake Davis, broke the game open.

Saturday’s opponent, Wayne State, is a modest 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the conference. The Warriors have lost two straight, falling at Saginaw Valley State 17-10 in overtime last Saturday and 32-3 at home to Davenport two weeks ago.

WSU’s last win was a narrow 23-21 victory at home vs. Michigan Tech on Oct. 7. The Warriors have also beaten Missouri S&T in Detroit on Sept. 9 while losing to Slippery Rock, Indianapolis, Truman State and NAIA member Concordia-Ann Arbor.

“Wayne State is unique and we have to keep ourselves as confident as can be,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information release previewing the game. “They are going to give us different looks to keep us off balance, so we need to be aggressive and fast and make sure our guys understand the game plan.”

Fans can follow @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game, or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and looking under the football schedule for links to game notes, live statistics and live video.

Northern has a 20-15 all-time record vs. Wayne State, according to the WSU athletics website, wsuathletics.com, with the Wildcats winning their past two meetings.

In the Warriors game last week, the Cardinals came up with the game-winning interception after the Warriors held a healthy 336-194 yardage advantage. WSU’s Justin Cox threw for 107 yards and rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown. Warriors running back Kendall Williams gained 87 yards on the ground and 40 more receiving.

The Wildcats were blown out last weekend by a Grand Valley team that was coming off a victory over the No. 1 team in the country, Ferris State. Against Northern, the Lakers held a 609-279 yardage advantage as NMU’s Charlie Gerhard had a 54-yard TD catch and Brock Franklin ran in a short TD.

Northern linebacker Mitch Larkin continues to lead the GLIAC in tackles, adding 13 vs. GV to give him 81 total, 41 of them solo.

Fellow NMU defender Jax Hertel is tied for fourth in the league in interceptions with two, while Jake Price is top-10 with his three QB sacks.

Offensively, Tyquan Cox is fifth in the league in all-purpose yards with 735 and seventh in rushing with 44.9 yards per game. And Sam Peiffer is tied for ninth in receiving TDs with two.

The Wildcats continue to be the least penalized team in the GLIAC, averaging 4.8 per game for 38.3 penalty yards per game. Each is also a top-10 ranking in the country.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.