Northern Michigan University’s Jax Hertl, center with arm raised, celebrates after intercepting a pass and running it back 20 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter of a football game played against Lake Erie College on Sept. 9 at the Superior Dome in Marquette. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University football team gets its last chance to record a victory this season when the Wildcats host the Northern State Wolves of Aberdeen, South Dakota, at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Superior Dome.

Northern State is 4-6 with all of its games before Saturday being played in its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference that includes schools from Minnesota and North Dakota.

The final game of the season also will be marked as Military Appreciation Day and Senior Day for the team’s graduating seniors.

The game will be broadcast on radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, while fans can go to the NMU athletics website, nmuwildcats.com, and look under the football schedule for live statistics, live video and live audio.

“We’re going into this one to try to finish well, combine all the learning lessons, and put it all together,” Northern first-year head coach Shane Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information release previewing the game.

The Wildcats lost 62-17 at Saginaw Valley State last Saturday, turning the ball over six times as NMU was outgained 458-192.

However, Northern’s Michael Love returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown just before the end of the first half, while teammate Brock Franklin found the end zone in the game’s final minute on a 5-yard run.

NMU’s Mitch Larkin leads the GLIAC in total tackles with 107, which includes 56, while freshman Jax Hertel is tied for ninth in the conference with his two interceptions.

On offense, Tyquan Cox is third in league with 735 all-purpose yards and eighth with 44.9 rushing yards per game. Teammate Sam Peiffer is tied for eighth with three receiving touchdowns.

And the Wildcats remain the least penalized team in the GLIAC, averaging 4.7 per game and 36.8 penalty yards per game.

Northern State has lost its last two games as NMU and the Wolves meet for the first time.

Last week, Northern State lost to Augustana (South Dakota) 31-21. The Wolves produced 433 yards of offense to 331 for the Vikings. NSU quarterback Jacob Van Landingham threw for 298 yards and two TDs and rushed in another score. Running back Hank Kraft rushed for 83 yards, while wide receiver Dewaylon Ingram had 11 receptions for 145 yards and two scores.

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