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MARQUETTE — A pair of chances to erase the big “O” in the win column for the second consecutive year is the tall task facing the Northern Michigan University football team.

The Wildcats get their first of two opportunities to chalk up their first win under second-year head coach Shane Richardson at noon today in Grand Rapids when they take on Davenport.

While NMU is 0-9 overall and 0-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Panthers are in the middle of the pack in the league, sporting 6-3 overall and 3-2 conference marks.

Northern Michigan University defensive back Adam Saleh prepares for a play against Roosevelt on Oct. 19 at the Superior Dome in Marquette. Saleh is moving up the GLIAC leaderboard in tackles, now he has 56 total to rank fifth. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Northern has had a pair of fairly close calls this season, losing on Sept. 14 at NCAA Division III powerhouse Wisconsin-La Crosse 35-21, then falling in an excruciating way on Oct. 19 to then-winless conference newcomer Roosevelt 16-10 in overtime in the Superior Dome.

Every other game the Wildcats have lost by at least 20 points, which includes a 63-14 setback to Saginaw Valley State, 49-17 at Grand Valley State and 55-9 last Saturday to Ferris State, all opponents that are nationally ranked.

Davenport has posted narrow, less-than-a-touchdown conference wins over Michigan Tech and Roosevelt and a slighter bigger 43-26 decision over winless Wayne State, the final team on NMU’s schedule next Saturday.

Today’s game will be broadcast by radio station WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, while fans can also 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 look under the football schedule for links to live video, live audio, live statistics and a series preview and history.

“We have to continue to experience our successes and eliminate the negativity in our minds and our emotions and continue to move forward in a positive way,” Richardson said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the game.

For the Wildcats against Ferris last Saturday, one of their final plays was one of their best this season when senior backup quarterback Jake Bilitz hooked up with fellow senior wide receiver Michael Love for a 78-yard touchdown pass, the longest score for each of them in their collegiate careers.

Northern also scored a first-half safety when Vince Martin broke through the middle and got his hand on a punt that ricocheted through the back of the end zone.

Here are some other Wildcats’ football facts gleaned by NMU SI:

• Northern has one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 42 of 96 (44%) players in their first year. Underclassmen make up 68 of the 96 (71%) roster spots.

• Freshman Jahi Wood is fourth in the GLIAC with 476 yards rushing, while Elizin Rouse’s 236 yards, Negaunee High School product Nico Lukkarinen’s 232 and Martin’s 227 rank 19th through 21st, respectively.

• Lukkarinen’s three TD runs rank him 12th in the conference as the Wildcats have the fourth-best rushing attack in the league at 148.9 yards per game.

• Love is third in the GLIAC with five touchdown catches this season and is fifth with 443 receiving yards. The long pass reception last weekend is the fourth-longest offensive TD in the league this fall and Northern’s longest since Tyshon King’s 90-yard catch on Oct. 29, 2022, vs. Ferris.

• In addition, Love’s two scoring catches against La Crosse marked a first for a Wildcat receiver since Sept. 24, 2022.

• Adam Saleh has vaulted up the GLIAC tackling leaderboard, with his 56 tackles ranking fifth and his 40 solo second. He has recorded at least five tackles in each game he’s played this season.

• Northern is tied for second in the conference with eight forced fumbles.

• Kicker Michael Karlen is a perfect 7 of 7 on field goals and a near-perfect 14 of 15 on extra-point kicks this season.

For Davenport, the Panthers had won three in a row before falling 24-14 at SVSU last Saturday. DU didn’t score till the fourth quarter as they were led by QB Mac VandenHout, who ran for a score and threw for another.

The Panthers’ offense is led by running back Myren Harris, whose 716 yards rushing lead the conference, while his four TD runs are also in the top 10.

The defense has racked up 26 sacks, led by Geemontae Peck with 4.5, Deeb Alawan with four, and Austin Alward and Reed Snitker each with 3.5.

Davenport has made its biggest impression on special teams, as its 30.3-yard kickoff return average is the best mark in the country. Antjuan Collins has been the driving factor with 14 returns for 464 yards and two TDs.

Davenport has won the last four matchups with NMU, including a 28-12 victory last season. Overall, the Wildcats are 2-6 vs. the Panthers.

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