NMU football on the road

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University football team travels to Columbus, Ohio for a first-ever meeting with the Ohio Dominican University Panthers on Saturday (Sept. 15). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Panther Field.

100.3 FM “The Point” carries all NMU football games. Online streaming can be found at http://wnmufm.org/nmu-sports-stream

NMU picked up its first win of 2012 and the first win under coach Chris Ostrowsky on Thursday, Sept. 6 with a 24-6 victory over UW-La Crosse. The Eagles scored a touchdown on their opening possession. The Wildcats answered with 24 straight points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats were defeated by the University of Findlay in their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener and first game of the season in Ohio.

The Panthers enter Saturday’s game 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the GLIAC. ODU opened 2012 with a 57-6 victory over Virginia-Lynchburg at home. In week two, Hillsdale handed the Panthers their first loss, 38-20 in Hillsdale. They’re averaging 282.5 yards per game (150.0 rush, 132.5 pass).

Against UW-L, Northern finished with 313 yards of total offense on 144 rushing yards and 169 passing. The ‘Cats were 5-for-15 on third down and 4-for-6 in the redzone. UW-L had more time of possession (32:16-27:44) and had five more offense plays (68-63) than the ‘Cats. The Eagles finished with 196 yards of offense (54 rushing, 142 passing.) They were 7-for-19 on third down and 1-for-1 in the redzone.

Senior running back Prince Young scored all three NMU touchdowns last week while rushing for 102 yards on 27 carries. Redshirt freshman Ryan Morley has started both games at quarterback. He is 35-for-69 through the air for 404 yards. He also has six rushes for four yards.

Senior linebacker Eddie Knoblock leads the ‘Cats with 19 total tackles. He has 11 solo tackles, eight assisted, two tackles for loss and a half of a sack. Junior Morgan Stenz (17), redshirt freshman Matt Smith (13), senior Zach Anderson (13), and sophomores Jordan Adediran (12) and Nick Krause (10) also have double digit tackles. The ‘Cats have three sacks and have forced three turnovers on a fumble and two interceptions.

NMU is averaging 351.5 yards per game on 149.5 rushing and 202 passing. The ‘Cats are 9-for-30 on third down (30 percent) and 3-for-4 on fourth down. In the redzone, NMU is 6-for-10 with four being touchdowns. The ‘Cats are averaging 4.5 penalties per game.