GLIAC Football: Ashland 42 NMU 13
Courtesy of NMU Athletics
MARQUETTE, Mich. The Northern Michigan University football team was
defeated by No. 17-ranked Ashland University 42-13 on Homecoming at the
Superior Dome on Saturday (Sept. 22). The Wildcats scored a 77-yard
touchdown on their first play from scrimmage but didnt score again until
the final play of the game.
With the loss, NMU is now 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the Great Lakes
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Eagles move to a perfect 4-0
record and 3-0 in conference play.
The Cats ran a flea flicker on the first play as redshirt freshman Ryan
Morley handed the ball off to senior running back Prince Young. Young
tossed it back to Morley who found sophomore receiver Julian Gaines
streaking up the sideline. Gaines caught the ball and scored NMUs longest
play of the season.
NMUs final touchdown was an 11-yard pass from Morley to junior Trever
Kruzel as time expired. The Cats marched 96 yards down the field in 7:40
on 15 plays to end the game.
Ashland scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters. The Eagles
scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. Steve Nagy capped off a
69-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown reception from quarterback
Taylor Housewright with 10:30 left in the first. Later in the quarter
(3:47), Housewright found Alex Weber for a 22-yard touchdown reception
after an 11-play, 61-yard drive.
In the second quarter, Jordan McCune had a two-yard touchdown run to cap
off a 16-play 82-yard drive and a 21-7 lead with 6:29 left before
halftime. Anthony Taylor added a one-yard touchdown run for a 21-point
lead after an 80-yard drive with under a minute to go.
Housewright had two more touchdown passes in the third quarter. The first
was to Eric Thompkins with 13:04 left on a 15-yard reception. The second
was to Anthony Capasso on an 18-yard pass with 6:03 remaining.
Northern had 238 yards of total offense on 74 rushing and 164 passing. The
Cats were 6-for-14 on third down and 1-for-2 in the redzone. NMU had six
punts for an average of 37 yards.
Morley finished the afternoon 15-for-24 through the air for 164 yards and
two touchdowns. Young finished with 81 yards on the ground on 21 carries.
Gaines had five receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. Kruzel had three
receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 12 yards on two
carries.
Sophomore Nick Krause led the Wildcat defense with 11 total tackles. He
had six solo tackles, five assisted tackles and one tackle for loss.
Sophomore Derek Beltrame had 10 total tackles. Senior Josh Droese had nine
total tackles and senior Zach Anderson added eight total tackles and one
tackle for loss. Junior Brandon Parson had an interception, five solo
tackles and one assisted tackle.
Ashland totaled 453 yards of offense on 258 through the air and 195 on the
ground. The Eagles were 15-for-18 on third down and 5-for-5 in the
redzone.
Housewright had 256 yards passing on 23-for-29 and four touchdowns. Taylor
led the ground attack with 98 yards. Capasso had five catches for 76 yards
and Brian Gamble had four grabs for 63 yards.
NMU travels to Hillsdale next weekend for a matchup with the Chargers.