Wildcats Blast Quincy, Win Home Opener
MARQUETTE, Mich. — Shaye Brown and Marcus Tucker connected for three touchdowns to help lead the Northern Michigan football team to a 31-14 victory over Quincy Saturday afternoon at the Superior Dome in front of 2,820 fans.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 1-1 (0-1 GLIAC) on the season. They are now 2-0 all-time against the Hawks, who fell to 0-1 (0-0 GLVC).
The Wildcats struck on their opening drive of the game, as Tucker took a pass from Brown and broke free for a 31-yard score.
On their next drive, after Austin Young returned a punt for 43 yards to set them up on the Quincy 35, they extended their lead to 10-0 on the strength of a 35-yard Ryan LaBerge field goal.
Just 2:54 into the second quarter, Brown found Tucker for a 15-yard score to give Northern Michigan a 17-0 edge.
The Hawks regrouped to pull within a field goal by finding the end zone in each of their first two drives of the third quarter. After Quincy’s second score, with 0:41 remaining in the third quarter, Brown launched a deep ball to Tucker for a 68-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach.
In the fourth quarter, Aaron Harris scored the game’s final touchdown, scampering 15 yards to cap a drive that started at Northern Michigan’s 10-yard line.
Tucker totaled 205 receiving yards, averaging 20.5 yards per catch. Brown went 23-26 passing with 353 yards. On the ground, Harris racked up 82 yards on 18 carries while Wyatt Jurasin totaled 52 on 10 attempts before exiting the game due to injury. Overall, the Wildcats outgained the Hawks, 476-369.
On defense, a number of players contributed, with CJ Washington (7), Brandon Auguste (6), Levi Perry (6), Julian Hornback (6) and Dante Holmes (5) totaling at least five tackles. Holmes also recorded two sacks for a total loss of 12 yards.
The Wildcats return to action next Saturday when they face off against Hillsdale at 4 p.m. on Homecoming.
(COURTESY NMU ATHLETICS)