Great Lakes Wire

The Northern Michigan University Wildcats are preparing for a significant challenge as they head to the Lower Peninsula for their first away game of the season. They will face Ferris State University, the two-time defending national champions, on Saturday, September 30. The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

Fans can stay updated on the game's progress by following @NMU_Football and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Head Coach Richardson emphasized the importance of maintaining focus: "We have to keep the big picture in mind and keep winning little battles at a time. I give our guys credit as they've stayed committed to the process. A lot of our goals are still on the table; we want to keep improving every week and show competitive excellence every week."

Last weekend, NMU faced a setback against Quincy University in Illinois, losing 45-27. Despite trailing by just four points at halftime, they were outscored in the second half. Quarterback Mariano Valenti delivered a strong performance with 368 passing yards and three touchdowns—one on foot—marking a notable achievement since October 2017.

The Wildcats amassed 441 yards in total offense, largely thanks to Valenti's efforts. Sam Peiffer stood out among receivers with nine catches for 94 yards and one touchdown.

Key players' statistics include Valenti ranking third in GLIAC for passing yards per game (221.7), Tyqaun Cox fifth in rushing yards per game (66.8), and Sam Piffer tied for third in receiving touchdowns (2). Mitch Larkin recorded nine tackles against Quincy, placing him tied first in GLIAC total tackles (40). Freshman Jax Hertel is tied second in interceptions (2). Notably, NMU is also recognized as the least penalized team within GLIAC.

Ferris State enters this match ranked No.1 nationally after starting conference play with a record of 2-1 overall. Last week they narrowly lost against Division I Montana with a score of 17-10 while managing only 285 offensive yards. Quarterback Milik Mitchell threw for 103 yards during that game.

In past encounters between these teams, NMU was one of six teams last season to score over twenty points against Ferris State—achieving this feat again could be crucial for their success on Saturday.