This story was written by NMU Sports Information

MARQUETTE---The Northern Michigan University football team raced out to a 30-0 lead in the first half and never looked back, upending Walsh, 54-14, Saturday at the Superior Dome.

Five different Wildcats scored touchdowns in the victory, highlighted by a school-record 92-yard reception by Paris Woods and a 38-yard fumble recovery by Matt Boonstra.

Northern Michigan gained its 30-0 lead by scoring on its first six possessions of the game. After Tyler Blackburnkicked two-straight field goals of 45 yards or more, Shaye Brown found Woods for the school-record touchdown reception. Brown hit Woods at midfield with a deep pass, and Woods faked out his defenders to race into the end zone.

A 36-yard Blackburn field goal and a nine-yard touchdown reception by Julian Crum completed the Wildcat scoring in the first half. Walsh finally got on the board with 24 seconds left in the half on a four-yard touchdown catch by Emmitt Reed.

Northern Michigan continued its offensive onslaught early in the second half after Jalen Saundersrecovered a Matt Matuska fumble off the kickoff at the Cavalier 25. Jake Mayon scored a touchdown on the next play, but it was called back due to a holding penalty. Mayon wouldn't be denied two plays later, finding a seam and driving into the back of the end zone for a seven-yard score and a 37-7 lead.

On the next drive, Boonstra scooped up a Reed fumble and carried it 38 yards into the end zone. Boonstra is the first Wildcat to score a touchdown off a fumble recovery since Austin Young accomplished the feat Sept. 13, 2014 at Quincy.

A John Kwiecinski 20-yard field goal with 8:30 to go in the third quarter brought the score to 47-7. Kwiecinski's field goal was set up by a 34-yard interception return by Jake Abramowicz.

Walsh scored its second touchdown of the game with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter.

Northern Michigan took a 40-point lead with 4:30 left in the game behind a two-yard touchdown rush by Davontae Elam, his first in a Wildcat uniform.

Brown threw for a season-high 259 yards and three touchdowns on 16 for 22 passing. Aaron Harris rushed for 89 yards while Woods posted a season-high 136 receiving yards.

Darryl Williams (8), Quintin Del Re (7) and Troy Mayon (6) paced a Wildcat defense that gave up only 15 first downs and 273 yards in tackles. Mayon also picked off a pass in the end zone to maintain Northern Michigan's sizable advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Brown and Woods's 92-yard touchdown reception tied the school record, set in 1981 by Tom Bertoldi and Greg McClain against Wichita State.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 3-2 (3-1 GLIAC). They return to action Oct. 7 when they travel to Saginaw Valley State for a 7 p.m. game.