ROUGH AFTERNOON: NMU Football Loses, 56-10

MARQUETTE---The Northern Michigan University football team wrapped up the 2019 home season with a 56-10 loss to the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals on Saturday at the Superior Dome. The Cardinals rolled up 493 yards and 42 points in the first half and cruised to the victory, breaking a four-game losing streak. NMU’s losing streak reached eight after a season-opening win.

SVSU quarterback Ryan Conklin completed 10-of-15 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns. He hooked up with Chad Galliard for three of those TD’s and 175 of those yards. The touchdown strikes were of 87 and 61 yards in the first quarter, and of 15 yards in the third quarter.

Conklin also threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Casey Williams in the second quarter, and running back Nate McCrary scored on a 90-yard touchdown run. He also had a three-yard TD run.

Northern Michigan got a career-best 50 yard field goal from Daniel Riser in the second quarter, and also got a 58-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Johnson to Ben Loutsis. Johnson, who has started every game this season until Saturday, came on in relief of Keshawn Howard, who got his first start at QB.

Howard gained 116 yards on 21 carries.

Freshman Tyquan Cox had seven kickoff returns for just shy of 200 yards, averaging more than 28 yards per return.

Senior punter John Kwiecinski kicked eight times for an average of 36 yards per kick.

Defensively, Brady Hanson led the way with 14 tackles, including seven solo.
Saginaw Valley (5-5) had 657 yards of total offense.

The Wildcats honored their ten seniors in a ceremony before the game.

Those honored included Gabe Baumann (Rockford, Mich.), Nick Barnes (Chicago, Ill.), James Brown (Menominee, Mich.), Latrell Giles (Chicago, Ill.), Alex Hamilton (Chesterfield, Mich.), Ryan Knight (Grand Rapids, Mich.), John Kwiecinski (Plymouth, Mich.), Garret Lundteigen (Petoskey, Mich.), Gunnar Lundteigen (Petoskey, Mich.), Logan McHone (Pleasanton, Calif.), Jeremy Stats (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.), Billy Tithof (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.), Demarious Wright (Delray Beach, Fla.).

NMU (1-8) closes the season next Saturday afternoon at Ashland, Ohio. Kick-off is 1:00. The game will be broadcast on WUPT-FM (100.3 The Point) and WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from NMU Head Coach Kyle Nystrom and Offensive Coordinator Dan Fodrocy. Also hear player spotlight interviews with seniors Jeremy Statz and Logan McHone.