Marquette, Mich. 10-25-13 – Wildcat Football wins at home against Warriors from Wayne State on Saturday.  This home game combined the culmination of family week at NMU along with band day where many local bands from around the central Upper Peninsula were present and performed together during the half-time show in the Superior Dome.  Plenty of fun and activities for the kids too. Wish they had more activities like this for the kids as it allows parents to focus on the game. Perhaps it would be a good way to fill up the seats on a regular basis during the season!

NMU Wildcats wide reciever Marcus Tucker (1) catches a long pass before taking a hit by Wayne State University’s Brandon McKay-Lee during their college football game at the Superior Dome in Marquette, MI on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. (UPsportsphotos.com image Ronen Zilberman)

Band members from around the Upper Peninsula play together during “band day” half-time performance at the Superior Dome for the NMU Wildcats college football game against Wayne State University in Marquette, MI on Oct. 26, 2013. (UPsportsphotos.com image Ronen Zilberman)

Band members show off in playful competitions during “band day” at the Superior Dome during the NMU Wildcats college football game against Wayne State University in Marquette, MI on Oct. 26, 2013. (UPsportsphotos.com image Ronen Zilberman)

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University Football Wildcats are back on track as they picked up a 33-21 victory over the Wayne State University Warriors on Saturday (Oct. 26). The Wildcats improve to 2-5 on the year and 2-5 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play while the Wayne State Warriors drop to 3-5 overall and 3-4 in the GLIAC.

“I’m extremely happy with how we played today,” Wildcat Head Coach Chris Ostrowsky told the press following the game. “We needed the win and I have to credit the players, they went out and earned it.”

Sophomore Wyatt Jurasin rushed for 233 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Wildcat victory.  Jurasin rushed for two touchdowns in the first half and caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Shaye Brown in the second half. Brown, a true freshman finished the game with 19 completions on 30 attempts for 233 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.  Freshman John Oberheide connected on two field goals while the Wildcat defense accounted for the final touchdown as senior Trever Kruzell returned a Warrior fumble for 6 points on a sack by freshman Adam Williams.

In Jurasin’s view, “it was a real team effort… Shaye Brown did a great job reading the coverage and as a team we clicked.”

Wayne State opened scoring in the game when Dominic Maybanks caught a 37 yard pass from Cal Roscoe at 6:15 of the first quarter. Northern Michigan responded on their following possession when Wyatt Jurasin finished the eight play Wildcat drive with a one yard carry into the end zone at 3:07 of the first quarter. The Wildcat defense stopped the Warriors on the ensuing drive and followed up by using 13 plays and over five minutes to march down the field and score a field goal.  Oberheide connected on the 30 yard kick to put the Wildcats up 10-7 at 8:54 of the second quarter.  The Warriors then had a quick three and out giving the Wildcats the ball back at the Wayne State 24-yard line.  The ‘Cats went on to convert again on a three-yard run by Jurasin, taking the 17-7 lead into halftime.

In the second half each team took a possession before Wayne State managed to break out a 54-yard run and cut the Wildcat lead to just three points at 17-14.  The Wildcats responded with a 37 yard field goal by Oberheide.  A Wildcat interception ended the ensuing Warrior drive giving the Wildcats the ball at midfield. The Wildcats used 11 plays before Brown connected with Jurasin for a 10-yard reception in the corner of the endzone.  The score gave the Wildcats a 27-14 lead at 12:54 of the fourth quarter. Kruzell recovered a Warrior fumble and returned it for six points to boost the Wildcat lead to 19 points at 33-14. Wayne State responded with the final score of the game on a 1 -yard run by Chett Privett at 4:44 of the fourth quarter to give the game a final score of 33-21.

Defensively the Wildcats came up with two interceptions, forced one fumble, and took down the Warrior quarterback in the backfield on 4 occasions.  Williams and junior Nick Krause led the Wildcat defense with eight tackles a piece.  Williams also had one sack and tackles for loss.  The Warrior offense had three quarterbacks (Carl Roscoe, Sean Guinane, Doug Griffin) combine for 155 yards. Wayne State finished with 142 yards on the ground with 38 rushing attempts.