MONDAY MOANIN:
Wildcat Football Comes From Behind to Top Storm in Overtime
MARQUETTE, Mich. — Jake Mayon sealed the Northern Michigan football team's 38-35, come-from-behind win over Lake Erie with a six-yard touchdown run in overtime Saturday afternoon.
With 53 seconds remaining in regulation, Shaye Brown found Jon Washington for a 25-yard score to draw the Wildcats within two points. Then, Brown flipped an underhand pass to Paris Woods to complete the two-point conversion and force overtime.
In bonus time, Jared Vuksan helped set up Mayon's heroics, and his second touchdown of the game, by sacking John Banyasz for a loss of five yards with the Storm poised on the Wildcat nine-yard line. That forced Lake Erie to settle for a field goal; two plays later, Northern Michigan found the end zone to move to 1-0 (1-0 GLIAC) on the season.
Brown's last-minute touchdown was the 54th of his career, a new Wildcat record. The previous record holder was Buddy Rivera, who tossed 53 while at Northern Michigan from 2004 to 2007.
The Storm jumped out to a 19-0 lead behind three rushing touchdowns, including two by freshman tailback Desmon Turner in the opening quarter.
After Lake Erie's first touchdown, Keshawn Walker took the kickoff from end zone to end zone. But what would have been a 102-yard score, and a school record, was called back to the Northern Michigan 42-yard line due to an illegal block in the back.
With 9:19 left in the first half, the Wildcats got on the board thanks to a five-yard touchdown run by Mayon. Mayon's third touchdown in Northern Michigan's past two games was set up by a long pass by Brown. Brown found a charging Jaranta Lewis along the sidelines, and Lewis was pushed out of bounds inside the Lake Erie five-yard line.
The Storm responded with a field goal on its next drive. Then, Banyasz put Lake Erie ahead, 29-7, with a two-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the half; the quarterback set up that score by rushing 35 yards on a trick quarterback keeper to the Wildcat 49.
With five seconds left on the clock, Walter Jackson gave Northern Michigan momentum entering the break by returning a kickoff for a touchdown. After the kickoff following Banyasz's touchdown flew over Walker's head, Jackson picked up the ball and raced 66 yards to the end zone.
The Storm opened the scoring in the second half with a 20-yard goal field goal at 10:44 of the third quarter. The Wildcats responded, cutting the deficit to 32-21 on Lewis's first career touchdown catch on their next drive. Lewis's four-yard touchdown pass was set up by Woods, who beat his man down the sideline to haul in a 49-yard pass from Brown.
With Lake Erie threatening to extend its lead again on its next drive, Jackson again came up big. After Austin McCarthy hauled down Mitchel Tilley short of a first down on a 3rd and 4, Tilley coughed up the ball. Jackson came up with it at the Wildcat 32, and the resulting drive ended in a 20-yard field goal by Tyler Blackburn that cut the Storm's edge to eight.
Northern Michigan's game-tying drive started at 2:50 of the fourth quarter after the defense forced the Storm to go three and out. To keep the drive alive, Brown rushed six yards out of bounds on a 4th and 3. After a 10-yard Mayon rush, Brown connected with Woods for an 18-yard gain and Washington for a four-yard gain to set the Wildcats up at the Lake Erie 25.
Brown threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 19 for 46 passing. Mayon rushed for a career-best 143 yards while Lewis (71) and Woods (67) each surpassed 50 receiving yards.
The Northern Michigan defense was led by Darryl Williams, who posted 10 tackles, including two for a loss, and one sack.
The Wildcats return to action next Saturday at 4 p.m. when they welcome Angelo State to the Superior Dome for their home opener.
With 53 seconds remaining in regulation, Shaye Brown found Jon Washington for a 25-yard score to draw the Wildcats within two points. Then, Brown flipped an underhand pass to Paris Woods to complete the two-point conversion and force overtime.
In bonus time, Jared Vuksan helped set up Mayon's heroics, and his second touchdown of the game, by sacking John Banyasz for a loss of five yards with the Storm poised on the Wildcat nine-yard line. That forced Lake Erie to settle for a field goal; two plays later, Northern Michigan found the end zone to move to 1-0 (1-0 GLIAC) on the season.
Brown's last-minute touchdown was the 54th of his career, a new Wildcat record. The previous record holder was Buddy Rivera, who tossed 53 while at Northern Michigan from 2004 to 2007.
The Storm jumped out to a 19-0 lead behind three rushing touchdowns, including two by freshman tailback Desmon Turner in the opening quarter.
After Lake Erie's first touchdown, Keshawn Walker took the kickoff from end zone to end zone. But what would have been a 102-yard score, and a school record, was called back to the Northern Michigan 42-yard line due to an illegal block in the back.
With 9:19 left in the first half, the Wildcats got on the board thanks to a five-yard touchdown run by Mayon. Mayon's third touchdown in Northern Michigan's past two games was set up by a long pass by Brown. Brown found a charging Jaranta Lewis along the sidelines, and Lewis was pushed out of bounds inside the Lake Erie five-yard line.
The Storm responded with a field goal on its next drive. Then, Banyasz put Lake Erie ahead, 29-7, with a two-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the half; the quarterback set up that score by rushing 35 yards on a trick quarterback keeper to the Wildcat 49.
With five seconds left on the clock, Walter Jackson gave Northern Michigan momentum entering the break by returning a kickoff for a touchdown. After the kickoff following Banyasz's touchdown flew over Walker's head, Jackson picked up the ball and raced 66 yards to the end zone.
The Storm opened the scoring in the second half with a 20-yard goal field goal at 10:44 of the third quarter. The Wildcats responded, cutting the deficit to 32-21 on Lewis's first career touchdown catch on their next drive. Lewis's four-yard touchdown pass was set up by Woods, who beat his man down the sideline to haul in a 49-yard pass from Brown.
With Lake Erie threatening to extend its lead again on its next drive, Jackson again came up big. After Austin McCarthy hauled down Mitchel Tilley short of a first down on a 3rd and 4, Tilley coughed up the ball. Jackson came up with it at the Wildcat 32, and the resulting drive ended in a 20-yard field goal by Tyler Blackburn that cut the Storm's edge to eight.
Northern Michigan's game-tying drive started at 2:50 of the fourth quarter after the defense forced the Storm to go three and out. To keep the drive alive, Brown rushed six yards out of bounds on a 4th and 3. After a 10-yard Mayon rush, Brown connected with Woods for an 18-yard gain and Washington for a four-yard gain to set the Wildcats up at the Lake Erie 25.
Brown threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 19 for 46 passing. Mayon rushed for a career-best 143 yards while Lewis (71) and Woods (67) each surpassed 50 receiving yards.
The Northern Michigan defense was led by Darryl Williams, who posted 10 tackles, including two for a loss, and one sack.
The Wildcats return to action next Saturday at 4 p.m. when they welcome Angelo State to the Superior Dome for their home opener.
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