MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University football team (0-11 overall, 0-7 GLIAC) concluded its 2025 campaign with a 45-11 setback at Northern Michigan University (3-8 overall, 2-5 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon in the Superior Dome.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Wildcats took the opening kickoff and scored the game's first touchdown just 72 seconds into the contest as Noah Dobert had a 56-yard touchdown run on NMU's third offensive play.

The WSU offense put together a 10-play drive but a 52-yard field goal attempt by redshirt junior Avery Burch (Detroit, Mich. / River Rouge [Va. University-Lynchburg) was just wide right.

NMU increased its lead to 14-0 on a five-play, 65 yard drive as Dobert scampered 52 yards on a second-and-nine play with just under five minutes remaining in the opening stanza.

The Warriors had an eight-play drive that stalled at the NMU 39-yard line.

Second Quarter
On the fourth play of the second period, Northern Michigan's Noah Hoffman scored on a three-yard plunge to make it 21-0.  The scoring drive covered 80 yards in six plays.

A 21-yard kickoff return by freshman Ryan Spate (Boyne Falls, Mich. / Boyne City), along with a 15-yard pass interference penalty moved the Warriors into Wildcat territory.  Burch connected on a 44-yard field goal attempt to get WSU on the board.

The next drive for each team ended in a punt.  On NMU's possession, quarterback Trevor Theuerkauf's pass was intercepted by defensive tackle Justhin Austin (Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights [Defiance]).  Three incomplete passes preceded a 50-yard field goal attempt by Burch which was just short.

Third Quarter
On NMU's first play of the second half following a Warrior punt, Dobert had a 64-yard touchdown run to make it 28-3.

Following another WSU punt, Northern Michigan went 80 yards in three plays with Dobert breaking off a 72-yard touchdown run on third-and-two.

A fourth down completion by Wayne State was short near midfield.

The Wildcats went 55 yards in four plays with Sebastian Boyea hauling in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Theuerkauf on second-and-nine.

Each team punted on its last possession of the stanza.

Fourth Quarter
After a WSU punt on the first play of the fourth period, NMU was held to one first down but the Wildcat punt hit a Warrior in the back and was recovered at the WSU 35-yard line.

Northern Michigan's Michael Karlen connected on a 41-yard field goal attempt to make it 45-3 with 6:55 remaining.

Redshirt freshman Amauri Haller (Port Huron, Mich.) had a 33-yard kickoff return into NMU territory.  Wayne State went 40 yards in five plays with redshirt sophomore running back XaVior Tyus (Portage, Mich. / Portage Northern) scoring on a 15-yard touchdown pass from freshman Dylan Kress (Aurora, Ont. / St. Andrew's College Prep).  Redshirt freshman wide receiver Drew Hickmott (Ortonville, Mich. / Ortonville Brandon [Michigan} caught a two-point conversion pass from Kress.

WSU's Phil Cato (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. / U. of Detroit Jesuit) recovered the onside kick, but Kress was intercepted on second down and NMU ran out the clock.

TEAM STATS
Northern Michigan had a 488-170 edge in total offense, including a 466-73 advantage in rushing yards.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Tyus rushed for a team-high 67 yards on 14 carries.  Kress completed 12-of-32 passes for 97 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions.  Senior Justyz Tuggle (Redford, Mich. / Detroit Central [Bethune-Cookman) had game-high totals of five receptions for 55 yards.  In addition to his interception, Austin recorded a team-best 12 tackles (5-7).

LEADING THE WILDCATS
Dobert finished with 406 yards and four touchdowns on 32 rushing attempts.  Theuerkauf was 1-of-7 for 22 yards with one touchdown and one interception.  Jax Hertel posted a team-best 12 tackles (5-7).

UP NEXT
Wayne State will begin the 2026 campaign at home vs. Northwood on Thursday, September 3.