Northern Michigan's football team lost 41-19 to Minnesota State-Moorhead on Thursday, Aug. 27, in head coach Matt Janus's first game leading the Wildcats.

NMU trailed 21-3 at halftime despite outgaining the Dragons in first downs (15-8), passing yards (182-117) and total yards (264-243) over the first two quarters, WZMQ 19 reported. The Wildcats moved the ball but couldn't finish drives, going 4-for-11 on third down before the break and having a field goal attempt blocked.

Moorhead quarterback Drew Huebner punished those missed chances. He threw four touchdown passes and added a 73-yard rushing score in the second quarter.

Quarterback Liam Oczkowski completed 18 of 29 passes for 216 yards under heavy pressure. Wide receiver Isaac Olson led NMU's passing attack with 91 yards on five catches, including a 46-yard reception on the opening drive. Freshman Wilson Ptacek added 61 receiving yards.

Running back Noah Dobert carried for 80 yards and scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter. That touchdown capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive, according to the NMU athletics box score.

NMU used two quarterbacks. Duke Shovald connected with Kyle McGowan on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:01 remaining for the final score.

The Wildcats finished with 387 total yards to Moorhead's 462 and held a 34:44-to-25:16 edge in time of possession. They converted 7 of 19 third-down attempts compared to Moorhead's 7 of 11.

Freshman kicker Mason Bratonia made his first career field goal, a 35-yarder in the first quarter, and added his first career extra point in the fourth. NMU's defense also forced a safety in the third quarter when a bad snap on a Moorhead punt sailed into the end zone.

Linebacker Logan McGraw led the defense with seven tackles. Jax Hertel finished with five tackles, and Damarcus Chappell recorded a sack.

Janus took over a program that went 1-29 under predecessor Shane Richardson. He was hired Jan. 5 after leading Wisconsin-La Crosse to five NCAA Division III playoff appearances and two conference titles in six seasons.

At the opening of fall camp Aug. 6, Janus told WLUC he was working to integrate roughly 60 new players on a roster of close to 130: "We have I think close to 60 new faces within this football program right now, so trying to get them acclimated to not just the playbook, but where do they line up, where do they go on the field."

NMU hosts Tiffin in its home opener Saturday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m. at the Superior Dome.