The North Wind

Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: photo courtesy of Carolyn Harless/The Reflector Wildcat wide receiver Fred Wells sprints away from an Indianapolis defender during last Saturday's game. Northern lost the game, 24-22.

The NMU football team-on the road for the 2007 season opener against the Indianapolis Greyhounds-failed to convert on a two-point conversion in the final minute of Saturday's game, coming just two points short in a heart-wrenching 24-22 loss.

"It's a loss and every loss, whether it's by one point or 30 points, feels pretty much the same," NMU head coach Bernie Anderson said. "It is not a good feeling."

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Wildcats (0-1 GLIAC, 0-1 overall) started the day off in strong fashion, driving 63 yards in 6:30.

The 12-play drive concluded with a 9-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Buddy Rivera to sophomore wide receiver Zach Nichols and NMU jumped out in front, 7-0.

Rivera finished the day with 304 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-44 passing, while Nichols collected 45 yards and two scores on four receptions.

Also at the receiving end of a barrage of Rivera passes was senior wide receiver Fred Wells, who snagged 11 passes for 124 yards on Saturday. The offense's production came as no surprise to the veteran.

"As a receiving corps, we have pride in what we do, so we always look to make big plays and whatnot," Wells said. "It's just expected of us."

Some expectations, however, aren't always realized. When sophomore NMU running back Mark Bossuah, who tallied 34 yards and one touchdown in the game, scored on a 1-yard run to pull the 'Cats within one (17-16) with just 14:15 left in regulation, sophomore kicker Jon Laue missed the game-tying extra point.

"We have to be able to kick the ball, too," Anderson said. "When you miss an extra point and when you miss a field goal, that's points off the board."

Laue was 1-for-2 on field goals, nailing a 32-yard try and missing a 47-yard attempt at the end of the first half.

"It was a close game and it could have gone either way," Wells said. "It was a game separated by like one or two plays and they didn't go our way."

Holding a one point lead, the Greyhounds (1-0, 1-0) stormed down field and tacked on another score, this time with an 8-yard run by junior running back Eric Wright with 5:28 left in the final quarter.

Continued...

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