MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University football team played its final road game of the regular season against Northern Michigan University on Saturday at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Mich.

The Cardinals scored 27 unanswered points and held off a late Wildcat rally to escape with a 30-21 victory. The win moves SVSU (RV) to 7-3 overall and 2-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

First Quarter:

• The first six drives of the game ended in punts as the score remained scoreless until NMU found a big play to go in front.
• With 3:22 remaining in the first quarter, the Wildcats took a 7-0 lead on an 80-yard touchdown run from Tyshon King.
• The quarter ended with each team trading three-and-outs.

Second Quarter:

• The Cardinals started a drive early in the second with good field position. SVSU marched down the field, 59 yards on 12 plays.
• Isaiah Malcome capped the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown, but a missed extra point kept NMU in front 7-6.
• After NMU missed a field goal attempt, a long drive by the Cardinals ended on downs at the Wildcat 14-yard line and the home team took the one-point lead into the locker room.

Third Quarter:

• SVSU took the first possession of the second half and went on a 13-play, 90-yard drive, concluding with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jarius Grissom. The score gave the Cardinals their first lead of the day at 13-7.
• The Cardinals made a big play on special teams with a 51-yard punt return from Malcome, setting SVSU up inside the NMU five.
• Two plays later, Tyler Amos rushed in from one yard out to extend the SVSU lead to 20-7.

Fourth Quarter:

• The Cardinals extended their lead early in the fourth with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Grissom to Jonah Meleski.
• The Wildcats stormed back with 14 unanswered points, including a 12-yard touchdown pass from Zach Keen to Brenden Sersaw to cut the SVSU lead to 27-21 with just under six minutes to play.
• The Wildcats got the ball back with 2:20 left but the Cardinals secured the win with a Trevor Nowaske interception deep in NMU territory.
• Connor Luksic made it 30-21 in favor of the Cardinals with a 23-yard field goal. The final NMU drive ended on downs and SVSU ran out the clock.

Inside the Box Score:

• SVSU outgained NMU 355-290, including 277-114 on the ground.
• Jarius Grissom made his second straight start at quarterback for the Cardinals. He was 11-of-20 passing for 78 yards and one score. Grissom added 24 carries for 93 yards and another touchdown.
• Isaiah Malcome added 14 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. He added a 51-yard punt return to set up an SVSU score.
• Tyler Amos carried the ball 11 times for 60 yards and a score.
• Casey Williams added six carries for 54 yards and four receptions for 31 yards.
• Trevor Nowaske led the SVSU defense with 10 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and an interception.

Up Next:

The 2022 regular season ends for SVSU at home against Michigan Tech on Senior Day at 1 pm next Saturday at Wickes Stadium.