MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University football team scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to top McKendree Univeristy 30-9 in its season opener here Saturday.

Trailing 6-3 with 16 seconds left in the first quarter, the Wildcats took their first lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Johnson to Ryan Knight to make it 10-6.

McKendree added a field goal in the second quarter, but the second half was all NMU.

Tyshon King scored on a 24-yard run to make it 17-9 at the 6:47 mark of the third quarter, and exactly six minutes later, Johnson found Mitch Heaton on a 10-yard pass for a 24-9 lead. The Wildcats scored their last touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard pass from Johnson to Benjamin Loutsis to make it 30-9.

The Wildcats ran for 138 yards, led by King with 80. Deandre Caldwell added 33 and Sebastion Toland chipped in 30. Johnson finished 10-for-14 for 130 yards and three touchdowns for the first time of his career. Ravon Johnson tallied three catches for 36 yards while Loutsis caught two passes for 50 yards and a score. Knight finished with two catches for 29 yards and a TD. Isaac Darkangelo led the defense with eight tackles.

NMU visits the University of Texas of the Permian Basin Saturday.