Football Opens Season With 23-18 Win Over Northern Michigan

OVERVIEW – NORTHERN MICHIGAN

SCORE: Northwood Timberwolves 23, Northern Michigan Wildcats 18
RECORDS: Northwood 1-0, Northern Michigan 0-2
LOCATION: Hantz Stadium – Midland, Mich.
RECAP: Northwood football opens the season with a 23-18 win over Northern Michigan Saturday afternoon (September 6).

INSIDE THE GAME

• After Jack Murray forced and recovered a fumble on the opening drive of the game for Northwood, the Timberwolves marched right down the field. NU went 47 yards in four plays, finding the end zone on a Devin Brown 15-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0.
• The Timberwolves got a stop on the next NMU drive and took over at the Wildcat 48-yard line after a Carter Minix 33-yard punt return. Seven plays later, Drew Cady connected on his first career field goal, a 33-yarder that made the score 10-0.
• NU had a chance to extend their lead on their next possession, getting all the way down to the NMU five before failing to convert on fourth down, keeping the score at 10-0 after one.
• Northern Michigan made a big play early in the second quarter to get on the board. A tackle for loss in the endzone resulted in a safety to make the score 10-2.
• The Wildcats then drove 80 yards in eight plays after the free kick, scoring a touchdown to get within two at 10-8.
• Northwood responded on the following drive, getting all the way to the NMU one before settling for a Cady 19-yard field goal to make the score 13-8 at halftime.
• The Timberwolves opened the second half with a big play, as Minix took the second half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. That return extended the lead to 20-8
• NMU came right back with a 64-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to make the score 20-11.
• Neither team was able to put up any points the remainder of the third, sending the game to the final quarter with NU leading 20-11.
• Minix once again came up with a big play on special teams early in the fourth quarter, returning a punt 39 yards to the NMU 37. That set up Cady for his third field goal of the day, a 25-yarder that put NU on top 23-11.
• Northern Michigan continued to fight but needed until the final moments of the game to make it a one-possession contest. NMU's TD made the score 23-18 with seven seconds remaining.
• The Wildcats were unable to recover the onside kick, giving Northwood the victory.

GAME STATS

• FIRST DOWNS: Northwood 14, Northern Michigan 24
• RUSHES-YARDS: Northwood 31-110, Northern Michigan 51-164
• PASSING YARDS: Northwood 145 (12-23, 0 TD, 0 INT), Northern Michigan 232 (14-25, TD, 2 INTs)
• TOTAL OFFENSE, PLAYS-YARDS: Northwood 54-255, Northern Michigan 76-396
• TIME OF POSSESSION: Northwood 24:45, Northern Michigan 35:15

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

• Minix: 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown, 39-yard punt return, 33-yard punt return
• Brown: 13 carries, 57 yards, TD, 20 yards receiving
• Ethan Hamby: 130 yards passing, 27 yards rushing
• Joe Lathers: 11 tackles, sack
• Cole Simpson: Eight tackles, forced fumble, interception

UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves travel to rival Saginaw Valley for the Axe Bowl next Saturday (September 13). Game time is set for 6 p.m.