Football Grinds Out 17-13 Win Over Walsh

OVERVIEW – WALSH

SCORE: Northwood Timberwolves 17, Walsh Cavaliers 13
RECORDS: Northwood 9-2, 7-2 G-MAC | Walsh 6-5, 4-5 G-MAC
LOCATION: North Canton, Ohio
RECAP: Northwood football grinds out tough 17-13 road win over Walsh to finish regular season Saturday (November 15).

INSIDE THE GAME

• Walsh took the opening kickoff and went right down the field. The Cavaliers went 75 yards in 7:33 on their way to the endzone for a 7-0 lead.
• The Cavaliers posted a similar drive at the end of the first quarter, this time going 74 yards in route to a field goal on the first play of the second quarter that made the score 10-0.
• WU controlled the opening quarter, finishing with a 123-10 advantage in total yards.
• Northwood's offense got going on their first drive of the second quarter thanks to a big play from quarterback Ethan Hamby and receiver Gerry Hanson. Their 55-yard touchdown connection made the score 10-7.
• The Timberwolves had a few more chances to get points throughout the second quarter but the score remained 10-7 at the break.
• NU tied the score late in the third quarter on a 78-yard drive that covered 11 plays. Drew Cady connected on a 25-yard field goal that tied the game at 10-10.
• Walsh took the lead back at the 8:08 mark of the fourth quarter on a 25-yard field goal that made the score 13-10.
• Northwood responded right away, scoring what proved to be the game-winning drive on their next possession. Hamby found the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run to cap a seven play, 59-yard drive.
• NU got a three and out on defense on the next Walsh possession, which gave the ball back to Northwood with 3:45 remaining. The Timberwolves put together three first downs to run out the clock and earn the victory.

GAME STATS

• FIRST DOWNS: Northwood 20, Walsh 16
• RUSHES-YARDS: Northwood 40-155, Walsh 44-185
• PASSING YARDS: Northwood 251 (20-31, TD, 0 INTs), Walsh 37 (7-15, 0 TDs, 0 INTs)
• TOTAL OFFENSE, PLAYS-YARDS: Northwood 71-406, Walsh 59-222
• TIME OF POSSESSION: Northwood 27:18, Walsh 32:42

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

• Hamby: 20-31, 251 yards passing, TD, 71 yards rushing, TD
• Mitch Rivard: Four receptions, 74 yards
• Hanson: 55-yard TD reception
• Lake Boos: Six receptions, 57 yards
• Carter Minix: 46-yard punt return
• Joe Lathers: 11 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss
• Aviere Thomas: 11 tackles
• Aidan Halliday: Three tackles for loss, sack

NORTHWOOD NOTES

• After Walsh had a 123-10 yardage and a 9-1 first down advantage in the first quarter, Northwood held a 321-47 edge in yards and a 13-2 edge in first downs over the next two quarters.
• Northwood's nine victories are the most for the NU football program since the 2005 season, when the Timberwolves ended with 10 wins for the second consecutive year.
• The Timberwolves entered the final week of the regular season ranked No. 9 in the Super Region three rankings, with the top eight teams in the region earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Sixth ranked Minnesota State, seventh ranked Upper Iowa and eighth ranked Augustana all lost on Saturday.

UP NEXT

• Northwood will find out if they have earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament Sunday (November 15) when the field for the event is announced on NCAA.com. at 6 p.m.