Football Defeats Wayne State 31-13

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University football team claimed a 31-13 win over Wayne State Saturday afternoon (September 26).

Northwood is now 2-2 overall, 2-1 in the GLIAC. Wayne State falls to 2-2 overall, 1-2 in the GLIAC.

Wayne State took the opening kick and drove into field goal range, but the Warriors missed a 43-yard attempt. The Timberwolves responded by taking the ball and driving the length of the field, going 74 yards in seven plays to take the lead. The drive was capped by an Andre Carter (Grand Ledge, Mich.) 10-yard touchdown run, giving Northwood a 7-0 advantage.

After a stop on defense, the Timberwolves also scored a touchdown on their second drive of the day. Northwood went 82 yards in 12 plays, with the big play of the drive being a pass interference penalty on Wayne State on fourth down and 20. Luke Shaffer (Georgetown, Pa./Southside) capped the drive with a two-yard run to make the score 14-0. WSU responded with a touchdown of their own late in the half, sending the game to the break with NU leading 14-6.

Wayne State had allowed just three points in the second half of their first three games of the season, but Northwood came out strong to start the third quarter. The Timberwolves took the kickoff and went 88 yards in nine plays and found the end zone thanks to a Devonta Elzy (Chicago, Ill./Simeon) 43-yard touchdown pass from Mark Morris (Macomb, Mich./Dakota).

A David Knudsen (St. Charles, Ill./West) 37-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter extended the Timberwolves lead to 24-7.

The biggest swing in the game came shortly after the field goal. WSU scored on a 78-yard TD strike that made the score 24-13 with less than 12 minutes to go. Just at it looked like Wayne State was about to get the momentum, the Timberwolves responded with a big pass play of their own. Morris found Theron Wilson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Skyline) for an 82-yard touchdown on the third play of the following drive. That TD made the score 31-13 and rounded out the scoring.

For the game, Northwood finished with a 442-335 advantage in total yards. NU finished with a season-high 337 yards passing and 105 yards rushing for the game. The Warriors ended up with 206 yards passing and 129 yards rushing.

Morris led the way for the Northwood offense, finishing with a career-high 337 yards on 17-24 passing to go with two touchdowns. Wilson totaled a career-high 136 yards receiving and a touchdown on five receptions, while Elzy had 77 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Michael Fisher (Rochester, Mich./Adams) led the defensive effort with 11 tackles.

Northwood will host Walsh Saturday (October 3). That game will begin at 1 p.m.