Football Opens Season With 38-7 Win At Siena Heights

OVERVIEW – SIENA HEIGHTS

SCORE: Northwood Timberwolves 38, Siena Heights Saints 7
RECORDS: Northwood (1-0), Siena Heights (0-1)
LOCATION: O'Laughlin Stadium - Adrian, Mich.
RECAP: Northwood controls play on both sides of the ball in a 38-7 road win over Siena Heights Saturday afternoon (September 2).

INSIDE THE GAME

• After two three-and-outs to start the game, Northwood put together a long drive to get on the board.  A 17-play, 65-yard drive that took 8:03 off the clock was capped by a David Riser 35-yard field goal to put the Timberwolves up 3-0 with 4:02 remaining in the first quarter. That is what the score remained at the end of the first. Northwood led by just three points despite out-gaining Siena Heights 102-8 after one.
• Northwood extended their lead around midway through the second quarter. After a 43-yard pass from Joe Garbarino to John Hall, Garbarino capped a 58-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to make the score 10-0.
• The Timberwolves got great field position on their next drive and took full advantage of it. Taking over at the SH 17, Northwood needed just two plays to find the end zone. Garbarino ran it in from nine yards out extend the advantage to 17-0.
• Northwood got another three-and-out on defense and used their big-play offense to get the final points of the half. Garbarino got the drive going with a 35-yard pass to Alex Spicuzzi. On the next play, Garbarino found the end zone for the third time on the day on a 20-yard run, sending the game to halftime with NU leading 24-0.
• The stat sheet showed the level of dominance the Timberwolves had in the half – Northwood out-gained Siena Heights 269-16 and held a 16-0 edge in first downs.
• The Timberwolves scored found the end zone for the fourth straight time early in the third quarter. NU went 31 yards in eight plays, which was finished by an Allante Shy one-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 31-0.
• Northwood's second-string offense got into the act on the following drive. After a forced turnover by the defense, Spencer McCourt found Gary Landless for a leaping 32-yard touchdown pass to put Northwood up 38-0.
• With their backups in for the rest of the game, Northwood was held off the scoreboard the rest of the way. Siena Heights scored the final points of the game early in the fourth, making the final 38-7.

GAME STATS

• FIRST DOWNS: Northwood 21, Siena Heights 6
• RUSHES-YARDS: Northwood 56-187, Siena Heights 31-22
• PASSING COMPLETIONS-ATTEMPTS-YARDS: Northwood 9-13-152, Siena Heights 11-21-70
• TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS: Northwood 69-339, Siena Heights 52-92
• THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: Northwood 6-14, Siena Heights 4-16
• TIME OF POSSESSION: Northwood 33:13, Siena Heights 26:47

STAT LEADERS

• Joe Garbarino: 7-10 passing, 117 yards; 19 carries, 65 yards, 3 touchdowns
• Travis Wiltjer: Seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery

GAME NOTES

• At the point when Northwood pulled their starters leading 31-0, the Timberwolves held a 289-29 advantage in total yards and a 19-0 edge in first downs.

UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves will travel to Missouri S&T next Saturday (September 9). Game time is set for 8 p.m. Eastern time.