Football Earns 26-11 Win Over Tiffin

The Northwood University football team posted its second straight win Saturday afternoon (Sept. 28), downing Tiffin 26-11.

Northwood improves to 2-2 overall, 1-1 in the GLIAC.  Tiffin falls to 0-4 overall, 0-3 in the GLIAC.

Tiffin was the better team early on, kicking a pair of field goals to take a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter after out-gaining the Timberwolves 114-14 in the opening quarter.  Northwood got things going about midway through the second quarter, getting on the board thanks to a Keegan Haggarty (Macomb, Mich./Albion College) 37-yard field goal to make the score 6-3. 

Northwood then took the lead for the first time late in the half.  The Timberwolves were driving, but faced a fourth and one at the Tiffin 35.  NU decided to go for it and executed a beautiful play-action pass.  Mitch Robinson (Rochester Hills, Mich./Avondale) found a wide-open Cory Goble (Davison, Mich.), who took it in from 35 yards out to make the score 9-6 at halftime.  It was Goble's first career touchdown.  Tiffin held a hugged advantage in time of possession in the first half (23:03-6:57), but Northwood cut into the TU yardage advantage – the Dragons held a 182-155 edge at the break.

The Timberwolves kept the momentum going right away in the third quarter.  Northwood went 79 yards on 13 plays to open the third quarter, capped by a Jordan Jonker (Hudsonville, Mich.) two-yard run to make the score 16-9.  That touchdown proved to be the lone score of the third quarter.

Just over five minutes into the fourth quarter, Northwood made it a two possession game thanks to Haggarty's 19-yard field goal, making the score 19-9.  The Timberwolves then put the game away on a 43-yard touchdown from Robinson to Devonta Elzy (Chicago, Ill./Simeon).  Northwood took a safety on the final play of the game to make the final score 26-11.

For the game, Tiffin finished with a 358-337 advantage in total yards, but that was only after Northwood took 36 yards of losses on the final drive killing the clock.  The Timberwolves finished the game with 254 yards passing and 83 yards rushing.  NU's defense came up with some big plays, finishing the game with a season-high nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

Robinson finished the game with 245 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Northwood offense.  Elzy led (70 yards, one touchdown) four receivers with over 40 yards receiving.  Mike Mann (Brentwood, Calif./Freedom) had three tackles and 2.5 sacks to lead the Northwood defense.

Northwood travels to Wayne State next Saturday (October 5).  Game time is set for Noon.