Football Drops 33-31 Contest To Michigan Tech

The Northwood University football team dropped a heartbreaking 33-31 contest as time expired to Michigan Tech Saturday afternoon (October 19).

Northwood falls to 2-5 overall, 1-4 in the GLIAC.  Michigan Tech improves to 4-2 overall and in the GLIAC.

Michigan Tech was the better team in the first half, earning 14-0 lead at halftime.  The Huskies held a 262-96 edge in yards at the break and a 14-2 advantage in first downs.  MTU had a rushing touchdown in the first and second quarter to earn the lead at the break.

Northwood got on the board early in the third quarter,  thanks to a big kick return by Bryan Thomas (Pompano Beach, Fla.).  He returned the opening kickoff of the second half 75 yards to put Northwood deep in MTU territory.  NU eventually scored on a five yard pass from Mark Morris (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) to Devonta Elzy (Chicago, Ill./Simeon) to make the score 14-7. 

MTU responded with a TD of their own to go up 21-7, but the Timberwolves came to life in the fourth quarter.  Northwood scored 17 straight points, starting with a Dan Richmond (Hartland, Mich.) 29-yard TD reception from Morris to make the score 21-14.  NU then got a 39-yard field goal from Keegan Haggarty (Macomb, Mich./Albion College) to cut the Huskies lead to 21-17. 

Michigan Tech was driving to extend their lead when the Northwood defense made a big play.  Nick Tripp (Detroit, Mich./Crockett) picked up a fumble deep in NU territory and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown, giving the Timberwolves their first lead of the day at 24-21.

That TD set up a wild final few minutes of the game.  MTU scored a TD less than 1:30 later, but missed the extra point to make the score 27-21.  Northwood came right back, finding the end zone with under a minute remaining.  Richmond scored his second touchdown of the day, this time from 26-yards away.  Haggarty's extra point made it a 31-27 lead for the Timberwolves.

MTU made its way down field in the final seconds and had the ball at the NU six yard line with four seconds remaining.  Huskie quarterback Tyler Scarlett's pass was intended for a receiver in the back of the end zone, but it was deflected by a Northwood defender.  Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, the deflection went right to Jordan McConnell, who caught the pass in the front of the end zone to give Michigan Tech the win.

MTU finished the game with a 583-325 advantage in total yards.  Northwood finished with 242 passing yards and 83 yards passing.  NU stayed in the game thanks to being a plus two in turnovers (3-1).

Morris finished the game with 242 yards passing and three touchdowns.  Richmond had 86 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns. Cody Ellwanger (Rochester Hills, Mich./Brother Rice) led the Northwood defense with 12 tackles.

Northwood will host Grand Valley State Saturday (October 26). Game time is set for Noon.