Football Falls At Northern Michigan 34-15

The Northwood University football team dropped a 34-15 contest at Northern Michigan Saturday afternoon (November 2).

Northwood falls to 2-7 overall, 1-6 in the GLIAC.  Northern Michigan improves to 3-5 overall and in the GLIAC.

After a scoreless first quarter, both teams moved the ball well in the second quarter. Northern Michigan got a big punt return and then needed just two plays to score a 33 yard touchdown to go up 7-0.  Later in the quarter, Northwood drove 38 yards and earned a Keegan Haggarty (Macomb, Mich./Albion College) 24-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.  NMU responded by going right down the field on a 76 yard drive, capped by a touchdown to go up 14-3.  The Timberwolves put together a good drive of their own, going 66 yards on 15 plays.  But NU failed to score after earning first and goal at the two yard line, sending the game to halftime with the Wildcats still up 14-3.

The Timberwolves got the second half off to a great start, going 67 yards on nine plays.  The drive was capped by a Mark Morris (Macomb, Mich./Macomb Dakota) seven yard run, making the score 14-9.

After NMU scored another TD to extend the lead to 20-9, the key part of the game came late in the third into the early part of the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves drove down into the NMU redzone, but their field goal attempt was blocked.  The Wildcats then scored a touchdown six plays later, extending their advantage to 27-6.  Northwood lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, which the Wildcats took down for another touchdown to go up 34-6.

The Timberwolves capped the scoring early in the fourth quarter on a Morris to Devonta Elzy (Chicago, Ill./Simeon) six yard touchdown pass.

For the game, Northwood finished with advantages in most statistical categories.  The Timberwolves out-gained the Wildcats 419-372, finished with a 31-16 advantage in first downs and held a 30:37-29:23 edge in time of possession.  But missed opportunities doomed the Timberwolves.  Northwood scored on just three of seven trips into the Northern Michigan redzone.  In all, the Timberwolves had seven possessions reach Northern Michigan territory where they failed to score.

Morris finished the game with 290 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns. Glenn Winston (Detroit, Mich./Michigan State) had 75 yards rushing to lead the ground attack.  Eric Williams (Romulus, Mich./Inkster) and Elzy totaled 71 and 70 yards, respectively, receiving.

Northwood will host their final home game of the season next Saturday (November 9), taking on Ferris State.  Game time is set for Noon.