Football Finishes Season With 41-17 Win Over Malone

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University football team finished their 2014 season on a high note, downing Malone 41-17 Saturday afternoon (November 15).

The Timberwolves finish the year 5-6 overall, 4-5 in the GLIAC. That marks a three-win improvement for Northwood over the 2013 season.  Malone finishes the year 1-10 overall, 1-9 in the GLIAC.

Malone got off to a fast start in the game, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive of the game to go up 7-0. Northwood bounced back with a strong remainder of the quarter, scoring the final 14 points of the quarter. Northwood got on the board with 4:11 remaining in the first on a Jared Briguglio (Saginaw, Mich./Swan Valley) six yard touchdown run to tie the game 7-7. Less than two minutes later, sophomore linebacker Michael Fisher (Rochester, Mich./Adams) came up with a big play. He came up juggling interception of a screen pass on the Malone four yard line, which he took to the end zone for a touchdown to put the Timberwolves up 14-7 after one quarter.

Northwood kept the momentum going into the second quarter, scoring two more touchdowns in the opening six minutes. Vashon Nutt (Chicago, Ill./Homewood-Flossmor) had a five-yard touchdown run, which was followed by a Cory Goble (Davison, Mich.) five-yard touchdown reception from Mark Morris to extend the lead to 28-7.  Malone scored a TD to cut the lead to 28-14, but Keegan Haggarty (Macomb, Mich./Albion College) connected on a 26-yard field goal to send the game to halftime with NU leading 31-14. The Timberwolves held a 229-155 advantage in total yards in the opening half. Northwood had tremendous balance in the half, finishing with 114 yards rushing and 115 yards passing.

The lone points of the third quarter were on a Malone field goal, sending the game to the fourth quarter with Northwood leading 31-17.

Malone had chances to cut the lead to a one-possession game, but were unable to cash in. Northwood then extended their lead with 7:42 to go on a Nutt eight-yard touchdown to cap an 80-yard drive. The Timberwolves capped the scoring with a late David Knudsen field goal.

For the game, Northwood finished with a 395-260 edge in total yards. NU had 192 yards rushing and 203 yards passing in the game.

Nutt led Northwood with 81 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns. Briguglio finished up with 68 yards and a TD. Morris went 10-16 for 203 yards and a touchdown.  Fisher and Mike Keith (Roseville, Mich./Warren De La Salle) each ended up with 10 tackles.