Posted: Sep 28, 2019

Football Drops Tough 31-28 Contest To Ashland

Ashland

(2-2)

Northwood

(0-4)

Final

Ashland (2-2)

Northwood (0-4)

Game Leaders

Northwood

Pa: Joe Garbarino - 327

Ru: Cashual Goldsmith - 66

Rec: Christian Martinez - 103

Ashland

Pa: Austin Brenner - 144

Ru: Gei'vonni Washington - 125

Rec: Logan Bolin - 82

Team Stats

Ashland

Northwood

Passing Yards

144

327

Rushing Yards

228

Turnovers

Time of Poss.

33:10

26:50

OVERVIEW

SCORE: Ashland Eagles 31, Northwood Timberwolves 28
RECORDS: Ashland (2-2, 1-1 GLIAC), Northwood (0-4, 0-2 GLIAC)
LOCATION: Hantz Stadium – Midland, Mich.
RECAP: Northwood drops tough 31-28 contest to Ashland at home Saturday afternoon (September 28).

INSIDE THE GAME

The Timberwolves wasted no time getting on the board in their opening drive that featured four first downs and covered 59 yards. Parker Blust capitalized on the Northwood field position by converting a 47-yard field goal with 6:32 remaining in the opening quarter to take an early 3-0 lead.
Ashland returned the ensuing Northwood kickoff 50 yards to the Northwood 46-yard line before Simeon Lawrence forced a fumble and Jalen Lewis recovered it at the Northwood 37-yard line. The Timberwolves drove the ball down 47 yards. A false start penalty on the Timberwolves voided their first field goal attempt, and the Eagles were able to block the following 33-yard attempt to keep the Northwood lead at 3-0.
The Eagles responded with a 76-yard drive to the Northwood 2-yard line, finishing their 10-play drive with a pass from Brenner to Williams with 9:01 remaining in the half to take a 7-3 lead.
The Timberwolves covered 73 yards on 12 plays once regaining possession of the football. A 22-yard connection from Garbarino to Spicuzzi in the endzone put Northwood back on top, taking a 10-7 lead over Ashland with 3:06 left in the first half.
Ashland put together a quick drive, covering 44 yards in 2:02. The Eagles capitalized the drive with a 41-yard field goal to even the game at 10-10 with just 0:55 left in the half.
The Timberwolves capitalized on the little time left in the half, driving 40 yards in 0:46 to the Ashland 20-yard line. A Parker Blust field goal finished the drive, giving Northwood a 13-10 advantage going into the break.
Northwood kept the momentum rolling in the second half. A nice kick return by Spicuzzi gave Northwood the ball near midfield. On the following play, Garbarino hit Martinez for a 48-yard touchdown, extending the Northwood lead to 20-10 just seventeen seconds into the third quarter.
A key part of the game came late in the third quarter. NU had a second and one at the Ashland seven-yard line, trying to expand their 10-point lead. But the Timberwolves were unable to convert on three straight plays, giving the ball back to Ashland at their nine yard line. AU then went 91 yards for a TD, making the score 20-17 with 11:45 remaining in the game.
Ashland then intercepted a long pass from Garbarino just thirty-eight seconds later, giving the Eagles the ball back on Ashland's 44-yard line with 11:12 left in the game. Ashland capitalized a 56-yard drive on a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Washington to take the lead, going up 24-20 with 7:14 left in the game.
Northwood's following drive lasted only 0:44 seconds before resulting in a fumble recovered by Ashland at the Northwood 39-yard line. Ashland was then able to find the endzone with 2:08 remaining in the game to extend their lead to 31-20.
The Timberwolves quickly drove down the field, covering 78 yards in 7 plays before Garbarino connected with Leslie for a 1-yard touchdown. Garbarino's rush resulted in a successful 2-point conversion cut the Ashland lead to 31-28 with 1:07 remaining.
Northwood recovered an onside kick on their own 46-yard line with 1:07 remaining in the game to keep their hopes of winning alive. However, Ashland intercepted the Northwood pass on Ashland's 13-yard line fifteen seconds later, running out the clock and earning the 31-28 win.