Football Loses At Saginaw Valley 31-13

OVERVIEW – SAGINAW VALLEY

SCORE: Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 31, Northwood Timberwolves 13
RECORDS: Northwood (1-5, 0-3 GLIAC), Saginaw Valley  (4-3, 1-2 GLIAC)
LOCATION: Wickes Stadium – University Center, Mich.
RECAP: Football falls in the Axe Bowl to Saginaw Valley 31-13 Saturday (October 16).

INSIDE THE GAME

• SVSU got on the board first on their opening drive, going 49-yards in seven plays. The drive was capped by a field goal, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
• The Cardinals used special teams later in the quarter to extend their lead. After putting Northwood at their own two yard line after a punt and forcing a three and out, SVSU blocked the NU punt in the end zone, which resulted in a touchdown to make the score 10-0.
• The Timberwolves used a big play on special teams themselves to get on the board. Northwood's Jack Kalakay blocked a Cardinal punt, giving the Timberwolves the ball at the SVSU 25. NU's Max Gonos connected on a 40-yard field goal to make the score 10-3.
• More big plays on special teams extended the SVSU lead. NU's defense held, setting up a punting situation for the Cardinals at the NU 47. But the Cardinals executed a perfect fake punt, which resulted in a 47-yard touchdown run to push the SVSU advantage to 17-3.
• The Cardinals got one more touchdown late in the half, capping an 83-yard drive to make the score 24-3 at the break. Saginaw Valley held a 235-47 edge in yards at the break.
• Northwood was the better team in the third quarter and got the first points of the second half on a Max Gonos 28-yard field goal to make the score 24-6.
• NU immediately got the ball back after the Cardinals fumbled the kickoff. Northwood went 31 yards in nine plays and capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass from Nate Gomez to John Hall to get the Timberwolves within 11 at 24-13.
• Midway through the final quarter, the Cardinals took back the momentum on an 89-yard touchdown run to get the lead back to 18 at 31-13.
• That is where the score remained the rest of the game.

GAME STATS

• FIRST DOWNS: Northwood 12, Saginaw Valley 17
• RUSHES-YARDS: Northwood 37-62, Saginaw Valley 41-282
• PASSING YARDS (C-A-TD-INT): Northwood 131 (13-26-1-2), Saginaw Valley 77 (9-15-0-0)
• TOTAL OFFENSE, PLAYS-YARDS: Northwood 63-193, Saginaw Valley 56-359
• TIME OF POSSESSION: Northwood 31:57, Saginaw Valley 28:03

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

• Gomez: 10-18, 111 yards, TD
• Hall: Touchdown Reception
• Dylan Zagula: 10 Tackles
• Mbaimba Tunkara: Six tackles, Two Tackles for Loss

UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves will host Davenport Saturday (October 23). Game time is set for 1 p.m.