Timberwolves defeat Ohio Dominican, 28-12
OHIO -- The Northwood University football team opened GLIAC play with a 28-12 victory over Ohio Dominican Saturday afternoon (September 11).
The Timberwolves are now 1-1 overall on the season. The game was the season-opener for the ODU.
The Panthers opened the game by driving inside the Northwood 10 yard line, but senior Armon Turner (Muskegon, Mich.) forced and recovered a fumble to give the Timberwolves the ball at the ODU seven yard line. Northwood then needed just four plays to go 93 yards and open the scoring. The key play of the drive proved to be a 66-yard Jimmy Parsons' (Midland, Mich.) run. The drive was capped by a four-yard Jordan Jonker (Hudsonville, Mich.) run, which gave the Timberwolves a 7-0 lead.
Northwood was out-played for most of the half after the opening touchdown. The Panthers scored 12 straight points following NU's opening TD, giving them the lead late in the half. But Northwood scored an important touchdown with 1:01 remaining in the half. Quillan Mathis (Detroit, Mich./Finney) caught a 36-yard pass from Aaron Shavers (Detroit, Mich./Inkster), allowing Northwood to take a 14-12 lead to the break.
The Timberwolves controlled the play in the second half, as ODU was held scoreless. Following a blocked punt by NU's Ryan Whittum (Livonia, Mich./Churchill), Joe Bitterman (Chesaning, Mich.) found the end zone from 12 yards out, extending the Timberwolves' lead to 21-12. That would remain the score heading into the fourth quarter.
The key play of the fourth quarter came on third and eight with less than nine minutes remaining in the game. On third and eight, Shavers found Mathis once again, this time from 58-yards out to make the score 28-12. . Neither team would score the rest of the way.
Northwood finished the game with a 425-286 advantage in total yards. The Timberwolves finished the game with 300 yards rushing.
Senior Jimmy Parsons (Midland, Mich.) led NU with a career-high 98 yards rushing. Mathis finished with 94 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns. Shavers totaled 125 yards passing and 86 yards rushing.
Northwood will open the home portion of their schedule next Saturday (September 18) against Northern Michigan. Game time is set for Noon.
