MIDLAND -- The Northwood football team dropped its first contest of the season Saturday afternoon (September 29), falling to No. 18 Wayne State 21-11.
The Timberwolves are now 4-1 overall, 3-1 in the GLIAC. Wayne State improves to 3-1 overall and in the GLIAC.
Northwood drove right down the field and took a 3-0 lead less than five minutes into the game on a 28 yard field goal by junior Alex Faust (Midland, Mich./Dow). The Warriors wasted no time responding, scoring a touchdown 1:52 seconds later to take a lead they would not give up the rest of the day. Those two scores proved to be the only points of the opening quarter.
WSU would score the only touchdown of the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead to halftime. Northwood had advantages in first downs (11-7) and time of possession (17:52-12:08) in the half, but the Timberwolves committed the only two turnovers of the half. Northwood also scored just three points on three trips into the red zone in the half.
A long drive by the Warriors at the end of the third quarter made the score 21-3 heading into the fourth. Northwood again missed an opportunity in the quarter, getting inside the WSU 30 yard line before turning the ball over.
The Timberwolves cut the lead down to 10 with 8:00 remaining on an Aaron Shavers (Detroit, Mich./Inkster) 11-yard touchdown pass to Carrington Thompson (Houston, Tex./Lamar). Shavers then found Tim Zabawa (Warren, Mich./DeLaSalle) for the two point conversion to make the score 21-11. Northwood had two more possessions following that touchdown, but were unable to get anything going
For the game, Wayne State finished with a 342-339 advantage in total yards. Northwood had a 26-17 edge in first downs and a 31:56-28:04 advantage in time of possession, but were doomed by five empty trips into WSU territory.
Cameron Jackson (Dahlonega, Ga./Lumpkin) led the Northwood offense with 110 yards rushing on 17 carries. Linebackers Spencer Remtema (Rockford, Mich.) and Ryan Whittum (Livonia, Mich./Churchill) each added nine tackles to lead the Northwood defense.
The Timberwolves will host Saginaw Valley State next Saturday (October 6). Kickoff is scheduled for Noon
