Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeCards drop the 'Axe' in near shutout
Northwood's defense, rushing attack are the story as 'Wolves win back the Axe
October 2, 2006 —
The final score in the 33rd annual Axe Bowl was 25-14, but the game was really not that close.
Northwood piled up 285 rushing yards and held SVSU to 222 yards overall and took a 25-0 lead into the final minute and a half of the game for a convincing win on Saturday.
SVSU scored two touchdowns in garbage time to avoid its first shutout since 1992.
"My hat's off to Northwood," Cardinals coach Randy Awrey said. "They played very solid and did everything you could think of right."
The Timberwolves used a strong first half to take a 17-0 lead into the locker room. Northwood's running attack could not be stopped in the half, as the Timberwolves rushed 34 times for 142 yards. Redshirt freshman Harry Agee led the way, gaining 73 yards on six carries.
Northwood's success on the ground allowed the Timberwolves to control the ball for just over 19 minutes during the half. They gained 179 yards on 45 plays, compared to the Cardinals' 23 yards on 19 plays.
Unlike a week ago, when SVSU and Northern Michigan traded touchdowns on seven consecutive possessions, the Cardinals could not muster any kind of rhythm on offense.
"We couldn't get anything going," Awrey said. "We didn't sustain any drives."
SVSU's longest drive in the half was a five-play, 25-yard drive after NU took a 17-0 lead with 2:14 to go. That drive ended with 58 seconds left in the half after the first of junior quarterback Chris Dougherty's two interceptions.
The Cardinals' only trip into Timberwolves' territory was on their first drive of the game. After an errant pitch from Kolbe on the first play of the game put Northwood on its own four-yard line, SVSU forced a punt and returned it to the Northwood 34-yard line. The Cardinals got one first down before being forced to kick a 41-yard field goal, which was blocked by junior defensive tackle Kyle Clement.
The block set the tone for the rest of the game, as the Cardinals did not surpass the 100-yard mark until there was 8:22 left in the game, when Dougherty completed a 12-yard screen pass to sophomore running back Brandon Emeott. Two plays later, Timberwolves senior linebacker Chareston Hughes returned Dougherty's second interception 31 yards to the SVSU 30-yard line.
After junior Northwood left tackle Mitch Krombach was carted off the field on the next play, Kolbe ran in from 24 yards out to put Northwood ahead 23-0. The point-after attempt was indicative of the type of game it was for the Cardinals; they blocked sophomore Chris Kollias' kick, but the ball fell into the hands of snapper Michael Gillmore, who went untouched into the end zone for a two-point conversion.
The Cardinals finally scored with 1:34 left on the clock with a 34-yard pass from senior Vinnie Miroth to junior Tyler Scott. Senior Bobby Belmonte aimed the ensuing onside kick to Kolbe, who was on the field as part of the Timberwolves' hands squad. Kolbe was unable to catch the ball cleanly, and Scott recovered.
Miroth found junior Mario Brunker on the goal line for a score eight plays and 59 seconds later to bring the score to 25-14, but the Cardinals could not recover another onside kick.
"I'm proud of the guys for playing until the end," Awrey said. "But we never played well."
Northwood opened the scoring with a three-yard run by wingback Antoine Ivy just 47 seconds into the second quarter. The run capped a 17-play, 75-yard drive that took 8:17 off the clock.
After a three-and-out by the Cardinals, the Timberwolves scored on their next drive, converting on a 29-yard field goal by sophomore Chris Kollias.
SVSU was forced to punt again after a three-and-out, and Northwood came back and drove 60 yards in nine plays and scored on a one-yard dive by sophomore fullback Torris Childs.
Truly representative of a game where an offense dominates a defense, two of the Cardinals' top four tacklers were safeties. Senior Joe DiGiorgio was second with 10, while fellow senior Jeff Mackey had nine. Junior linebacker Derek Volmering led the way with 11.
SVSU could not get anything going on the ground, rushing 24 times for 38 yards. Sophomore Brandon Emeott gained 42 yards on 11 carries.
Dougherty finished the game 9-of-22 for 87 yards and two interceptions, while Miroth, who played both in the second and fourth quarters, went 9-of-16 for 97 yards and two scores.
Scott caught four balls for 65 yards and a score, while senior Bob Awrey gained 46 yards on four catches. Junior Ric Cottengim, who was carted off with an injury in the second half, also had four catches for 31 yards.
The Timberwolves were paced on the ground by the fullback Childs, who rushed 23 times for 113 times, a 4.9-yard average, and a score. Kolbe gained 61 yards on 20 carries, which included a 16-yard loss on the botched pitch to begin the game.
SVSU, which most likely needs to win the rest of its games for a shot at the national playoffs, travels to Findlay, which is 0-4 in conference play, for a 4 p.m. Saturday matchup.