No. 11 Northwood holds off Ashland, 45-42

October 31st, 2026 4:30pm

No. 10 / 11 Northwood football reaches 9-0 for the first time in program history with a 45-42 road win at Ashland Saturday (October 31).

Ashland set the tone for the day on the second play from scrimmage, going 76-yards for a touchdown run to go up 7-0 less than a minute in.
Northwood came right back on their first possession of the day, going 79-yards on 11 plays. Marquan Braswell capped the drive with a one-yard run to tie the score 7-7.
The Eagles responded with a touchdown pass to put Ashland back on top 14-7.
As the first quarter was winding down, Northwood used a gadget play on a field goal attempt to tie the game. Holder Case Boos took the snap on the fake field goal and ran into the endzone from four-yards out to make the game level again at 14-14 after one.
After the first defensive stop of the game by Northwood, the Timberwolves took the first lead of the day on a 59-yard drive. Braswell scored his second touchdown of the day on a two-yard run that made the score 21-14.
Ashland responded with a touchdown less than two minutes later to tie the game once again.
Northwood scored the final touchdown of the half on a deep pass from Ethan Hamby to Gerry Hanson. That 65-yard touchdown pass came 1:09 after AU's TD and made the score 28-21 heading to halftime.
Getting the opening kickoff of the second half allowed Northwood to take the first two-score lead of the day. Larry Ellison capped the 65-yard drive with a three-yard run that put the Timberwolves on top 35-21.
The Eagles responded with a touchdown late in the third to get within seven at 35-28.
Once again, Northwood came right back with a TD on the first play of the fourth quarter. Carter Minix caught a nine-yard pass from Hamby to put NU back on top by 14.
Ashland once again cut the advantage to seven with a touchdown at the 9:26 mark that made the score 42-35.
Northwood took nearly four minutes off the clock on their next possession, which Drew Cady finished off with a 27-yard field goal to make it a two-score game at 45-35.
AU finished the scoring in the game thanks to a TD with 11 seconds remaining that cut the Northwood lead to three at 45-42.
The Timberwolves recovered Ashland's onside kick attempt, giving Northwood their ninth straight victory.

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