FB: 2A #16 Northwestern survives shootout with rival Western, 48-46

By Mike McGraw
Executive Director

KOKOMO –Wildly contrasting styles, same results, incredible football game. That, in a nutshell, is the story Sept. 11 of Class 2A No. 16 host Northwestern’s dramatic 48-46 victory over Mid-Indiana Conference rival Western.

This writer is not even going to try to chronicle this game score by score – I would contract carpal tunnel syndrome and you would be stuck reading “War and Peace,” football style. Instead, simply consider some of the following facts:

•    In a game that featured 14 touchdowns, neither team ever held a two-score lead. The largest margin was eight points.
•    There were 11 scoring plays of 19 yards or more.
•    Western amassed more than 400 yards rushing, including 270 yards and five touchdowns by Jake Askren.
•    Northwestern accumulated 300 yards passing. Quarterback Trevor Gibson, playing his first game of the season following an ankle injury, connected on five touchdown passes. By the way, the Tigers only threw the ball 14 times.
•    Northwestern had more touchdowns than it had first downs!
•    Northwestern’s Brayden Merrell caught four touchdown passes.
•    There was an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Tiger sophomore Marcus Salazar.
•    The game was decided by a solid DEFENSIVE play.
•    Other than that stuff, it was just another night of ho-hum football.

At intermission, Western held a 27-21 lead. The Panthers had scored on a touchdown run from fullback and part-time quarterback Mike Jakubowics, plus scampers of 28, 12, and 19 yards by Askren. Northwestern had countered with a 25-yard scoring jaunt from senior Michael Schulte, a 57-yard touchdown pass from Gibson to Merrell, and a 61-yard strike to Schulte.

Northwestern received the kick to start the second half, and the Tigers scored in four plays on a 51-yard pass to Merrell. A failed extra point, however, left the game tied at 27.

For the only time in the game, the Tiger defense stiffened against the Western rushing attack, causing the Panthers to go three-and-out on their next two possessions. Meanwhile, the Tigers slipped in another four-play, 60-yard drive capped by a 41-yard scoring strike to Merrell to lead 34-27.

Western decided this quick-strike thing was a good idea. The Panthers responded with a 54-yard scoring dash from Askren on the second play of the ensuing drive. The contest was again tied, this time at 34 each.

But the Tigers took “quick strike” to a totally new level when Salazar returned the kickoff for an 89-yard score, and it was 41-34.

Western again responded by pounding the ball on the ground and scoring on a six-yard plunge from Jakubowics. It was at this point the game took a fateful twist. Western coach Alix Engle chose to go for two points on the conversion, but the Panthers failed and still trailed, 41-40.

The decision would become critical in the game’s final minute.

Northwestern responded with its most sustained drive of the night. The Tigers controlled the ball for about five minutes before scoring on a three-yard run by Derrick Moumah, a young man whose name didn’t even appear on the program roster. When the Tigers successfully kicked the extra point, they led by eight at 48-40.

Western managed to mount a final scoring drive in less than two and a half minutes, scoring with 42 seconds to play on a seven-yard run by Askren. The Panthers, however, were now in a position where they had to go for two points on the conversion just to tie.

They called on Askren one more time, but the Tiger defense stuffed him at the 2. Northwestern then fielded an onside kick to seal the wild victory.

This was yet another rendition of a longtime Howard County and Mid-Indiana Conference rivalry. It was witnessed by a packed house at Northwestern. You can bet that everyone left believing it was the best five dollars they had spent in a long, long time.

Next up for Northwestern (3-1, 1-1) is a Sept. 18 league date at Taylor (1-3, 0-2), a 27-14 Week 4 loser at Peru. Western (1-3, 1-1) returns home next Friday to face Maconaquah (1-3, 0-2), a 28-7 Week 4 loser against Eastern (Greentown).