Jeff Theisen
October 25, 2007
republished with permission of the Novi News
The Baseline Jug stays in Novi, but it took a fourth-quarter comeback for the Wildcats.
Northville did everything but act like a 1-7 team going into the game, holding a 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter before falling 27-24.
"The Jug stays and thank goodness for that," Novi head coach Tab Kellepourey said.
Novi (8-1) went back ahead with just 4:07 left when Wildcat quarterback initially fumbled the snap at the 1-yard line, but he had the presence to pick the ball up and fall into the endzone.
"It was just a big mistake," Heard said. "I just mishandled the snap and somehow it bounced right back into my hands, and I just ran it in."
The play was set up by a 46-yard screen pass from Heard to Arshaun Hall.
Northville claimed the lead earlier in the fourth when 6-6 David Burke hauled in a jump ball in the corner of the endzone for a 20-yard reception from Aaron Chew with 7:15 left to play.
"I think we've been kind of heading toward that kind of performance all
year," Northville head coach Ryan Hockman said. "We talked about it all
week, putting together a masterpiece. We almost put together a
masterpiece. Our kids battled."
Northville's final drive ended
when Chew couldn't connect with Burke on another fade pass from the
Novi 32. Novi got the ball with 1:32 left and ran out the clock.
Things
appeared all Wildcats early. They cashed in a pair of drives in the
opening quarter. Hall broke free for a 57-yard run with 5:55 to play.
Enright hauled in a 24-yard scoring pass from Heard with 2:49 left in
the first for a 14-0 lead.
The Mustangs switched sides for the
second quarter and benefited with the winds at their backs. Max Bojovic
put Northville on the board with a 47-yard field goal with 7:42 left in
the half.
Devine pulled the Mustangs within 14-10 when he
crashed in from 2 yards out for the final points of the first half with
3:54 left in the quarter.
Northville took its first lead earlier
in the fourth quarter when Andrew Devine returned an interception 21
yards with 6:19 left in the third.
Novi went back in front when
Heard bought time using a rollout before finding Chris Bellamy over the
middle for a 27-yard touchdown on a third-and-21 play with 2:05
remaining in the third.
"I saw an opening on the other side.
Mark threw a cutback and I caught it, and I don't know what happened
after that," Bellamy said. "It gives us a lot of momentum winning this
game."
Aaron Pugh stopped an early fourth-quarter threat from
the Mustangs intercepting a jump ball intended for Burke in the
endzone. Brandon Bryant tipped the ball, and Pugh made a diving catch
to stall the drive.
"It was Brandon Bradford," said Pugh, deflecting the praise. "If he didn't tip it, I wouldn't have caught it."
The
Wildcat win keeps the jug at Novi since 2001, and keeps their momentum
going as the regular season ends and the playoffs begin.
"Coach
Hockman's squad, they did a great job," Kellepourey said. "We got up
14-0 and things were rolling in a hurry. Northville did an outstanding
job staying in and fighting in that game.
"While that's going on and they're playing a good game, I'm very impressed with our guys here at Novi."
Hall led all rusher with 153 yards on 21 carries. He also caught three passes for 61 yards.
Heard finished with 8-for-18 passing for 161 yards and two scores with one interception.
"This
is a big jump for us," Heard said. "Just from losing those first two
games and coming back from those and just winning. It's a great winning
streak for us."
Chew finished 11-for-21 passing for 92 yards with one score and one interception. Burke hauled in five passes for 65 yards.
Devine scored once on defense and offense. He tallied 48 yards on 16 carries. Min Oh picked up 47 yards on nine carries.
Greg Hasse led the Northville defense with 22 tackles, seven solo.