Roger Castillo
October 09, 2010
MLIVE.com
Northville had the playoffs in the bag going into the game, but the team was looking for something much more Friday night.
With a 27-14 win over Novi, Northville claimed the Kensington Lakes Atheltic Association Central Division title and the Baseline Jug - the Mustangs' first football league title in school history.
Northville is off to its best start since 1961 when the team finished 9-0. But coach Matt Ladach knew that against Novi his team would have a game on their hands.
“We knew that we had to take care of the ball against them (Novi),'' Ladach said. “Being aggressive is what we planned for and it worked for us tonight.''
Indeed Northville was, as the Mustangs went 4-of-5 in the Red Zone.
The defense swarmed Novi all evening, sacking quarterback Derek Ince four times and causing him to throw two inceptions and fumble on a punt return with 11:44 left in the fourth quarter.
Novi’s running game was held to just 45 yards in the second half and overall just 172 yards.
“This is our rival; when we play them its 0 and 0,” said Jonathon Alandt, who had 155 all-purpose yards - including an 85-yard kickoff return that set up the first score. He also had a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown.
“Since Jan. 2 we've been training and waiting for our chance to prove ourselves and we did tonight.''
Mustangs quarterback Jeffery Gertley went 8-of-13 passing for 107 yards. He started the scoring with a 1-yard keeper after Alandt’s return.
After Zach Mohr's 32-yard run for Novi tied the game at 7, Gertley and the Northville offense scored 20 unanswered points.
Alandt’s 3-yard run on fourth down led to a 14-7 score, and then Gertley found Brandon Love in the end zone with 58 seconds left in the first half for 13 yards to give Mustangs the 20-7 lead.
Another Love touchdown with 2:54 left in the third quarter gave the Mustangs the 27-7. Northville’s special team unit led by Victor Bodrie kept Novi in poor field position with punts of 44 and 36 yards.
Novi scored with 6:36 left in the fourth quarter on a Derek Kim 32-yard touchdown catch. But by then, Northville was in control defensively.
Next up for Northville is a home league crossover matchup next Friday night against unbeaten Canton.
“We are embracing Canton like any other team,” Ladach said. “We know how good they are and we are ready.''
“If we stop the run we can win,” Alandt said.
Novi (4-3 overall, 4-1 in the KLAA) entertains Plymouth on Friday in its KLAA crossover game and then faces Flint Carmen-Ainsworth in the season finale. Novi must win both games to guarantee a playoff spot.