Michael Weidenhamer
October 08, 2011
MLIVE.com
In a rivalry game full of soaring touchdown passes and long runs from Northville senior Billy Mitchell, the Mustangs beat Novi, 37-32, on Friday night in Kensington Lakes Activities Association football action.
Northville scored three touchdowns in the first 15 minutes, starting with Mitchell's 38-yard touchdown on the third play of the game to build a 20-3 lead.
But the victory against arch-rival Novi was never as easy for the Mustangs after that.
"I know people say this all the time with rivalries, but it doesn't matter what the record is in this game," Northville coach Matt Ladach said. "It doesn't matter who the coaches are, who the kids are, it all comes down to passion.
"And I am so proud of how our kids responded to the adversity they faced after the first half."
Northville (7-0, 5-0 KLAA) built its lead to 20-3 on 1-yard runs by senior quarterback Jeffrey Gertley and senior running back Jeffrey Hewlett, and the game seemed to be in hand against Novi (3-4, 3-2).
But that's when senior quarterback Derek Ince lobbed a 55-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Logan Regnier, breathing new life into the Novi offense and making it 20-10 Northville.
"Ince is a special, special kid," Novi coach Todd Pennycuff said. "And when the lights go on, his game steps up about five notches. Very good leader and probably one of the better quarterbacks I've ever had."
Northville's Gertley followed up with a big touchdown throw of his own. With 3:09 left in the first half, he threw a 48 -ard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Andrew Poterala, making it 27-10.
But then Novi made its strongest move. Ince threw a 15-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Michael Jocz, and Regnier returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown.
With just over a minute left in the half, the Northville lead had shrunk to 27-23.
In the second half, the teams traded field goals and then Northville went ahead 37-26 late in the third quarter on Mitchell's 52-yard touchdown run.
Novi couldn't get any closer until Ince's 41-yard touchdown to Jocz with three minutes left. The Wildcats missed the two-conversion, leaving the score 37-32.
The onside kick failed after that, and Northville held the ball the rest of the game.
"Before the game," Ladach said, "I told our players I believed they were better individuals, that they were better football players, and a better team than Novi. Tonight they proved me right."
Both teams play KLAA crossover games at 7 p.m. Friday against undetermined opponents.