Friday, August 28, 2026
TRAVERSE CITY — Two first-quarter fumble recoveries helped Novi turn an early deficit into a 13-7 lead Friday night at Thirlby Field. Traverse City Central answered with 28 points in the second quarter and ran away with a 55-22 victory in the Wildcats’ season opener.
Novi had a chance to strike first, moving to Central’s 26 on its opening possession before losing a fumble. Central responded with a 77-yard drive capped by Kaden Bowman’s 13-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats’ defense soon gave the offense a short field. Ayden Marcum recovered an Isaac Turnwald fumble and returned it 27 yards to the Central 16. Aidan Cook gained eight yards, and Cody Walker found Johnny Woytowich for an 8-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked, leaving Novi behind 7-6.
Later in the quarter, Marcio Tavolari recovered another Turnwald fumble at the Novi 48. Walker moved the Wildcats downfield with a 19-yard completion to Colin Leggett and two catches by Cam Ellison. He finished the 52-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Trent Jackson-McGowan. Cook’s extra point put Novi ahead 13-7 with 1:28 left in the first.
Central reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter on Tripp Gle’s 34-yard touchdown run. The game turned further when Blake Weaver intercepted a Walker pass and returned it 61 yards for a score. Turnwald’s 1-yard run soon made it 28-13.
Novi answered with its longest touchdown drive of the night. Starting at its own 19, the offense converted third downs on passes to Woytowich, Cook and Leggett. Walker completed the 12-play, 81-yard series with a 1-yard run, cutting the deficit to 28-19 after the conversion attempt failed.
Central went 85 yards for another touchdown before halftime, but Novi got the final points of the half. Cook made a 47-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Wildcats to the locker room down 35-22.
The gap widened quickly after the break. Landon Herendeen scored on a 68-yard run on Central’s first possession of the third quarter. Novi reached the Central 17 on its next drive, but a sack pushed the Wildcats back, and Cook’s 39-yard field-goal attempt missed. Gle added another 34-yard touchdown run later in the quarter, and Central scored once more in the fourth.
Walker completed 23 of 38 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Leggett caught five passes for 80 yards; Dante Darling added four for 54. Alex Abler led Novi’s defense with 17 tackles.
The Wildcats generated 301 yards of offense, but Central rushed for 514. Novi’s takeaways created its early lead; Central’s long runs and second-quarter interception return made it impossible to hold.