MIDLAND, Mich. – No. 23rd-ranked Saginaw Valley State University outscored host Northwood University 21-7 in the second half to defeat the Timberwolves, 35-14, in non-conference football action Saturday at Hantz Stadium, capturing the Axe Bowl win and spoiling Homecoming and hall of fame day activities for the home team.

The Cardinals piled up 536 yards of total offense and 27 first downs while holding Northwood (2-1 overall) to 280 and 14, improving to 3-0 on the season.

First Quarter:

• SVSU scored on its first possession thanks to a takeaway as Nick Whiteside made an interception at his own 43-yard line to give the offense terrific field position. Four plays later, Casey Williams caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Brito to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead with 12 minutes and 1 second showing on the clock.
• But on SVSU's second possession, Northwood got on the scoreboard by taking advantage of good field position, too. After a three-and-out followed by a bad punt, the Timberwolves offense took over at the SVSU 35. In one play, Nate Gomez completed a 35-yard TD pass to John Hall and the game was knotted at 7-7 with 5:02 to go.

Second Quarter:

• But the Cardinals took the lead for good at the 2:14 mark. Tyler Amos plunged into the end zone from a yard out to cap a 63-yard drive in six plays in 2:05 time of possession.
• SVSU led 14-7 at halftime.

Third Quarter:

• The Cardinals also opened the second half scoring when Derrick Hinton Jr. hauled in a 53-yard TD pass from Brito at 12:34 on the game clock. SVSU increased its lead to 21-7 after recording the only points in the frame.
• The SVSU defense limited Northwood to just 43 total yards on two possessions, and the Timberwolves missed a 25-yard field goal after an 11-play, 65-yard drive.

Fourth Quarter:

• Saginaw Valley put the game away with a strong start to the frame. At 13:40, Brito scampered 61 yards to give the visitors a commanding 28-7 advantage.
• Then with 6:20 left, Isaiah Malcome accounted for nearly half of his 73 rushing yards on a 32-yard TD run to increase the Cardinal lead to 28 points.
• Northwood ended the scoring on an Ethan Whitey two-yard TD rush. That finished off a long drive of 14 plays, 77 yards, and 4:55 in time of possession.

Inside the Box Score:

• Brito finished 17 for 23 passing with 248 yards and a pair of TDs, and he ran for another 110 yards on just 11 carries. He was named the Meijer Player of the Game for SVSU. 
• The Cardinals lead the Timberwolves 31-16-1 in the all-time series, including victories in the last four Axe Bowl meetings.
• Hinton led all receivers with 116 yards on just four receptions.
• Saginaw Valley made its season debut in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Division II poll this week at No. 23 – the program's first NCAA national rankings appearance since 2019.
• Gomez wound up completing 17 of 31 passes for 255 yards, and Hall led NU receivers with six catches and 93 yards.
• Jacob Dorn (7 total tackles) added to the SVSU defense with 2.5 sacks for 17 yards and three tackles for a loss of 18 yards. As a team, the Cardinals had six sacks.
• The SVSU defense--led by Trevor Nowaske who had five tackles and nine total--did not allow a rusher or receiver to eclipse 100 yards this afternoon.
• Northwood's Jace Parrish topped all defenders with seven solo and 11 total stops.

Up Next:

The Cardinals make the trek to the Upper Peninsula next Saturday to face intra-state foe Michigan Tech at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Postgame interview with Head Coach Ryan Brady Below: