Published: August 30, 2008 12:17 am            

Tigers ‘D’ dominates Warriors

NW’s ball control also key in win No. 2.

Northwestern and North Miami renewed a rivalry Friday night after a three-year hiatus.

With a solid 26-7 win over the Warriors, the Purple Tigers opened the season 2-0 for the first time since — you guessed it — 2004 when Northwestern kicked off their campaign with victories over Frankton and North Miami.

After a 27-0 shutout of Frankton a week ago, the Tigers used a stingy defense and a balanced offense to outmuscle a tough North Miami squad that went 9-3 last season. Northwestern built a 14-0 lead in the first half and survived an error on the second half kickoff that energized the Warriors and narrowed the gap to 14-7. But the Tigers were able to right the ship and pull away in the fourth quarter with two unanswered scores.

NW coach John Hendryx noted how close the Tigers came to a second straight shutout.

“I told coach [Blake] Betzner, our defensive coordinator, that [North Miami] might not have scored except for the mistake on the kickoff,” said Hendryx. “He has done a great job with our defense.”

Two long drives by Northwestern accounted for much of the first half action. After North Miami opened the game with a solid 63-yard drive that stalled at the Tigers’ 5-yard line, Northwestern launched an impressive 14-play, 95-yard touchdown march that consumed over six minutes and culminated in Luke Miller’s eight-yard scoring scamper around right end. Along the way, Miller had runs of 15 and 14 yards, and QB Trevor Gibson connected with Mitch Dailey on a key 14-yard completion.

The Warriors managed a short drive but turned the ball over on downs when they fell an inch short on fourth and two. The Tigers struck again, this time going 66 yards in nine plays. Miller started the charge with a 16-yard run, Nathaniel Walter bulled up the middle for 19 more on a great second effort run, and Gibson capped it with a six-yard toss to Brayden Merrell to make it 14-0.

Seemingly in control and ready to receive the second half kickoff with a chance to add to their lead, the Tigers suffered a setback when returner Imhotep Thomas-Miller forgot the kickoff was a live ball and let it roll to the NW 2-yard line where the Warriors recovered. Two sneaks by QB Aaron Barker resulted in a score and a tight game at 14-7.

Tiger fans were getting tense when Gibson made one of his few mistakes on the night. Chandler Alwine picked off Gibson’s pass and put North Miami back in business at midfield. But Michael Schulte answered for the Tigers with an interception of his own to change the momentum.

After an exchange of punts, NW got back on track. Moving 64 yards in 11 plays, the Tigers scored on Gibson’s five-yard TD pass to Eric Miller with 11:50 remaining. The big play of the drive was a Gibson to Merrell 27-yard strike over the middle.

“I was proud of how Gibson played on offense, except for that one bad decision [the interception],” Hendryx said.

Northwestern’s final score came after Schulte blocked a Warrior punt and recovered it at the North Miami six. Walter scored on a three-yard burst up the middle.

North Miami coach Greg Miller said, “It was a physical ball game. I think both sides wanted to come out and give it everything they had, and both sides did. Sometimes it takes something like this to get better. Northwestern has a very good squad.”

Things get tougher for the Tigers as they host Mid-Indiana Conference rival Lewis Cass on Friday.

Hendryx said, “I like our schedule because it gets tougher every week, so we have to get better every week. We know we have our hands full this week. It’s Lewis Cass. You know you will be facing a solid team that is as well-coached as any team in the state of Indiana.”

        

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