Cardinal Football eNewsletter 2011 Season / Volume 4
Late Defensive Stop Clinches Axe Bowl Win There has been no shortage of drama in the 37-year-old Axe Bowl rivalry between SVSU and Northwood, with five of the last eight games being decided by five points or less. On Saturday night, the drama continued. With 44 seconds remaining, Northwood faced a fourth and one situation on SVSU’s eight-yard line down by eight points. The Cardinals’ defense, which allowed less than 200 yards on the night, made one last stand, stuffing Northwood’s Brandon Jackson at the line of scrimmage and clinching the 28-20 win. “You couldn’t have written a better script,” said head coach Jim Collins. The Cardinals didn’t allow an offensive touchdown all game, giving up only two field goals to the Northwood offense. “For [our defense] to get that stop there at the end was huge, but they played like that all day,” Collins said. “To only give up six points against an offense like this was a heck of an effort.” Northwood scored its first non-offensive touchdown off a 46-yard interception return that was bobbled by an SVSU receiver. The Cardinals took their first lead early in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Jonathon Jennings found senior receiver Nick Gallina for a 22-yard touchdown. Jennings found Gallina once again on SVSU’s next drive when Gallina made a juggling circus catch, catching a ball that popped out of his hands when he hit the turf in the end zone.