Box score

MIDLAND, Mich.-  Host Northwood staved off a final comeback effort by the UIndy football team, clinging on for a 17-12 victory in rainy, muddy conditions at Hantz Stadium Saturday afternoon.  The Hounds had a 12-10 lead at halftime, but Michael Gillmore's second touchdown catch of the game proved to be the difference early in the third quarter.

NU (3-2, 3-2 GLIAC) got on the board first, taking the opening kick seven plays and 71 yards, capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass to Gillmore for a 7-0 lead.  UIndy (1-5, 0-5) responded just two plays later when Rob Doyle connected with Joe Leach for a 67-yard pass to paydirt.  The point after failed, however, and NU held a slim 7-6 advantage.

The scoring slowed significantly thereafter with the Hounds' final points coming with 4:25 left to play in the second quarter, when Doyle found Stephen Geller for a 24-yard TD toss and a 12-7 Greyhound advantage.

NU's Pat Sijan made a 29-yard field goal as the first half came to a close to trim UIndy's margin to 12-10 going into the break.  Cold, rainy and a muddy field helped contribute to three fumbles, three missed field goals and a missed PAT combined by both teams.

The Timberwolves got the ball in Greyhound territory on their first drive of the second half and made good on it, driving 30 yards over 10 plays.  The capper was a 12-yard score to Gillmore to put the T'Wolves back on top, 17-12 midway through the third quarter.

UIndy kept the ball for the next 8:09, converting on fourth down twice, but Jace Morrison missed a field goal wide left from 30 yards to keep the Hounds off the board.  The defense was able to force a punt and the UIndy offense again drove it in NU territory, but a sack on fourth down turned the ball back to the home team.

One final effort came with 40 seconds left, no timeouts remaining and the Hounds needing 80 yards.  Doyle completed passes to Ryan Forney, Leach and Joumeel McLaurine to get the ball down to the Northwood 22-yardline with one final play remaining.  Doyle's pass into the endzone was knocked down, sealing the NU homecoming victory.

Doyle finished the day 19-of-27 for 278 yards and two scores with no picks.  Leach grabbed four balls for 103 yards and a TD while Geller added four more for 58 yards and a score.  The Greyhound defense was led by #J.T. Owens#, who amassed a team-high 11 total tackles and forced and recovered a fumble.  Jacob Atkinson chipped-in 10 total tackles, 8 solo, in the loss.

UIndy will head to Big Rapids, Mich. next Saturday to battle Ferris State.  Kickoff is slated for 2:00 p.m.