Watch a Replay HERE!

The last three times NorthWood and Mishawaka faced off at Andrews Field, each game was decided by just a point.

Keith Kinder knew his Cavemen couldn’t settle for a punt on the opening drive of Friday’s 4A Sectional quarterfinal. So after lining up in punt formation, the Mishawaka coach dialed up a trick playing, call for a hook & ladder on the fake punt. The Cavemen converted to keep the drive alive and went on to score a touchdown a few plays later to take a 7-0 lead. The hook & ladder was our Big C Lumber Big Play of the Game.

Mishawaka would jump out to a 21-0 lead and hung on to win the game 28-14 to advance to the 4A Sectional Semifinals.

Watch a Replay HERE!

Junior quarterback Landon Snyder rushed for a 34 yard touchdown to cap off that opening drive. Mishawaka then took advantage of a pair of NorthWood turnovers as junior running back Kadyn O’Neal rushed for two touchdowns to put Mishawaka up 21-0. Snyder and O’Neal were our Reliance Players of the Game.

NorthWood got all the way to the Cavemen one yard line with a minute left in the 1st half but a bad snap stalled the drive and the Panthers came away with no points.

NorthWood got its act together to start the 3rd quarter and raced back into it behind a pair of powerful touchdowns from Austin King and the Panthers suddenly pulled within 21-14 with just over four minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

Mishawaka’s flexbone offense controlled the tempo from there as NorthWood had limited opportunities to tie the game in the 4th. The Panthers had one last chance with 45 seconds remaining as they got the ball back but fumbled the ball and Mishawaka returned it for a touchdown to seal the game.

NorthWood ends its season at 5-5.

Mishawaka, the outright NLC champions, improve to 9-1. They’ll host Plymouth next week in the 4A sectional semis.