By Pat Culverhouse
A swarming Northwood defense completely shut down Minden’s usually high-octane offense, leading the Falcons to a 42-0 win over the Crimson Tide Thursday in a District 1-4A contest.
Minden came into the game averaging more than 30 points per game and slightly more than 330 yards in total offense. Falcon defenders held the Tide to just 95 yards in total offense on 47 plays as Northwood upped its season record to 8-1, 5-1 in conference play.
Northwood’s first score of the night came after the Tide defense seemingly held the high-scoring Falcons to a three-and-out on the game’s first possession. A running into the kicker penalty gave the Falcons new life, and seven plays later quarterback Nathan Cervantes rambled 18 yards for a 7-0 lead.
A bad snap on a Tide punt attempt put the Falcons in business at the Minden 10 just four plays later, and John Sneed pushed across from three yards out to make it 14-0 Northwood with just over four minutes left in the first quarter.
Northwood’s next two scores came on lengthy drives. Cervantes scored his second of the night from one yard out to cap an eight-play, 83 yard scoring drive. On the next possession, the Falcons marched 84 yards in seven plays, with Kyran Johnson’s 55-yard run providing the finishing touch.
A Cervantes to Rowan Lewis three-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds left on the clock sent the Falcons into a 35-0 lead at the half. Duntavious Young hauled in a 53-yard scoring pass from Cervantes with 8:34 left in the third quarter to end the scoring.
Minden’s best scoring chance came late in the fourth quarter when the Tide took over on its own 16 yard line and marched downfield to Northwood’s nine. With 3:35 remaining in the game, a fourth-down pass fell incomplete and the Falcons took over to run out the clock.
Tide rushers had been averaging just over 220 yards per contest (6.2 yards average per carry), but managed just 62 yards in 28 total carries against a blitzing Northwood defense that created 39 yards in losses.
Caylien Aubrey managed 44 yards on eight carries and Lucas Owens Jr. picked up 44 yards in 10 attempts to lead Tide runners. Hudson Brown completed seven of 19 pass attempts for 33 yards, and Mikey Shepherd had 19 receiving yards on two catches.
With the loss, Minden drops to 4-5 for the season and 3-3 in 1-4A play heading into the season’s final contest with Southwood Friday at W.W. Williams Stadium. The Cowboys come into the game fresh off a 62-16 loss to BTW.
A win in the last district contest could put the Tide in line for a state playoff berth.