Posted: Sep 13, 2024
Game 2: Saginaw Valley State at Northwood: The Axe Bowl
Saturday, September 5, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. ET
Hantz Stadium | Midland, Mich.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Video - https://greatmidwestdigitalnetwork.com/northwood/
Live Stats - http://northwood.sidearmsports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
WSGW Broadcast - https://www.alphamediaplayer.com/wsgwsports
KICK-OFF
The Saginaw Valley State University Football team completes its two-game road trip to start 2024 with the Axe Bowl against rival Northwood on Saturday.
The Cardinals were victorious in their season opener at Winona State, earning a 38-14 result in that contest.
The Timberwolves also started the year 1-0 with a 28-14 win at Gannon last Thursday night.
THE AXE BOWL
This is the 48th Axe Bowl (the playoff game in 2005 was not an "Axe Bowl" contest). SVSU leads the overall series 32-16-1, with a 31-16-1 mark coming in official Axe Bowl games.
The Cardinals have won the last five meetings with Northwood, and seven of the last 10 matchups.
During the Ryan Brady Era, SVSU has outscored the Timberwolves 152-64.
1ST-AND-10
• Saginaw Valley State defeated Northwood last season 31-8 to win its fifth straight Axe Bowl. The last loss in the series came at Northwood (35-21) in 2017.
• The Cardinals were chosen fourth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason coaches poll.
• The 2024 schedule features four home games and seven road contests. SVSU begins the year with two road games (at Winona State and Northwood) before the home-opening contest on Sept. 21 against Truman State. The Cardinals were 2-3 on the road a year ago and 4-2 at home.
• Senior All-American linebacker Micah Cretsinger was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 and the D2 Elite 100 watch lists. Junior linebacker Brandon Rawls joined Cretsinger on the D2 Elite 100 list.
• Saginaw Valley faces three ranked opponents this season: at (#16/16) Indianapolis on September 28, (#4/4) Grand Valley State on October 19, and at (#3/9) Ferris State on November 9.
• Freshman quarterback Mason McKenzie leads the GLIAC in rushing yards with 134 after the season-opening win over Winona State. McKenzie scored three touchdowns and compiled 283 total yards against the Warriors with two passing scores and a rushing score.
• Junior safety Eli Gordon was awarded the GLIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week after his week one performance. The Midland, Michigan product had a fumble recovery on a kickoff in the first quarter that set the offense up at the opponent's 20-yard line and allowed the early 14-0 lead. Gordon also had an interception inside the SVSU 20-yard line that halted a red zone drive by the Warriors and blocked a field goal attempt before the half that kept the score at 31-14 going into the break.
• The Cardinal offense was efficient in game one as they scored on five of the first six drives against Winona State including four touchdowns.
• Saginaw Valley State finished the game with 427 yards of total offense with 172 through the air and 255 on the ground.
• Sophomore defensive back Jasper Beeler led the defense in tackles in week one with 10 stops against the Warriors. He also had an interception called back for a roughing the passer penalty. Leonard Henry IV compiled 1.5 sacks to put him close to 19th all-time in program history.
• Mo Kamara was the other Cardinal to get an interception with Gordon in the game. SVSU registered three takeaways in the contest while giving up zero turnovers in return.
