MAPLE - Running back Nate Pearson was a one-man wrecking crew for the Northwestern High School football team Friday night in the Tigers’ 57-12 victory over Cumberland.
The junior ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter alone. He finished the night with 191 yards rushing and five touchdowns - one on a 33-yard interception return.
“I’m glad he’s on our team,” said Dennis Scherz, NHS head coach. “I’m glad we don’t have to prepare for him.”
Cumberland had more than it could handle when, for the second week in a row, Pearson broke away on the first play of the game for a long touchdown run. He took a pitch from quarterback Matt Lindsay and pushed aside a Cumberland defender as he sprinted away for a 61-yard touchdown.
“We’re teaching our guys to get on a guy and let him do his stuff, and the first play of the game they did,” Scherz said. “It was fun to watch.”
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The Beavers went three-and-out on their first drive, and Northwestern returned the punt to the Cumberland 35. A 3-yard run by Micah Goetsch and a 19-yard run by Pearson put the Tigers at the 13. Northwestern then went back 5 yards on a penalty before Pearson ran around the right side for an 18-yard score.
Cumberland’s troubles continued on the next series. Noah Anttila nearly picked off a pass on the Beaver’s first play, and when Cumberland went to the air again two plays later Pearson batted the ball into the air. Defensive lineman Lance Kimmes hustled to the ball and came up with the interception at Cumberland’s 31-yard line.
Ryan Pufall got Northwestern to the 11 with a run up the middle, and Goetsch carried the ball to the 7 on Northwestern’s second play. Pearson took the ball the rest of the way on the next snap, and Jordan Orme’s kick gave the Tigers a 21-0 lead.
Orme then booted the ball through the end zone for his third touchback of the night. The Beavers managed just two passing plays and one running play before turning the ball over again. This time it was Goetsch who pulled down the interception for Northwestern at the Beavers’ 27-yard line.
The Tigers needed only two plays to take a 28-0 lead on Lindsay’s 13-yard pass to Nick Johnson.
Cumberland rallied to end the quarter with a 12-play, 82-yard scoring drive and cut Northwestern’s lead to 28-12 in the second quarter after the Tigers lost a fumble at their own 45.
But the second half began with Pearson’s 33-yard interception return, and the game went to running time after Pearson and Goetsch each scored to give Northwestern a 49-12 lead.
Northwestern’s final TD of the night came courtesy of the Tiger reserves. Backup quarterback Jared Anttila orchestrated the 37-yard drive after Hunter Wiese came up with a fumble recovery with 5:59 to play. Justin Little and Carter Spangenberg combined to pick up a pair of first downs, and Anttila put the Tigers at the 4 with an 11-yard quarterback keeper. Little moved the ball to the 1-yard line, and Spangenberg broke through with 1:55 left on the clock. On the two-point conversion attempt, Little charged through for the final score of 57-12.
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Northwestern finished the night with 355 yards rushing. Pearson led the team with 192 yards on 11 attempts, and Goetsch added 71 yards on 11 attempts. Pufall also picked up 41 yards on just four attempts.
Lindsay finished 2-of-2 passing for 31 yards and one touchdown.
“Our kids really came out fired up and ready to play, and it once again showed the kind of football team they can be,” Scherz said.
Northwestern is now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the Heart O’ North Conference.
Next week, the Tigers will travel to Chetek to face the Bulldogs. Chetek-Weyerhaeuser (5-1, 3-1) suffered its first loss of the season Friday in a 9-7 defeat to Bloomer.
Northwestern 28 0 21 8 - 57
Cumberland 6 6 0 0 - 12
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First Quarter
N - Nate Pearson 61-yard run (Jordan Orme kick), 11:40.
N - Pearson 18-yard run (Orme kick), 9:12.
N - Pearson 7-yard run (Orme kick), 7:14.
N - Nick Johnson 13-yard pass from Matt Lindsay (Orme kick), 5:16.
C - Devon Williams 6-yard run (AJ Becker kick failed), 0:10.
Second Quarter
C - Blaine Stetler 5-yard pass from Payton Rose (pass failed), 3:21.
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Third Quarter
N - Pearson 33-yard interception return (Orme kick), 11:40.
N - Pearson 14-yard run (Orme kick), 3:22.
N - Micah Goetsch 1-yard run (Orme kick), 1:41.
Fourth Quarter
N - Carter Spangenberg 1-yard run, (Justin Little run), 1:55.
Team stats
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......................................................................................... C N
First downs.................................................................... 13 21
Rushing yards................................................................ 133 355
Passing completions-attempts.................................. 9-18 2-2
Passing yards................................................................ 86 31
Touchdowns-interceptions......................................... 1-3 1-0
Total plays..................................................................... 54 45
Total offense.................................................................. 219 386
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Fumbles-lost................................................................. 2-2 1-1
Penalties-yards.............................................................. 8-50 4-29
Sacks-yards lost........................................................... 0-0 2-8.0
Time of poss.................................................................. 27:03 20:57
Punts-average................................................................ 2-40.5 0-0
