By Rodney Young
NRVSports.net
Riner— On a mild evening, the Auburn Eagles beat the visiting Northwood Panthers 28-26 in their homecoming game.
QB Cameron Branch threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns, and Canyon Calhoun caught three passes for 100 yards an touchdown. Ethan Brunk scored two touchdowns and had 105 all-purpose yards.
Auburn went up 7-0 as Branch hit Calhoun on a 42-yard pass. They would go up 14-0 with 9:45 left in the second quarter with Ethan Brunk running in on a seven-yard run; Eli Olinger’s was good.
The Panthers (4-2) cut their deficit to seven with 6:19 on the clock when Brett Garner took the handoff and went around the left end on a 10-yard touchdown, and Dawson Prater’s kick made the score 14-7 Auburn.
Auburn, on their next possession, answered with their own score, with Brunk going in from the two-yard line, and they took a 21-7 advantage into intermission.
The second half had the Panthers take the game over, scoring with 7:34 showing, with Prater hitting Duke Colley for a 31-yard strike, but the point-after kick was partially blocked. Panthers would score again in the quarter with 53 seconds left, when running back Brody Waddle scored from six yards out. They would then run the muddle -huddle, but their pass was incomplete on the two-point attempt, leaving the score 21-19.
The next possession saw the Eagles answer with a touchdown at 9:08 left in the game, with James King catching a 22-yard pass from Branch down the right-hand sideline and Olinger’s kick upped the score to 28-19.
Northwood wouldn’t quit, as they would score with 6:10 remaining, with Brett Garner running around the left end and into the end zone untouched. Dawson Prater’s kick cut the Eagles’ lead to 28-26.
The Panthers would stop the Eagles and get the ball back at their own 10. They would drive to the Auburn 40, but on a pass over the middle at the Eagles’ 25, Ethan Brunk would make a heck of an interception. Auburn had won a thrilling game and had improved to 6-1 on the season.
Auburn head coach Scott Mikowicz remarked, “ This is a big win for us. It was a gutsy performance, and Northwood is a good team. Brunk (Ethan) and Cameron ( Branch) had good games.”
The Auburn win overshadowed Pathers’ performance from running back Brody Waddle, as he rushed for 222 yards on 23 rushes. Northwood had over 150 more yards in the game than Auburn.
Auburn will travel to Wytheville next Friday to take on the Maroons of George Wythe.
Auburn 7 14 0 7 -28
Northwood 0 7 12 7-26
Rushing– Auburn- Brunk 9-66, Neuse 9-14, King 1-7, Branch 5-2, Northwood- Waddle 23-222, Garner 7-22, Boardwine 8-39, Prater 4-13, Kestner 144
Passing – Auburn – Branch – 10-19- 1 Int. 2 Tds.- 190 yds., Northwood – Prater – 7-13- 2 Ints.- 1 Td. – 131 yds.
Receiving – Auburn – Calhoun 3-100, King 2-29, Neuse 2-29, Olinger 1-17, Northwood- Garner 1-3, Colley 2-75, Haynes 2-38, Boardwine 2015
First Downs – Auburn 12, Northwood 18
Fum. -Lost– Auburn 0-0, Northwood 1-1
Penalties – Auburn – 4-40, Northwood 6-52
Total Yds.– Auburn – 279, Northwood – 431
Total TOs – Auburn – 2, Northwood 3
Punts- Avg.- Auburn – 5-41.8, Northwood 0 4 -40.0
