Northwest beats Jackson High in overtime

The Jackson Citizen Patriot's Mike Pryson has the story of Northwest's 36-35 overtime victory tonight over Jackson High at Withington Stadium.

Here's the story.

Here's the link to a photo gallery and video.

It's the Mounties first victory over the Vikings since 1974 (see the Rivals Archive here).

Will the Mounties' notably weaker schedule help them in 2011?

Going into the season, it appears there are two story lines (at least from afar): Northwest's lack of seniors and a schedule that is considerably weaker than in years' past.

The shortage of senior talent may hurt the team in the first few games but could bode well for the future as younger players gain more experience.

The softer schedule (thanks to a switch to the Capital Area Activities Conference's Gold Division, from the Red) could also help boost their confidence and build toward a much stronger team in 2012.

Only three teams on the Mounties' 2011 schedule had winning records a year ago: Mason (9-2), Leslie (6-4) and Cheboygan (5-4).

And notably absent are teams that went 9-0, 8-1 and 7-2 in the 2010 regular season: Lansing Catholic, Lansing Sexton and St. Johns, respectively.

But the group of younger players won't get to ease into their varsity careers. They kick off Friday at the premier venue in the county: Withington Stadium, against Jackson High.

Grant Wedgwood rushes for 169 yards in loss to Jackson

Grant Wedgwood carried the ball 32 times for 169 yards in Friday's 35-20 loss to Jackson High.

See the Jackson Citizen Patriot story and video here.

Cit Pat photo gallery here.

MLive's game stats and box score here.

Jackson High beats Northwest, 35-20

Northwest jumped to a 7-0 lead but then got out-scored badly in the second and third quarters in Friday night's loss at home to Jackson High, according to MLive's High School Sports page.

The final was Jackson 35, Northwest 20.

The Mounties matched their best offensive output of the season with 20 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter.

See MLive's box score here.

Northwest falls to 0-8 on the season while Jackson High improves to 2-6.

Next week, the Mounties wrap up the season at Western, which was 2-5 going into tonight's game against Ida.

Massey: The game is getting closer

Don't ask me, I have no idea how the Massey Ratings computer works.

But now it is predicting a score of Jackson High 22, Northwest 15.

On my earlier post, it had Northwest scoring 14.

Either way, it doesn't matter, the computer is rarely right.

Last week it had Northwest losing by two touchdowns and the Mounties ended up falling by just 2 points.

Here's hoping for a good game Friday at Mountie Stadium.

Massey Ratings predicts close game against Jackson High

The Massey Ratings computer, for what it's worth, is calling for a one-touchdown game between Northwest and Jackson High on Friday at Mountie Stadium.

The computer predicts the score will be Jackson High 22, Northwest 14.

Of course, last week Massey predicted a two-touchdown loss and it turned out to be a 2-point game.

Does that mean we're in for a 1-point game this week?

A Mountie victory would be the team's first win over Jackson High since 1974. The score that year? 7-6.

Jackson High heads to Mountie Stadium in Week 8

The Jackson High Vikings are 1-6, but like Northwest they are playing against very tough competition.

On Friday, Jackson lost to undefeated Grand Ledge, 45-21. (Here's the Cit Pat story).

The Mounties and the Vikings will be meeting for the 14th time.

Northwest won the first two games (1973 and 1974) while the Vikings are taken each one since.

See the Rivals Archive for the scores, which come from michigan-football.com.

The last meeting at Mountie Stadium, in 2008, was a 22-21 thriller with Northwest missing a 2-point conversion with 1:03 left to play. (Here's the Cit Pat story for that game).

Last year, the Vikings handled Northwest at Withington, 38-20. (Here's the Cit Pat story).

Just for fun, I have one other Northwest-Jackson High story archived. It's from the Leslie Local on the 1985 season-opener at Withington. Jackson won but it was a close one. (Here's the link.)

A quick by-the-numbers of the rivalry:

6 -- the number of games decided by one touchdown or fewer.
3 -- the number of shutouts (all won by Jackson High).
2 -- the number of 1-point games.

WKHM will broadcast Friday's Northwest-Jackson High game from Withington Stadium

WKHM (970 AM) plans to broadcast Friday's game between Jackson Northwest and Jackson High.

The game is being played at Withington Stadium.

Click for the link to listen.

The Mounties (2-5) are looking to salvage their season and also to get some payback from last year's turnover-laden 22-21 loss to the Vikings. (Read last year's Jackson Citizen Patriot story here).

Jackson High (4-3) must win its final two games to earn an automatic playoff bid.

Homecoming week: Looking for a win

It's homecoming week at Jackson Northwest and the Mounties are looking for a win Friday against Lansing Waverly.

Both squads are 1-5 but, stats-wise, Northwest is playing tougher than its record shows.

Not to jinx the Mounties but they've won two straight against the Warriors. And the Massey Ratings computer is predicting a 33-25 Northwest win.

Waverly's lone win this year is a 21-6 victory over Owosso. The Mounties lost to Owosso 21-20 in Week 3.

Northwest won't have a winning season this year but a victory Friday could set them up for a strong finish.

Next week, the Mounties play at Withington Stadium against the 4-2 Jackson Vikings.

Northwest lost to the Vikings last year in a 1-point thriller.

And for the season finale, Northwest hosts the resurgent Western Panthers (5-1).

Northwest has not lost to Western, their longest-running rival, since 2002.

Rivals archive: Northwest vs. Jackson High

Northwest has played Jackson High 15 times.

The Vikings lead the series 12-3

2000s
2011 - Northwest 36, Jackson 35 (OT)
2010 - Jackson 35, Northwest 20
2009 - Jackson 38, Northwest 20
2008 - Jackson 22, Northwest 21
2007 - Jackson 55, Northwest 35

1980s
1987 - Jackson 14, Northwest 7
1986 - Jackson 6, Northwest 0
1985 - Jackson 19, Northwest 13
1984 - Jackson 27, Northwest 12

1970s
1978 - Jackson 52, Northwest 0
1977 - Jackson 44, Northwest 0
1976 - Jackson 20, Northwest 6
1975 - Jackson 26, Northwest 7
1974 - Northwest 7, Jackson 6
1973 - Northwest 27, Jackson 24

Scores come from michigan-football.com.

Going for 2

Jackson Northwest coach Eddie Cobb said if he had to do it over, he'd again go for 2 against Jackson High, but he might run a different play.

"We thought we could win the game," Cobb told the Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

Predicting the St. Johns game

Except for that win-loss thing, my prediction of a 27-22 Mountie victory over Jackson High last week wasn't too far off.

So now, in another shameless attempt to lure comments and prompt a conversation about Mountie football, I'll make another prediction.

Here goes.

Let there be no doubt the Mounties have an uphill climb this week.

They are fairly evenly matched with St. Johns although on a neutral field I'd give the Redwings a 3-4 point advantage on account of their win over Lansing Sexton.

Give them another couple of points for being at home and a few more for basically playing a tune-up game last week while Northwest was battling Jackson High. With those factors in mind, the Massey Ratings prediction of a 35-23 St. Johns win doesn't seem too outlandish.

But computers don't factor in the human element.

This is a team that was talking about Ford Field after the first game of the season.

Now, if they want to make the playoffs, they must win their final two games.

I think one of two things will happen this week.

Either the Mounties will come out unfocused, flat and hungover from the Jackson High game and lose by two or three touchdowns, or they will play with the same grit, spirit and high level of intensity they showed last week while eliminating the mistakes and grind out a tough win.

They'll have to play their best game of the season to beat St. Johns.

I say they do it.

Prediction: Northwest 30, St. Johns 28.

Please share your prediction in the comment section below.

Week 8: St. Johns

The Jackson Northwest Mounties (4-3) go on the road to St. Johns (5-2) on Friday, Oct. 17, in a must-win game for Northwest if it hopes to make the playoffs this year.

St. Johns is coming off of an easy 34-20 road victory Friday over Owosso (they led 34-6 after 3 quarters and then gave up a pair of 4th-quarter touchdowns).

A year ago, St. Johns beat Northwest 49-41.

Here's a look at St. Johns so far this year, according to michigan-football.com:

W - Charlotte, 10-7
W - Flint Powers Catholic, 15-13
W - Lansing Sexton, 17-14 (Northwest lost to Sexton 36-15)
L - Mason, 22-50 (Northwest lost to Mason 42-7)
W - Lansing Waverly, 47-12 (Northwest beat Waverly 33-21)
L - Lansing Everett, 27-37
W - Owosso, 34-20 (Northwest beat Owosso 36-6)

Jackson Northwest football: 2008 scores, stats & schedule

The Jackson Northwest Mounties are 4-3 as they head on the road this week to St. Johns (5-2).

Here's how the Mounties have fared so far this season as well as a look at what's ahead:

Aug. 28: Northwest 41, Lansing Catholic Central 13. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 5: Northwest 36, Owosso 6. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 12: Northwest 28, Tecumseh 20. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 19: Lansing Sexton 36, Northwest 15. Game story here. Stats here.
Sept. 26: Mason 42, Northwest 7 (homecoming). Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 3: Northwest 33, Lansing Waverly 21. Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 10: Jackson 22, Northwest 21. Game story here. Stats here.
Oct. 17: at St. Johns
Oct. 24: at Western

Game stories and stats are from the Jackson Citizen-Patriot and MLive's High School Sports site.

Jackson Vikings beat Jackson Northwest Mounties, 22-21

Jackson, MI -- Turnovers were the difference Friday night as the Jackson Northwest Mounties fell to the Jackson Vikings, 22-21, at Mountie Stadium.

The Vikings scored a field goal and a touchdown off a pair of Mountie fumbles in the third quarter to take the lead and then hold on to win the game.

The Mounties scored a touchdown with 1:03 minute left in 4th quarter to narrow the score to 22-21. However, running back Trevor Boyk was stuffed when Northwest went for the 2-point conversion.

The Vikings then ran out the clock to win the game.

The Mounties and the Vikings are now both 4-3 with two games left in the regular season.

Northwest plays its final two games on the road, at St. Johns and the season finale at Western.

The Mounties scored first Friday and led Jackson High 7-6 at half time.

But when Jackson kicked off to start the second half, the Mounties fumbled.

Jackson drove about 30 yards and kicked a field goal to take its first lead of the game, 9-7.

The Mounties then drove 69 yards and scored on a 19-yard run by Trevor Boyk. After the two-point conversion, the Mounties led 15-9.

The Mounties then stopped the Jackson offense and appeared to be in control of the game.

However, Northwest fumbled the Viking punt. Jackson drove and scored a touchdown and led 16-15 at the end of the third quarter.


With 6:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Jackson scored another touchdown. The Mounties blocked the extra point and the Vikings led 22-15.

Northwest then mounted a gritty drive and scored with 1:03 remaining to pull within 1 point. The Mounties decided to go for the 2-point conversion and the win.

However, Boyk never had a chance as he was stopped just as he got the ball.

The scoring by quarters:

Jackson: 0, 6, 10, 6 -- 22
Northwest: 7, 0, 8, 6 -- 21

- A special thanks to WKHM (970 AM) for carrying the game live and over the Internet.

Bold prediction

In their two losses this year, the Mounties have given up 42 and 36 points.

In their four victories, they've held their opponents to an average of 15 points.

Last year, the Jackson Vikings scored 55 points to Northwest's 35.

I'd say it's safe to say that the Mounties cannot afford to give up 30 points to Jackson High on Friday. Not when they've averaging just four and a half passing attempts per game.

Massey Ratings is predicting Jackson High will win, 34-25.

I'll make my first prediction so far on this blog:

Jackson Northwest Mounties 27, Jackson Vikings 22.

Anyone else care to chime in?

Kaiser & Klotz

The opening game of the 1986 season was the last time the Jackson Vikings visited Mountie Stadium.

The game marked the return of Northwest Coach Duane Kaiser (shown on the left with assistant coach Gene Klotz) after a nine-year absence from the sidelines.

Kaiser knew how to beat Jackson High. Those were his teams in 1973 and 1974 that toppled the Vikings.

Unfortunately, that night in 1986 ended on a down note for Northwest as Jackson High slipped by them by a score of 6-0.

Big hype

Friday's game against Jackson High was front-page news today in the Jackson Citizen-Patriot under the headline, "Football game has big hype."

"I think this is going to develop into a great rivalry game," Jackson High School Athletic Director Russell Davis told Mike Pryson.

Read Pryson's story here.

Vikings visit Van Horn Road

When the Jackson Vikings march into Mountie Stadium on Friday, it will be the team's first visit since 1986, according to a story in today's Jackson Citizen-Patriot.

The Vikings won that game 22 years ago by a score of 6-0.

The Cit-Pat story also announces that tickets will be on sale all week in attempt to avoid a crush at the gate Friday night.

An estimated 5,000 people attended the homecoming game against Mason two weeks ago.

Deja Vu

When Northwest and Jackson High met during the seventh week of the 2007 season, Northwest's record was 4-2 and Jackson's was 3-3 -- identical to where they stand going into Friday's matchup.

Jackson High won that game 55-35 but lost its final two contests to finish the season 4-5.

Northwest closed 2007 with a 56-14 thumping of Western, ending the year 5-4.

As I've said before, Friday's game is huge for the Mounties if they hope to go 6-3 this year and make the playoffs for the first time.