Safety clinches victory

Defense steps up at right time in high scoring shootout

by Andy Hoag
Vanguard Sports Editor

September 25, 2006 —

In a game that featured almost 900 yards of total offense, the SVSU defense stepped up at the most opportune time.

Redshirt freshman John Jacobs and junior Jason Marble combined to sack Northern Michigan quarterback Buddy Rivera for a safety in the fourth quarter, giving the Cardinals the deciding two points in their 37-35 win at home on Saturday.

The safety came with the score tied at 28 and after the Wildcats had scored touchdowns on four of their last five drives, the last of which resulted in a missed field goal. In other words, the Cardinals simply could not stop Rivera and the Northern Michigan offense.

"We would get them into a third-and-long, and the next thing you know they would get a touchdown," Cardinals coach Randy Awrey said.

The Wildcats went 11-for-14 on third downs and gained 24 first downs as they racked up 449 yards of offense, the most the Cardinals have given up since they surrendered 569 to Michigan Tech during the 2004 season.

"Luckily the offense was clicking," senior safety Joe DiGiorgio said.

That it was, as SVSU put up 445 yards of offense on eight less plays than the Wildcats. Junior quarterback Chris Dougherty went 19-for-25 for 302 yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore running back Brandon Emeott had the best game of his short career, rushing 15 times for 97 yards and a score.

"This was one of our best offensive games in a while," Emeott said. "We came out with the mentality that they can't hang with us."

The Cardinals did not punt in the first half as they gained 309 yards in taking a 28-21 lead into halftime. The Cardinals forced the Wildcats to punt on the first possession of the game, which was the difference in the half, as the teams scored touchdowns on the next seven possessions.

"This was like a great heavyweight boxing match," Awrey said. "It went all the way to the end."

The sack of Rivera in the end zone came with eight and a half minutes left in the game, and the Cardinals scored on the ensuing drive, using nine plays to march 58 yards and take nearly four and a half minutes off the clock.

That left the Wildcats down nine with just four minutes left and needing to score twice. They did what they could to make the game interesting, scoring on a pass from Rivera to sophomore receiver Dan Elmore with 1:44 left on the clock.

Cardinals tight end Kevin Kelch recovered the subsequent onside kick, though, ending the Wildcats' comeback attempt.

The 21 points surrendered by SVSU in the first half made it 47 in the last two games. Ferris State took a 26-8 halftime lead into their win a week ago, and the Wildcats actually gained more yards in the half than the Bulldogs did.

DiGiorgio said the Wildcats' offensive success had more to do with their execution than any Cardinals' defensive breakdowns. Instead of making adjustments at halftime, he said, they stuck with their game plan and simply got a better pass rush on Rivera in the second half.

Rivera gave the Cardinals fits all day long, going 20-for-27 for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He added 61 yards on six carries, but was also sacked four times for a loss of 23 yards.

"I've been saying this over and over, I think Buddy Rivera is the best quarterback (in the GLIAC)," Awrey said.

Awrey, who calls the defensive plays, explained that he tried to get at Rivera with just a four-man rush. Rushing any more would result in a quick pass, he said, and rushing any less would allow Rivera to move around the pocket and make plays.

The junior still gashed the Cardinals' defense, forcing Awrey to try all angles to put pressure on him. He sent Jacobs after Rivera early and often, and the Midland Dow product delivered, getting three and a half sacks.

Jacobs came into the game with a Division II-leading nine tackles for loss, and the sacks put that total at 12.5. The SVSU record for a season is 20, set a year ago by senior Dan Fodrocy, whom Jacobs replaced.

For every play Rivera made, though, Dougherty matched him.

Dougherty had been splitting time with senior Vinnie Miroth for the first three games of the season, but with Miroth sick, he was able to take every snap for the Cardinals. Awrey said Dougherty performed well under the pressure of the Wildcats' pass rush, successfully reading their blitzes and stunts and finding the hot reads early.

The loss at Ferris State was a learning experience, Dougherty said.

"We learned that we need to finish games," he said. "We didn't execute as well in the second half, but we finished the game."

Dougherty connected with his brother Joe twice for 54 yards on the Cardinals' final drive. The brothers hooked up five times in the game for 88 yards and one touchdown. Junior Ric Cottengim added six catches for 90 yards and two scores.

DiGiorgio led all players with 13 tackles, while junior linebacker Derek Volmering added 11 stops.

Win special for Awrey

It's not every day that you get to coach against your alma mater. For Awrey, who graduated from Northern Michigan in 1978, it happens almost every season. For that reason, that aspect of the Northern Michigan/SVSU matchup has lost its luster for Awrey.

But this year's game had a different twist. Coaching the Wildcats now is Bernie Anderson, who graduated from NMU with Awrey. In addition, Tom Wender, who coached special teams for the Cardinals a year ago, is coaching linebackers for Anderson, and Matt LaFleur, who was a standout quarterback for Awrey earlier this decade, is coaching Wildcats quarterbacks.

"Those two are my best friends," Awrey said of Anderson and Wender. "It feels good to beat a staff that you have so much respect for."

Awrey added that having his friends and former quarterback on the Wildcats' coaching staff is similar to when he would race against his brother. The coach explained that he wanted to beat his brother more than any other opponent, but at the same time did not want anyone else to beat him. He said he would like to see Anderson and his staff win the rest of their games.

"Hopefully we can see them at the end of the season (in the playoffs)," he said.

DiGiorgio returning kicks

The standout safety has always begged his coaches to let him return kickoffs. He began the season third on the depth chart, but with some injuries, he moved his way up.

DiGiorgio, who starred as a quarterback at Eisenhower High School in Shelby Township with his brother, Buffalo Bills linebacker John DiGiorgio, said he returned kicks for the Eagles and wanted to do the same with the Cardinals.

"I just want more of a role on the team," he explained.

In his first two collegiate returns, DiGiorgio gained 36 yards.

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