NAPPANEE - The very thing that almost put NorthWood's football team away Friday night gave it a win over Bremen at Jim Andrews Memorial Field - the big play.

But in the end it was the Panthers who came up with the biggest play of all as they topped the Lions (0-2) 34-28 in overtime. The win improves 3A No. 1 NorthWood's record to 2-0.

After the two teams played to four-quarter stalemate, Bremen took the first possession of the overtime period and fumbled on the first play. NorthWood senior Andy Mitschelen recovered the loose ball.

The play was a redemption of sorts for Mitschelen. With 45 seconds left in regulation he missed a 17-yard field goal that could have changed things drastically.

Instead it was NorthWood quarterback Charlie Roeder throwing a 10-yard touchdown to Chaz Scherer to secure the come-from-behind win on NorthWood's first play of overtime.

"I went up to Mitschelen and said get ready because we may need you," said NorthWood coach Rich Dodson. "We were sprinting out with Charlie and he found Chaz (Scherer) open and Charlie zipped it in there and we got the score. If nobody was open Charlie would have run it in."

Roeder led the Panther offense with 112 rushing yards on 19 carries with one touchdown, as well as 234 yards through the air on 16-of-24 passing with one interception and four touchdowns. Brock Doty led the NorthWood receiving corps with 150 yards on nine receptions.

The Panthers racked up 423 total yards of offense. Mike Hammons led the Lions' offensive attack with 152 yards on 12 carries. He finished the evening with two touchdowns. Running back Brett Leeper connected on the only pass for Bremen, a halfback pass to Ryan O'Keefe that resulted in a 37-yard touchdown.

After Doty caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Roeder to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead with Mitschelen's extra point, Hammons took the handoff on Bremen's second offensive play and rushed 66 yards for the score, tying the game at seven after Kevin Faulstich added the extra point.

NorthWood's Ian Reed put the Panthers back on top with 1:48 remaining in the opening period with his 23-yard TD pass from Roeder that gave them a 13-7 lead. Mitschelen's kick failed.

Hammons came back with his second touchdown of the evening, this time from two yards out. Faulstich added the extra point and the Lions took a 14-13 lead with 9:48 remaining in the first half.

Hammons struck again at the 11:44 mark of the third stanza with a 67-yard run to paydirt. Five minutes later O'Keefe caught 37-yard touchdown pass from Leeper. And it appeared as if the Lions were well in control.

With the score 28-20 in Bremen's favor, Roeder connected with Doty once more, this time for 52 yards and a touchdown. Roeder ran for the two-point conversion to knot the score with just under five minutes left in regulation.

"Charlie is a threat to run the ball and he can throw the ball well," said Dodson. "It was good that we scored with 4:26 left and were able to go for two."

NorthWood's defense forced the Lions into a three-and-out before they got the ball back and eventually faltered on Mitschelen's field goal.

Bremen had the ball on NorthWood's 20-yard line but Lion quarterback Andrew Anglemeyer chose to down the ball and send the game into overtime.

NorthWood has played Bremen 31 times now and has come away victorious 23 of those times. The winner of last night's game was awarded the Jim Andrews Memorial Trophy. Bremen and NorthWood have played for the Jim Andrews Memorial Trophy eight times, with NorthWood winning all of them.

NorthWood (2-0) will be at Concord on Friday. [[In-content Ad]]