ST. PAUL, Minn. - If the preseason UMAC coaches poll was any indication, the football team's 42-14 victory on Saturday over a Northwestern team predicted to finish second sent notice to the conference that the Greenville football program will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the UMAC's eight game conference schedule.
For the second straight week, Greenville defeated an opponent that defeated GU last year, and they didn't just slip past the Eagles. The Panthers handled Northwestern soundly, establishing a 28-0 lead late in the first half, and pushing the lead to 42-7 near the end of the third quarter.
The Panthers opened the scoring on their first drive, capped with a two-yard touchdown run by Paul Garrett and an extra point by Rafael Soares de Castro.
After the teams traded possessions that ended in punts, Greenville added their second touchdown of the day when Adereio Jones intercepted a pass and ran it back 28 yards for a score. Soares de Castro made the score 14-0 with his PAT.
Greenville forced UNW to punt on Northwestern's next possession, and the Panthers completed the following drive with a four yard touchdown run by Christian Moss and another extra point from Soares de Castro to take a 21-0 lead.
At the end of the second quarter, Panther quarterback George Harris connected with Eric Kranh for a 57 yard touchdown, and Soares de Castro gave GU a 28-0 lead with the PAT.
Northwestern got on the scoreboard just before halftime, and the Panthers led 28-7 at the break.
GU returned to the end zone early in the third quarter after Garrett capped a drive with a three yard touchdown and an extra point from Soares de Castro.
With 4:46 left in the third quarter, Dalton Mitchell threw an eight yard touchdown pass to Kranh, and Soares de Castro pushed the advantage to 42-7 with his PAT.
Northwestern closed out the game's scoring with a touchdown coming with 2:27 left in the third quarter.
Harris ended the game 16-of-19 passing for 271 yards and one touchdown.
Garrett ran for 101 yards on 19 carries.
Kranh produced 142 receiving yards with seven catches, and Kyler Henson caught three balls for 99 yards.
Gavin Jordan was Greenville's leading tackler with nine and hurried the quarterback five times.
Herman Esquivel helped the defense with six tackles, including three for a loss of yards and one quarterback sack.
Jones provided two interceptions.
The Panthers (2-1) path through the conference favorites will continue next Saturday when they travel to Minnesota to play the defending UMAC champion Martin Luther.
