Jerry Howard leads Northwestern to 30-22 win over Nation Ford

Thanks to Northwestern’s No. 5, the Trojans will play for their fifth state championship next week.

In the second half of the 4A Division II playoff game against Nation Ford, Northwestern junior running back Jerry Howard put on a show as he scored two of his three touchdowns to lead the Trojans back to the state championship game next week in Columbia off a 30-22 victory.

Howard rushed for 276 yards on 20 carries, including a 95-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which turned into the final nail in the coffin for Nation Ford.

Howard gave credit to his coaches for making sure he stayed in the game mentally.

“We just had to relax and stay focused,” he said. “Coach told us to keep fighting hard.”

Howard scored two second half touchdowns and took Northwestern from a slim 16-14 lead at the half to the 30-22 final.

This season, Howard has had games with as little as two yards, but also had eight games of at least 90 yards, depending on how the Northwestern offense needed him.

Trips to the red zone for both teams were key, but it was the Trojans that made the most of their visits there. In the first half, the Trojans were a perfect 3-3, while Nation Ford was 2-4 including missing out on a one-yard run.

Twice in the first quarter, the Falcons got into the red zone, the second time all the way to the one-yard line, giving them a first down, but failed to score. Nation Ford had four chances to punch it in on that trip and took a time out as well. Coming out of the time out, running back Tyree Chaplin, who the Falcons have been going to in short yardage situations, failed to score.

“You have got to take advantage of your opportunities,” said Nation Ford coach Michael Allen. “That particular series ended up being big for us.”

On the opposite side of the field, once Northwestern got in the red zone the first time, it took advantage of the field position.

The Trojans cracked the red zone a second time in the second quarter, and wasted no time in scoring as quarterback Gage Moloney hit Grant Kirk for a touchdown. They would also add a field goal in their third trip to the red zone before the half.

This story was originally published December 4, 2015 at 10:47 PM with the headline "Jerry Howard leads Northwestern to 30-22 win over Nation Ford."