Posted: Sep 11, 2025
Game 3: Saginaw Valley vs. Northwood
Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. ET
Harvey Randal Wickes Memorial Stadium | University Center, Mich.
Preview Interview: Coach Brady
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Video - https://flosports.link/4nEhv83
Live Stats - https://www.svsucardinals.com/sports/fball/2025-26/boxscores/20250913_l7jo.xml
Radio - https://alphamediaplayer.com/wsgwsports
KICK-OFF
The Saginaw Valley State University football team hosts Northwood for the 50th Annual Axe Bowl. This is the 51st meeting between the two teams as the Cardinals and Timberwolves met twice in 2005, with an NCAA playoff game going in favor of SVSU.
After falling 10-7 to the Timberwolves last season, the Cardinals look to take the axe back in this year's matchup. SVSU, now 1-1, is coming off a 49-28 victory over Gannon. In that game, the Cardinals scored on seven drives and cruised past the Golden Knights.
Sophomore quarterback Mason McKenzie totaled 259 yards to lead SVSU in the win. He recorded his second-straight 100-yard rushing performance and completed 11-of-14 pass attempts for 159 yards passing and a touchdown toss.
The Saginaw Valley State running game dominated, scoring six total touchdowns. Running back Michael Jamerson III scored three times—two rushing, one receiving—while Terrence Brown Jr. added two scores on the ground. Israel Bradford and Jaquan Howard each contributed their first scoring plays of the season, adding to the final tally.
Linebacker Christian Boivin led the defense again this week with eight tackles, five solo. Junyoung Chung and Jamil Thomas contributed six tackles apiece. Adom LeDuc had four tackles (two solo) along with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss; he also registered two quarterback hurries.
Northwood enters the Axe Bowl 1-0 after a tightly fought 23-18 win over Northern Michigan, which marked the beginning of their 2025 season.
The Wildcats outgained the Timberwolves 396-255, but three costly turnovers by NMU ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
1st-AND-10
• The Cardinals were chosen third in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches poll after gaining one first-place vote and totalling 38 points.
• The 2025 schedule features seven home games and four road contests. SVSU draws three-straight at home (Northeastern State, Ganon, Northwood) to begin the season before making its only trip out of the state of Michigan in week four against New Haven in Connecticut. The Fighting Cardinals then open GLIAC play for a homecoming game against Northern Michigan before hosting Roosevelt the following week. Saginaw Valley then makes the first of two trips to Grand Rapids with a game at Grand Valley State for week seven before hosting Wayne State the next weekend. The second trip to Grand Rapids comes in week nine against Davenport. SVSU hosts Ferris State for the final home game of the season in week 10. It is the first time the Bulldogs have visited Saginaw Valley since the 2022 season. The season wraps with a trip to Houghton for a game against the Michigan Tech Huskies.
• Mason McKenzie has totaled 402 passing yards and 201 rushing yards in two games this season. McKenzie's work in week two of 259 total yards and one passing touchdown took place in just two and a half quarters of play. He orchestrated six Cardinal scoring drives in a game where SVSU scored seven times and never punted the ball. McKenzie is among the top five in all of NCAA Division II in rushing yards per carry (10.05) and 13th in rushing yards (201). He ranks 7th in Passing Efficiency (109.5), 7th in yards per pass attempt (11.49), 12th in completion percentage (.714), and 17th in yards per completion (16.08).
• Four Cardinals have broken into the career leaders list: McKenzie ranks 6th in completion percentage (58.2%) and 10th in completions (196). He needs just six passing yards to crack the top 10 in passing yards. Tylor McCoon ranks 7th in average yards per punt with 38.9. Jaquan Howard sits 6th in kick return yards (745). He is five yards away from 5th all-time. Adom LeDuc is 20th in sacks with 13.5. He is a half-sack short of advancing to 19th all-time. Terrence Brown Jr. is just 30 kick return yards outside of the career top 10 list.
• Christian Boivin leads the team with 26 tackles through two games. In his impressive week one debut, he notched 18 stops to pace the Cardinals. In addition to his tackling, Boivin has been credited with two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, and a half sack so far.
• Adom LeDuc leads the Cardinal pass rush with two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss. He has 14 tackles total, second-most on the team. He also leads with three quarterback hurries. Junyoung Chung has 12 tackles, third-most, and six solo tackles.
• Three Cardinal defenders have 11 total tackles: Jaden Bevier, Brandon Lewis, and Sean Hodges. Bevier adds a half sack, while Lewis and Hodges have 0.5 and 1.0 tackles for a loss, respectively.
• Saginaw Valley State ranks 6th nationally in rushing defense, with the unit allowing just 35.0 yards per game so far this season.
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES
Northwood is led by quarterback Ethan Hamby, who completed 10-of-19 passes for 130 yards in the season-opening win over Northern Michigan last week. Devin Brown led the Timberwolves on the ground with 13 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. He was also the primary target for Hamby with four catches. Case Boos led the team in receiving yards with 34.
Turning to the defensive side, Joe Lathers was the leading tackler, making 10 stops for Northwood. He was also one of three Timberwolves to record a sack. Cole Simpson and Jaden Green finished with nine tackles each, with Simpson collecting one of the defense's two interceptions. Michael Woods Jr. registered six stops along with Lorenzo Alfred, who also recorded a sack. Additionally, Charlie Lovell had both a sack and an interception.
On special teams, freshman Drew Cady is 3-of-3 on field goals with a season-long of 33 yards, and has made both of his PAT attempts. Carter Minix has contributed 124 return yards, including a season-best 97-yard kick return, and also has 67 punt return yards with a long of 39.
CARDINAL CAPTAINS
The Saginaw Valley State Cardinals named the team captains for the 2025 season.
Quarterback Mason McKenzie, receiver Eric Craft, and offensive linemen Ryan Whitely and Tyus Thompson join defensive lineman Adom LeDuc and linebacker Christian Boivin as the six captains.
50-YEARS OF CARDINAL FOOTBALL
Saginaw Valley State University is celebrating the 50th season of Cardinal Football. The first varsity team from 1975 was honored in the first week. Members of that team were in attendance and honored at halftime, and two of the team's captains joined the Cardinal captains on the field for the coin toss.
In week two, the celebration continued as Cardinal legend Todd Herremans was recognized as the honorary team captain. He was honored at halftime as a member of the 2025 Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame. Herremans was a four-year starter for SVSU from 2001 to 2004. He was named a First-Team All-American in 2004, as well as a two-time All-GLIAC selection in 2003 and 2004. In addition to his all-conference recognition, Herremans was selected as GLIAC Lineman of the Year in 2004. He was a starter for the 2003 Cardinal football team that won the GLIAC Championship. SVSU went 39-9 during Herremans' career. He went on to play 11 seasons in the National Football League from 2005 to 2015.
This week's honorary captains are Cardinal greats quarterback Jon Jennings and wide receiver Jeff Janis. Jennings and Janis were a lethal combination during their time at SVSU (2010-13). Jennings ended his career as the all-time leader in passing attempts (1,237), completions (799), yards (10,710), and touchdowns (96). Janis leads the career record book with 4,305 receiving yards, 246 receptions, 46 touchdowns, and 5.45 receptions per game.
