NAPPANEE – When it came down to it, NorthWood beat New Haven at its own game. A quick-strike offense, punishing defense and the big uglies in the trenches put together a highlight reel of plays in a 52-28 Panther win in the Class 4-A football regional Friday night at Andrews Field.

With a pair of offenses that have averaged over 40 points per game, and defenses that were giving up very little, something was going to have to give. It ended up being New Haven’s shellshocked defense. The Bulldogs, which gave up just 11 points per game coming into the regional round, saw that number double at the half as NorthWood scored 22 points in the first 24 minutes.

NorthWood quarterback Trey Bilinski sends a pass to DeAndre Smart in the first half of the regional football game against New Haven Friday night at Andrews Field. (Photos by Mike Deak)

The Panthers took the lead for good just before the close of the first half, DeAndre Smart hauling in a five-yard touchdown pass from Trey Bilinski with just 11.1 seconds left. The drive was an answer to New Haven’s only lead of the game at 20-16 when Whitney Harris caught his second touchdown of the quarter, a 26-yarder capped with a wave to the TV camera in the end zone.

NorthWood put itself out of reach with a series of plays it has made all season. Brayton Yoder motored down to the New Haven one, setting up Bronson Yoder’s one yarder. On the two-point try, a flea flicker reversed to Bronson Yoder, who tossed the ball back to the original carrier, Bilinski, who was wide open in the end zone for two points and a 30-20 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Jonyvan Johnson couldn’t handle the bouncing kick, Braden Mikel falling on the loose ball. Brayton Yoder then sped 35 yards for a touchdown, and ran in the two-point try, and all of a sudden a two-point Panther lead was an insurmountable 38-20 advantage.

“The kids talked about it at halftime what they wanted their legacy to be, and I think they kind of came out and showed everybody what they were thinking,” said NorthWood head coach Nate Andrews.

The Yoders were well on their way to outstanding nights rushing the ball. Brayton rushed 26 times for 246 yards and four touchdowns, adding fourth quarter scores of 36 and four yards and the game’s first touchdown of 32 yards. Bronson finished with 16 carries for 72 yards, adding an eight-yard run to paydirt on the final play of the first quarter, to which he also ran in the two-point try.

The 246 yards broke the single-game school rushing record, which was 228 yards by Panther head coach Nate Andrews back in 1995.

Bilinski, who has torched teams all season through the air, didn’t need to sling it as much with the running game carving up the Bulldogs. The senior signal caller was 15-23 for 145 yards and a touchdown – about 100 yards below his season average of 249 – and added eight yards on the ground. Smart led the aerial attack with five catches for 43 yards and the score.

New Haven quarterback Keshawn Moore whistles a pass against NorthWood.

The Yoders deserve the lion’s share of credit for the final product, but Bilinski noted several others who were just as important.

“I can’t say enough about the guys up front,” Bilinski said of the offensive line. “They do all the dirty work and don’t get recognized enough. We put up 46-47 points a game but we don’t talk about the offensive line. We talk about Brayton, Bronson, Payton (Bear), DeAndre, me. All the guys. But they do just as much work. They deserve credit.

“We’re gelling really well right now. We’re rolling. I think we played about as well tonight as we did all season.”

New Haven didn’t have much trouble moving the ball in the first half, but ran into a wall in the second half. NiShawn Jones had 88 yards rushing, but most came in the first half. Moore would throw for 187 yards and three touchdowns, but leading receiver Harris only had one grab that wasn’t a score, which went for nine yards. Kentrel Thomas had five catches for 55 yards and a score.

New Haven (11-1) would crack 300 yards, landing at 306, but gave up a whopping 480 yards to the Panthers, which also doubled the highest point total the Bulldogs allowed all season, 26 to Lakeland in week two.

The Panthers (13-0) win its 11th regional title, and in the rich history of NorthWood football, win its first regional since 2008. NorthWood will visit Lowell (9-4) next Friday, which took down Hobart, 44-23, in the other 4-A north regional. The south regional had top-ranked Roncalli hammer Delta 42-7. East Central and Evansville Reitz will play later today for the right to face Roncalli next week in the semi-state.

NorthWood and Lowell have never met on the gridiron.

Notable stats from the evening had Bilinski surpass the 3,000-yard threshold, now at 3,127 yards. Brayton Yoder passed the 1,000-yard rushing plateau with his huge night, now at 1,154 yards on the season and Smart also crossed 1,000 yards receiving, now sitting at 1,022 yards.

“It’s fun, obviously, to win any kind of championship,” said Andrews. “It’s better to win it at home in front of your fans. I just love seeing these kids celebrate with the ones that love them.”