JOURNAL STAFF

A year ago, Northwood coach Austin Brown was concerned about his team’s performance in the preseason jamboree because he thought the Falcons didn’t have the correct approach.

Suffice it to say that’s not a problem this year.

The Falcons won their two contests over Southwood and Booker T. Washington by a combined score of 47-0 in the Friday night event that was moved to Messmer Stadium earlier this week.

Northwood defeated Southwood 13-0 in the opener of the three-team jamboree and beat BTW 34-0 in the final matchup. In between, Southwood defeated BTW by a touchdown.

“We talked to the team about how we came out flat last year because we thought there wouldn’t be competition,” Brown said. “We wanted to play to our standard of football, regardless of who it is. I think we did that. Still some mistakes, but fewer than there have been.”

Junior quarterback Mason Welch led the Falcons in completing 8 of 9 passes and three touchdowns. “Mason was on point tonight,” Brown said. He made a couple of throws from the opposite hash mark that looked like Brett Favre. There was one that was one of the best I’ve ever seen in high school football.”

Junior running back Fabien Sanders scored three touchdowns to add to the offensive explosion.

Northwood also got a field goal from Hutson Hearron. “We haven’t done that in a while,” Brown said. “That’s like a moral victory for us.”

Brown said his team is where it needs to be as the season begins Thursday at Benton.

“We feel like we are a better team than we were when we left the jamboree last year,” Brown said. “We are excited and it’s officially Benton week.”

Southwood will open on Friday against Green Oaks and BTW will start its season with a home game against Wossman.