For the first time since 2006, Northwood University Football is headed back to the NCAA Division II playoffs — and the moment comes almost exactly 20 years after one of the most celebrated eras in program history.
Northwood (9-2) earned its postseason berth Sunday and will travel to Big Rapids to face top-seeded, top-ranked, and defending national champion Ferris State (11-0) this Saturday at 1 p.m. in a Super Region Three quarterfinal.
The accomplishment has energized Northwood alumni across the country — especially members of the 2004–06 teams, who helped deliver three consecutive NCAA playoff appearances and cemented one of the strongest stretches in Timberwolf history.
Honoring a championship era
From 2004 to 2006, Northwood posted a combined 28-7 record, including back-to-back 10-win seasons and a 2004 GLIAC Championship. The era produced a number of standout athletes who went on to compete at the professional level, including:
- Chris Wilson (’04), an All-America defensive lineman who played five NFL seasons with Washington
- Dedrick Roper (’03), who earned an NFL roster spot and appeared in a regular-season game
- Kyle Clement (’07) and Charleston Hughes (’06), each of whom earned NFL training camp invitations following their Northwood careers
Those players — and dozens of teammates from that era — helped elevate Northwood Football on the national stage and left a legacy that continues to inspire today’s roster.
After Sunday’s NCAA Selection Show, Wilson addressed the current team, reminding them of what the opportunity means.
“I wanted the guys to know how special it is to reach the playoffs,” Wilson stated in this coverage by the Midland Daily News. “There are a lot of guys watching, a lot of guys rooting for them, and they need to embrace this moment. Let’s go shock the world.”
“This is a very special place to me — very near and dear to my heart,” Wilson added. “Playing back when Coach Pat Riepma was here, and now watching Coach (Dusty Beurer) doing such a good job and caring about the kids the way he does — it means everything.”
A moment that connects generations
Northwood Athletics Director Jeff Curtis said this year’s playoff berth is more than an athletic milestone — it is a moment that bridges two decades of Timberwolf pride.
“Northwood Football is built on toughness, character, and a belief in something bigger than yourself,” Curtis said. “The 2004–06 teams embodied that spirit, and this year’s team is carrying that same torch. There is genuine excitement across our alumni community — including from members of Northwood’s 1976 championship football team, which returned to campus this fall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their historic season, and we are proud of what this moment means for everyone who has worn the Northwood blue.”
Northwood Vice President of Advancement Murray Kyte emphasized that the renewed energy surrounding Timberwolf Football is a powerful opportunity for alumni engagement.
“When our teams succeed, the entire Northwood family rallies together,” Kyte said. “This playoff run — paired with the 20th anniversary of one of our most storied eras — reminds us why supporting student-athletes matters. Alumni tell us all the time that Northwood Football shaped who they are, and moments like this reconnect them with that purpose.”
The Point After Club supports today’s Timberwolves
As Northwood Football makes its long-awaited return to postseason play, the university is encouraging alumni and supporters to help sustain the program’s momentum by joining the Point After Club, an alumni-led philanthropic group dedicated to supporting football student-athletes.
Donor support through the Point After Club enhances every aspect of the program — from nutrition and travel to player development and leadership experiences — ensuring that today’s Timberwolves continue to compete at the highest level.
“Our alumni have always been the backbone of this program,” Kyte added. “If there was ever a moment to step forward in support of Northwood Football, this is it.”
To join the Point After Club, or learn more about ways to support Northwood Football, visit northwood.edu/advancement/athletic-donation-clubs/point-after-club/
