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The Wildcats fumbled the opening kickoff, and they had the ball stripped on their second play from scrimmage.

But Northwestern was able to overcome the early miscues and hold on for a 7-6 victory over the Spartans in a County 4A League contest in Hyattsville. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Wildcats (3-6).

Sophomore Donovan Hayden's 5-yard touchdown run and Marquise Blackwell's extra-point kick in the second quarter made the difference for Northwestern. Zane Carroll's 11-yard touchdown pass to Jamil DeHonney accounted for Laurel's only score.

"We got a couple of teams at the top of the league, and everybody else is playing ball," said Northwestern coach Bryan Pierre. "Week in and week out, we're all at an even level."

In a game where neither offense was able to establish any consistency on the Northwestern's rain-slickened field, the Wildcats' defense took advantage. Blackwell, a senior, recovered a fumble and was in on a sack, and Joshua Douglass also had a fumble recovery. Kevin Victor, Kenneth Younger and Jamal Hayden each recorded a sack.

Marcus Adams put the game away with an 11-yard run for a first down with less than a minute remaining. Adams, who also plays linebacker said he was proud of his team's defensive showing Saturday.

"We've been struggling all year, but we came through," Adams said after his team limited Laurel to 22 yards.

The Wildcats' defense was tested immediately as Northwestern fumbled the game's opening kickoff and Laurel recovered at the Wildcats' 36-yard line. Blackwell got the ball back with his recovery of a fumble by Laurel junior Miles Chew.

But the Spartans got possession again, as Norberto Lopez stripped the ball from Northwestern quarterback Diamond Hansford. Carroll then rolled out and found DeHonney in the end zone. Laurel threatened again, as Joel Roberson took a partially blocked punt to Northwestern's 21. But the Spartans fumbled again, and Douglass fell on the ball for the Wildcats.

On their next possession, the Spartans advanced to the Wildcats' 30, only to be denied on downs. Northwestern went 70 yards in eight plays, capped by Hayden's run with 3 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the first half.

Laurel wasn't able to cross into Wildcats' territory in the second half. With the loss, Laurel (3-6) saw an opportunity for its first .500 season since 1996 slip away.

"All I see is the ball on the ground," said Laurel coach Brian Moore, whose team closes its season against DuVal next Saturday. "We got off the bus fully intending to win. We were bigger and more athletic in spots, but it just didn't bounce our way."