Contrary to popular belief, Northwestern’s football team is human.

While many have become accustomed to flawless play from the Tigers and have put the New Tripoli team on a pedestal, the reality is that even great teams make mistakes sometimes.

On Friday night, Josh Snyder’s squad committed three turnovers in the opening half — one a fumble right before a possible touchdown and another an interception in the end zone that killed another scoring threat — that allowed visiting Saucon Valley to hang around.

But, like what all quality clubs do, Northwestern managed to get past those miscues. In the end, the Tigers (5-0) still put together a solid effort — especially on defense — to mercy rule the Panthers by a 41-0 score.

“Listen, we have such a high standard and a high expectation, sometimes I get frustrated with how people look at us and view us when we don’t play perfect,” said Snyder. “Well, guess what? I didn’t coach a perfect game. Our kids didn’t play a perfect game. And that’s what we’re going to chalk it up to.

“We ran 44 plays of offense in the first half, we drove it up and down the field, but when you commit three turnovers the score’s going to be a little bit tighter than what you expect it to be, and you’re going to have a game like that. I think it’s a good time to learn some lessons in a win rather than learn them in a loss. I said to the kids, ‘You can’t just play a perfect season. That just simply doesn’t happen.’ And I think everybody just gets all bent out of shape when we’re up 21-0 instead of 35-0.”

Northwestern’s first two possessions resulted in turnovers, but its third possession is what Tiger fans are more used to. The offense drove 85 yards in under two minutes, getting five plays of 10-or-more yards to march down the field. Brady Zimmerman finished it off with a 2-yard TD run on the final play of the opening quarter.

Things seemed to click after that, as the next two times Snyder’s club touched the ball they were ending with points.

A big 33-yard pass play from Trey Snyder to Michael Lagowy helped set up another Zimmerman 2-yard tally, while Chase Sukanick ran four times for 40 yards — including the final six into the end zone to give the Tigers a 21-0 cushion midway through the second frame.

“Every great team has a bad game,” said Sukanick. “But our line did amazing up front. We made some mental mistakes, but when we got in there at halftime in the locker room, we all changed it and fixed it up. We had less mistakes (in the second half) ... we turned it around.”

Sukanick helped increase the margin soon into the second half.

The junior’s number was called four straight times and picked up 52 yards with the last 11 resulting in a touchdown and a 28-0 advantage.

“They did a couple different things defensively, and we picked up on it and started to attack where we felt they were vulnerable,” said Snyder. “This is what everybody, including himself and the coaching staff envisioned with (Sukanick) taking the reins at the R position.

“I just thought he was running incredibly hard. His center of gravity and his balance is second to none. He can make you miss in a phone booth, but break tackles at the same time.”

The lead swelled to 35-0 before the third quarter ended when a Sukanick 18-yard run helped set up Landon Gauweiler’s 17-yard burst to the end zone.

Sukanick added his third score in the fourth on a 3-yard run that gave him 210 rushing yards on the evening.

“We tried some plays early on that didn’t work out, so we had to flip the script a little bit and we adapted to it and it worked,” said Sukanick. “Our line played the best they did all year. ... They were amazing.

“I’m so grateful to have a big line in front of me. I think I have good agility, so when the line does their job, it’s my turn to do mine. I’m good in space and good at making kids miss, and when I do my job and the line does their job, it’s difficult (for the defense).”

Speaking of defense, the Tigers completely shut down Saucon’s offense. Outside of a 65-yard pass play in the opening quarter, the Panthers (2-3) only managed 65 other yards.

“I think our defense was great tonight,” said Sukanick. “They couldn’t do anything on us. ... Our d-line was putting pressure on the quarterback and making them run the ball, which they couldn’t do well either.”

OTHER STATS ... Snyder completed 15-of-23 passes for 181 yards, with Zimmerman snaring five of them for 58 yards and Lagowy — who also had an interception on defense — catching four for 60 yards.

SWAT IT DOWN ... Fritz Scheirer knocked down a pair of pass attempts and also had a big hit on Saucon QB Braden Rohn.

EFFORT STICKER ... The Tigers got caught on a slant pass (the 65-yarder) but Zimmerman chased down SV’s Mickie McClarin to prevent a touchdown. “What an effort,” said Snyder. “We’re big helmet sticker guys, and that’ll get an effort sticker for sure, chasing that kid down, tackling him. ... If that hustle play doesn’t happen by a senior captain, they score there. ... We preach a lot about the little things. That was a big thing that happened.”

N’western 41, Saucon Vy. 0

Saucon Valley 0 0 0 0 - 0

Northwestern 7 14 14 6 - 41

NW - Zimmerman 2 run (Smith kick)

NW - Zimmerman 2 run (Smith kick)

NW - Sukanick 6 run (Smith kick)

NW - Sukanick 11 run (Smith kick)

NW - Gauweiler 17 run (Smith kick)

NW - Sukanick 3 run (pass failed)