IRVINE - Northwood caused some fourth-quarter suspense, but University held on for a 20-18 nonleague victory Thursday night at Irvine High.

Northwood (0-1) gave the Trojans a scare when Cody Inglis returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score with 6:22 left in the game.

But the Timberwolves couldn’t convert the two-point pass attempt to tie it.

Northwood was unable to convert the point after following its three touchdowns, which proved to be the difference.

“Mistakes probably cost us the football game,” Northwood Coach Rick Curtis said. “But hats off to Mark Cunningham and his staff.”

University (2-0) was able to counter the late kickoff return with a drive of its own with three first downs to run out the clock.

“You knew there was no quit in them,” Cunningham said. “They had every reason to be down, but they came back and that’s a tribute to those kids and to that coaching staff.”

University looked like it had wrapped up the victory when Trumaine Smith scampered 10 yards for a score with 6:35 remaining.

The Trojans started the game shaky when they fumbled the opening kickoff, and Northwood recovered on the University 18-yard line.

On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Andrew Stephenson connected with Steven Cox on a 17-yard pass play.

Stephenson then scored from 1 yard out.

• See full game stats.

Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com