Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Indiana
Northwestern Football Overwhelmed by Indiana, 34-17
10/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 9, 1999
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - A quick start went for naught Saturday, as Northwestern scored the first 14 points of its game with Indiana but then saw the Hoosiers put it into overdrive en route to a 34-17 loss at IU's Memorial Stadium.
Northwestern fell to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten, while Indiana improved to 3-3 (2-1 Big Ten).
NU, led by Zak Kustok making his first collegiate start at QB, sliced right through Indiana's defense on the first possession of the game. The drive went 75 yards in 10 plays with Damien Anderson running it in from four yards out for the score. Anderson was the workhorse on the drive, carrying six times for 41 yards on the drive, while Kustok ? a Notre Dame transfer ? added a key 26-yard gain.
Northwestern seemed to be even more in control at the very end of the first, when Harold Blackmon was the beneficiary of a missed reception by the Hoosiers. Collecting the ball at his own 25, Blackmon ran down the right sideline all the way for the score to give NU a 14-0 lead as the quarter ended. It was the second interception for the Wildcats this year, and both have gone for touchdowns.
The change in direction on the field, however, served as a metaphor for a change of direction in momentum. In the second quarter, Indiana gained possession of the ball three times, and all three times the drive ended with the Hoosiers in the end zone. IU then started the second half with another drive that ended in a field goal for a 24-14 lead.
Northwestern briefly came to life, as Teddy Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards to the Indiana 28-yard line. The drive stalled on the Hoosiers' 13, though, and the Wildcats had to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Tim Long. Later, a golden opportunity to tie the game went by the boards when a 67-yard TD run by Anderson was brought back on a holding call.
That proved to be the final blow NU would land, as Indiana tacked on another field goal and a final touchdown in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El scored three touchdowns and Levron Williams rushed for a career-high 241 yards, leading the Hoosier attack. Randle El, the nation's top rushing quarterback, finished with 78 yards on 24 carries and passed for 114 yards.
Kustok, meanwhile, nearly matched Randle El on the ground with 75 yards on 11 carries. His total on the ground was the best by a Wildcat QB since Mike Greenfield gained 83 against Wisconsin back in 1987. Anderson, meanwhile, had 91 yards to lead the ground game. He now has 589 yards for the year, which is a career high.
Northwestern will be back in action next Saturday at home, hosting Iowa in the Homecoming game at 11 a.m. Central. That game will be broadcast on ESPN Regional.
