Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Miami Ohio
NU Football Falls to Miami in Season Opener, 28-3
9/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 4, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. - Despite 129 rushing yards from junior running back Damien Anderson (Wilmington, Ill./Wilmington) and an outstanding all-around effort from sophomore wide receiver Sam Simmons (Kansas City, Mo./F.L. Schlagle), Northwestern dropped its first game of the 1999 season, 28-3 to Miami (Ohio) University.
The game was the first of the Randy Walker Era. Ironically, the contest featured Walker, the new Wildcat head coach, against his former team in the RedHawks.
Anderson led the Wildcats to a 181-yard rushing day. Simmons rushed four times for 51 yards, caught three passes for 59 more and averaged more than 26 yards in five kickoff returns. Sophomore outside linebacker Kevin Bentley (North Hills, Calif./Montclair Prep) led the squad with 10 tackles. NU?s defense sacked Miami quarterback Mike Bath three times and stopped the Red Hawks on downs during a remarkable goal line stand to begin the third quarter.
The Wildcats were felled by the rushing of Travis Prentice ? who gained 157 yards on the ground ? and the receiving of Sly Johnson, whose four-catch, 166-yard day included a 73-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter for the Red Hawks? final tally. Northwestern kept the pressure on Miami most of the game, taking the ball inside their opponents? 25 three times in the first half before being intercepted once and converting one of two field goal attempts. Anderson finished the first half with 102 rushing yards on 22 carries, breaking countless tackles before the Wildcats opened up to the passing game.
