Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota (LaSalle Bank Day)
Wildcats Fall To No. 21 Minnesota
10/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 4, 2003
Northwestern Game Notes
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Northwestern Quotes (Randy Walker)Download Free Acrobat Reader
Minnesota Quotes (Glen Mason)Download Free Acrobat Reader
Minnesota Box Score in PDF FormatDownload Free Acrobat Reader
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern scored on its first two possessions for a 14-0 lead, but then was stymied the rest of the way as 21st-ranked Minnesota came from behind for a 42-17 victory Saturday at Ryan Field.
Minnesota's Asad Abdul-Khaliq threw for three touchdowns, including a game-changing 96-yarder to Jared Ellerson, to lead the comeback.
Marion Barber III ran for two scores as the Gophers piled up 572 yards and improved to 6-0 for the first time in 43 years.
Abdul-Khaliq, the Big Ten's leader in passing efficiency, missed on four of his first five passes but finished 12-for-17 for 331 yards. Two of his TDs came on long fly patterns to Jared Ellerson, the school-record 96-yarder and another for 82 yards.
Minnesota didn't resemble the Big Ten's highest-scoring team for the first 20-plus minutes, managing just 8 yards and no first downs on its first four possessions. The Wildcats at one point held a 154 to 8 advantage in total offensive yards. Backed up at the 1 and trailing 14-0 near the midway point of the second period, the Gophers appeared in danger of losing to Northwestern (2-4, 0-2) for the sixth time in eight years.
But the game turned quickly. On third down from the 4, Abdul-Khaliq dropped back into the end zone and heaved a pass down the right sideline to Ellerson, who was 15 yards behind the nearest defender after cornerback Jeff Backes tripped and fell. Ellerson's TD made it 14-7, and three minutes later Barber raced untouched around left end to tie the score.
Following an interception by Justin Fraley near midfield, the Gophers took the lead for good at 21-14 on an 8-yard pass from Abdul-Khaliq pass to Ben Utecht.
Northwestern closed to 21-17 on a 39-yard field goal by Slade Larscheid just before halftime, but Abdul-Khaliq hit Ellerson on the 82-yard play on the second play of the second half and the Wildcats never threatened again.
Barber raced untouched around right end seven minutes later to make it 35-17. A 32-yard TD pass from Abdul-Khaliq to Aaron Hosack was the only scoring of the final quarter.
Northwestern dominated both lines in racing to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Jason Wright ran in from 12 yards out and quarterback Brett Basanez scored on a 2-yard keeper. But after piling up 146 yards on offense in the opening period, the Wildcats managed only 138 the rest of the way.
Northwestern wide receiver Kunle Patrick caught a pass in his 40th straight game -- the longest such streak in the nation.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
