Postgame Notes

Nov. 4, 2006

Recap | Box Score

Northwestern halts its six-game losing skid (its longest since 2001) and improves to 3-7 overall, 1-5 in the Big Ten. Northwestern's game captains were Demetrius Eaton, Bryan Heinz, Erryn Cobb and Shaun Herbert. Sherrick McManis was the honorary/special teams' captain.

The win was the first Big Ten victory for first-year head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Northwestern won back-to-back games against Iowa for the first time since winning successive games in 1995, '96 and '97. The Wildcats now have won six of their last 10 games against the Hawkeyes. Iowa leads the overall series 45-20-3. The win at Kinnick Stadium was just the sixth for NU (Iowa leads 23-6 in Iowa City).

Northwestern became just the third foe in Iowa's last 30 home games (dating to the 2002 season) to visit Kinnick Stadium and leave with a victory. The other two teams to beat the Hawkeyes in Iowa City during that span: No. 1 Ohio State earlier this season and Michigan in 2005.

For the third straight game (his first three career starts), quarterback C.J. Bachér threw for over 200 yards, completing 19-of-29 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against a defensive unit that ranked 25th nationally in pass efficiency defense. He completed a game-long 48-yard pass to fellow quarterback/wide receiver Andrew Brewer on NU's opening scoring drive.

After being held to a career-low 6 rushing yards last week at Michigan, running back Tyrell Sutton bounced back with a 168-yard rushing effort (28 carries, 6.0 ypc) today, the best individual rushing performance against Iowa in 2006. He also added 35 receiving yards (five receptions) for 203 all-purpose yards.

Northwestern's 225 rushing yards were the most allowed by Iowa's defense this year. Prior to today, only Ohio State (214) and Purdue (202) had run for more than 200 yards on the Hawkeyes in 2006.

With his 168 rushing yards, Tyrell Sutton increased his career total to 2,307 all-time yards, leaving him in seventh place on NU's all-time list. Greg Boykin is sixth all-time with 2,465 yards. His first-half rushing TD was the 20th ground score of his career, moving him into seventh place (with Bob Christian, 1987-90) on NU's all-time rushing TD list.

Sutton's 203 all-purpose yards upped his career total to 2,891 yards (22 career games). That total places him 13th on NU's career all-purpose yardage list.

Wide receiver Shaun Herbert caught four passes to extend his consecutive reception string to 34 games. He entered the week with the nation's eighth-longest reception streak. Herbert moved into fifth place on NU's all-time receiving yardage list: he now has 1,792 career yards -- 81 yards shy of fourth place (Kunle Patrick). Herbert also moved into sole possession of fifth place on NU's career receptions list with 160.

Wide receiver Eric Peterman, who had totaled 149 receiving yards in his previous two games, caught three passes for 32 yards, which included an 7-yard TD reception. He came into the game averaging 17.6 yards per reception, a team-best mark.

Quarterback Andrew Brewer made his debut at wide receiver, and made a splash, catching a 48-yard pass on the Wildcats' opening drive, which was capped by Tyrell Sutton's 5-yard TD run.

Freshman Sherrick McManis made his first second career start at cornerback, replacing Marquice Cole who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. He finished the game with a career-best five tackles, as well as a pass breakup.

Safeties Brendan Smith and Reggie McPherson each notched interceptions in the game, and both plays came at key times. Smith, who recorded his fifth career pick, intercepted Drew Tate at the Northwestern goal line and returned 14 yards. McPherson's interception came late in the game and essentially sealed the win for the Wildcats. McPherson added seven tackles.

Defensive end Mark Koehn delivered a fumble-forcing hit on Iowa QB Drew Tate in the first half. Linebacker Eddie Simpson then scooped up the loose ball and ran 23 yards to the Iowa 6-yard line. Two plays later, C.J. Bachér hit Eric Peterman for a 14-0 Northwestern lead.

Cornerback Deante Battle led the Northwestern defense with 10 tackles (three solos), as well as a 3-yard TFL and a QB hurry. Linebacker Adam Kadela added nine hits and defensive end Kevin Mims had seven.

For the first time this season, Northwestern won a game when having less turnovers than its opponents. Three times previously this season the Wildcats lost the game when suffering fewer miscues than their foes.

The seven points that NU allowed marked the third time this season that the Wildcats held an opponent to seven points or less. The last time NU did that in a season was in 1995, when the Wildcats won the Big Ten title and went to the Rose Bowl. Northwestern held its opponents to seven points or less three times that year.

Northwestern's defense held Iowa to seven points, the fewest points that the Hawkeyes have scored against the Wildcats in 34 games, dating to the 1971 contest, which was won 28-3 by Northwestern.

Northwestern's 443 yards were a single-season best, eclipsing the 440 yards the Wildcats gained on Oct. 21 vs. Michigan State. The 225 rushing yards were the second-most behind the 246 NU totaled at Nevada (Sept. 22).

Northwestern finished 2-4 on the road this season, 1-3 at Big Ten venues.

Northwestern entertains top-ranked and unbeaten Ohio State (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) at 2:30 p.m. next Saturday at Ryan Field. ABC will televise the game.

Iowa Notes

Today was Iowa's first home loss to a non-ranked opponent since falling 36-31 to Iowa State on Sept. 14, 2002. The loss was only Iowa's third setback in 30 games at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes also lost to Michigan (23-20, OT) in 2005 and Ohio State (38-17) in 2006. Today's loss was Iowa's second straight to Northwestern and snapped a three-game winning streak over the Wildcats in Kinnick Stadium.

Northwestern won the toss and deferred to the second half. Iowa has started on offense in 81 of its last 89 games. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 83-of-95 games under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has started on offense in nine of ten games in 2006.

Iowa failed to score on its opening possession. Iowa has not scored on its first drive in 10 games. Northwestern recorded a five-play, 80-yard touchdown scoring drive on its first possession. Four of Iowa's opponents (Syracuse, Iowa State, Ohio State and Northwestern) have opened the game with touchdown drives.

Dominique Douglas now tops the Iowa freshman receiver charts in both receptions and yards. Douglas caught seven passes for 78 yards today. The seven receptions are a season-high for a Hawkeye receiver. The Detroit native now has 39 receptions for 534 yards. Kahlil Hill held the previous record of receptions (35), while Danan Hughes had the record for receiving yards (471). Both Hill and Hughes were redshirt freshmen.

Young rushed 18 times for 72 yards. His 72 yards moved him past Levi Mitchell and into 10th in career rushing at Iowa. The junior tailback now has 1,967 career yards and is only 33 yards from 2,000.

Iowa's defense was led by Mike Klinkenborg. The junior linebacker racked-up a career-high 16 tackles, including a sack for a loss of seven yards. His previous best was 14 stops vs. Purdue. LB Edmond Miles recorded 10 tackles, including two for loss. Miles was one tackle shy of matching a career high.

QB Drew Tate returned to action today after missing last week's contest vs. Northern Illinois due to injury. Tate completed 18-27 passes for 147 yards and had two interceptions. Tate falls to 14-3 in games started in Kinnick Stadium.

Northwestern forced three Iowa turnovers (a fumble and two interceptions). The Wildcats scored a touchdown on a two-play, six-play drive after a Drew Tate fumble in the second quarter. Northwestern, who intercepted Iowa in the red zone in the second period, had a deflected pass intercepted by Miguel Merrick in the red zone to halt its drive at the end of the second period. The Wildcats also intercepted Tate late in the fourth period, which did not result in any points.

Iowa forced two Northwestern turnovers (two interceptions). DB Miguel Merrick intercepted a pass inside the red zone at the six-yard line with seconds left in the half that did not result in any points. DB Charles Godfrey collected a theft in the third period that resulted in a seven-play, 54-yard drive, culminating with a three-yard RB Damian Sims touchdown run. Sims now has a team-best six touchdowns in 2006.

Instant replay was not used today, marking only the second Iowa game this season in which replay was not utilized. The other game was Iowa's home contest vs. Purdue (10/7).

P Andy Fenstermaker punted five times for 208 yards (41.6 average). Two of his four kicks were downed inside the 20, including one on the three. He had a long punt of 48 today.

FB Champ Davis and OL Dace Richardson both returned to action today. Davis missed the Northern Illinois contest after being injured at Michigan (10/21), while Richardson missed games at Michigan and vs. Northern Illinois after getting injured at Indiana (10/14). Davis only saw action on special teams, while Richardson started at left tackle.

Today marked the first time Iowa was limited to seven points at home since a 13-7 loss to Wisconsin on Oct. 28, 2000.

Today was Iowa's 23rd straight sellout, dating to the 2003 season. The last Hawkeye game not sold out was vs. Buffalo (9/6/03). All seven home contests this season are sold out.

Iowa hosts Wisconsin in its home finale next Saturday (11:03 a.m., ESPN) before closing the regular season at Minnesota (Nov. 18, TBA).

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

C.J. Bachér

Andrew Brewer

Sherrick McManis

Kevin Mims

Eric Peterman

Brendan Smith

Tyrell Sutton

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