Sept. 16, 2007
Recap |
Box Score |
Quotes
NORTHWESTERN vs. DUKE
Duke 20, Northwestern 14
September 15, 2007
Ryan Field, Evanston, Ill.
NORTHWESTERN NOTES
Northwestern fell to 2-1 on the season and had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Wildcats were attempting to start 3-0 for the first time since 2001 and only the second time since 1962. NU was shooting for its first four-game winning streak since 1996.
NU begins Big Ten Conference play next Saturday, traveling to nationally ranked Ohio State (3-0) in Columbus. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, with the contest being televised by ESPN and ABC. ABC (WLS-TV) will carry the game in the Chicago market.
Duke snapped Northwestern's five-game series winning streak against the Blue Devils. NU has won seven of the last nine games between the teams.
Northwestern lost for only the third time in its last 14 games decided by seven points or less. Nine of those victories have occurred at Ryan Field.
QB C.J. Bachér set career highs with 368 passing yards, 403 yards total offense, 30 completions and 50 attempts. Bachér has passed for 200 or more yards in all eight career starts.
Bachér is the first Wildcat to pass for over 300 yards since Brett Basanez had 326 against Michigan in 2005. The 368 yards is the ninth-best single-game mark by a Wildcat (tying him with Brett Basanez's 368 yards against Illinois in 2002). His 30 completions and 50 attempts rank 10th and tied for ninth as NU single-game bests.
Bachér's 403 yards of total offense ranks 11th on NU's single-game best list.
Bachér's 35-yard fourth quarter run was his longest as a Wildcat.
Bachér has completed at least 20 passes in four consecutive games and has totaled over 20 completions five times in his career. He connected with 10 different receivers tonight.
Bachér's first quarter interception marked the end of 10 consecutive quarters without a Northwestern turnover, dating to 2006.
DE Kevin Mims led the Wildcats with a career-high 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. The pair of TFLs put him in double figures for his career with 11.
WR Ross Lane had a career-best nine receptions. His 128 yards was the second-most of his career (he had 136 yards against UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl).
PK Amado Villarreal has converted on all nine of his PAT kicks this season, including two tonight.
Freshmen superbacks Drake Dunsmore and Josh Rooks caught their first collegiate passes. Dunsmore had two receptions for 70 yards and Rooks caught one pass for 7 yards.
RB Brandon Roberson, starting in place of Tyrell Sutton (who missed his first college game with an injury), netted 80 rushing yards (3.8 ypc) and a TD and had an 8-yard reception.
P Stefan Demos averaged 47.0 yards per punt on a pair of kicks. Both of his punts landed inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
Northwestern, which led the nation in fewest penalties in 2006 and ranked eighth nationally for fewest penalties (4.0 per game) coming into tonight's game, was whistled for 13 penalties (for 125 yards) in the game. The 13 are the most in a game since NU had 13 at Hawaii in 2004. The last time Northwestern had more than 13 penalties was against Duke in 2002, when the Wildcats were whistled for single-game school record 16.
In the second quarter, the Wildcats' consecutive red zone scoring streak ended at 19. Northwestern, which finished 2-of-5 for red-zone scoring, is now 12-of-15 in the red zone this year.
The 'Cats outgained Duke in rushing yardage, 166-82, passing yardage, 368-246 and total yardage, 506-309. In addition, NU led in possession time, 33:34 to 26:26. NU, however, lost the turnover battle, 2-1.
Duke didn't score a point in the second half. Through three games this season, NU has outscored foes 43-7 in the second half. 
