Post-game Notes

Nov. 7, 2009

Northwestern Post-Game Notes

Northwestern, winners of four of its last five games vs. Iowa, captured its third straight win at Kinnick Stadium. The Wildcats are the only school to defeat Iowa multiple times in the Hawkeyes' last 52 games played at Kinnick Stadium (2006, 2008, 2009). The victory ended Iowa's 13-game winning streak, the second-longest victory string in the country.

The victory over Iowa marked Northwestern's third win over a top-10 team this decade. The Wildcats defeated Wisconsin (#7 AP) 47-44 in 2OT on Sept. 23, 2000 (NU's previous win over a top-10 team on the road) and then beat Ohio State (#7 AP) 33-27 in OT on Oct. 2, 2004 (NU's last win over over a top-10 team at home).

With its win, Northwestern has now won six or more games for a third consecutive year and for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. NU is also bowl-eligible for a third consecutive year, a first in NU history. NU has won six or more games nine times since 1995.

The Wildcats are now 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten. Northwestern plays its final road game of the 2009 season next Saturday at Illinois (11 a.m. CT, TV TBA).

The victory gave head coach Pat Fitzgerald his 25th career win (in four seasons). He has won more games faster than any previous NU coach in the past four years. Fitzgerald now has a 3-1 record vs. Iowa.

The win also gave defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz a milestone victory. It was his 200th career victory as a defensive coordinator (he is in his 25th season as a college coordinator). Overall, in 40 years as a college coach, Hankwitz has been a part of 318 victories.

The Wildcats had forced just one takeaway in their last three games, and none in their last two (vs. Indiana and Penn State). On Saturday, Northwestern forced four Iowa turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles) in the second quarter alone.

DE Corey Wootton's second pass sack of the season forced a Ricky Stanzi fumble in the end zone, which was recovered by DT Marshall Thomas for Northwestern's first touchdown. Stanzi also left the game on that play with an ankle injury. That sack by Wootton gave him 17.5 for his career and moved him into third place on NU's career list.

QB Dan Persa, who played a majority of the second and third quarters at quarterback, led Northwestern in rushing with a career-high 67 yards. He finished the game 5-of-9 passing for 37 yards and 1 TD. He left the game late in the third quarter with a right hand injury.

S Brad Phillips was Northwestern's leading tackler with 10 hits. He also forced a fumble.

CB Jordan Mabin notched his first interception of the year and the fourth of his career in the second quarter. Mabin's pick started a string of four straight turnovers by the Hawkeyes.

LB Quentin Davie had NU's other second-quarter interception. That was the first of his career. NU now has intercepted 12 opponent passes this season, two more than its entire total (10) of a year ago.

CB Sherrick McManis notched his 29th career pass breakup.

QB Mike Kafka, who re-entered the game late in the third quarter, finished the game 10-of-18 passing for 72 yards. He finished the game with 60 yards of total offense, giving him 3,930 yards for his career, which moves him into a tie for ninth place on NU's all-time list with Maurie Daigneau (1969-71).

WR Zeke Markshausen, who came into the game leading the Big Ten in receptions, finished with three catches for 20 yards. He now has 70 catches for the season, becoming just the fifth different player in NU history to catch 70 or more in a season. (D'Wayne Bates did it twice, in 1996 and 1998.) Markshausen ranks sixth on NU's single-season receptions list with his 70 catches.

SB Drake Dunsmore caught his second TD pass of the season, a 4-yard strike with 5:20 to play in the second quarter. That TD, which gave NU a 14-10 lead, proved to be the game-winning score.

RB Scott Concannon led all Northwestern running backs with 59 yards. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry.

PK Stefan Demos improved to 14-of-16 on field goal tries this season. His 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter was the second-longest of his career.

Northwestern, ranked ninth nationally in third-down conversion percentage, converted 9-of-18 (50 percent) third down tries today. The Wildcats are now 84-of-170 on third-down conversion attempts this season.

Northwestern is 6-0 this season when it totals more rushing yards than the opponent (outrushed Iowa 130-65 on Saturday).

For the fourth time this season, Northwestern held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing. The Wildcats held Iowa to a season-low-tying 65 yards (Wisconsin also held the Hawkeyes to 65 rushing yards). Northwestern is now giving up 117.1 ypg on the ground.

After giving up 10 points in the game's first 5 minutes 10 seconds, the Wildcats held the Hawkeyes scoreless the remainder of the way (54 minutes 50 seconds).

Iowa had just 121 yards of total offense in the game's final three quarters.

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Scott Concannon

Quentin Davie

Stefan Demos

Drake Dunsmore

Mike Kafka

Jordan Mabin

Zeke Markshausen

Sherrick McManis

Dan Persa

Brad Phillips

Marshall Thomas

Corey Wootton

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