Sept. 12, 2009
Recap |
Box Score |
Quotes
EASTERN MICHIGAN at NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern 27, Eastern Michigan 24
September 12, 2009
Ryan Field o Evanston, Ill.
Post-Game Notes
Northwestern improved to 2-0 on the season while recording its seventh-straight regular-season nonconference victory.
Northwestern posted its seventh straight victory versus a Mid-American Conference foe, and upped its overall record vs. MAC teams to 14-8-1. Northwestern is 3-0 all-time vs. Eastern Michigan.
The Wildcats have won six straight games in September. They have not lost a game in September since Sept. 29, 2007 (28-16 loss to Michigan).
In its last 24 games decided by seven points or less, Northwestern is now 19-5.
After two games, the Wildcats are outscoring their opponents 28-0 and in the first quarter and 58-10 in the first half.
Dating to last season, Northwestern is 8-0 when leading at halftime. The Wildcats also have gone 7-2 in their last nine games at Ryan Field.
RB Stephen Simmons's two TD's marks his first contest with multiple rushing touchdowns. He led Northwestern with 73 yards rushing and a 5.6 yards per carry average.
With 73 yards rushing, 15 receiving and 108 in kick returns, Simmons totaled 196 all-purpose yards, a career single-game best.
After scoring his first career TD last week in the win over Towson, walk-on RB Jacob Schmidt totaled a career-best 61 rushing yards on 13 carries.
WR Demetrius Fields led all Wildcat players with a career-best four receptions for 25 yards. He replaced Sidney Stewart in the starting lineup after Stewart was a late-game scratch due to an illness.
QB Mike Kafka completed 14 passes with seven different players making catches.
LB Ben Johnson's 70-yard interception return for TD is his first career pick and the first NU scoring interception return since Brendan Smith's 48-yard return against Minnesota last season. The 70-yarder is NU's longest defensive score since Demetrius Eaton's 86-yard fumble return in 2005 vs. Michigan State. It is also the first interception return by a Northwestern linebacker since Nick Roach had a 35-yard interception return vs. UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl.
Johnson's 70-yard interception return for TD is the longest "pick-six" since Harold Blackmon returned an interception 75 yards for a TD against Indiana on Oct. 9, 1999. In 2003 vs. Illinois, cornerback Marvin Ward returned an interception 69 yards for a score.
SB Drake Dunsmore's 28-yard reception is his longest this season. He led the Wildcats in receiving yards (48) on two receptions. Senior WR Zeke Markshausen added a career single-game best 38 receiving yards.
PK Stefan Demos' game-winning 49-yard field goal is the longest for a Wildcat since Amado Villarreal hit a 49-yarder against Michigan on Sept. 29, 2007. The last NU player to kick a field goal in the final seconds for a win was David Wasielewski, who drilled a 51-yarder with no time left as NU beat Michigan State 27-26 on Sept. 29, 2001.
Demos' 49-yard FG is a collegiate long. He booted a 20-yard FG earlier in the game and finished with a career-best nine points. In high school, Demos' career-long was a 51-yarder.
QB Mike Kafka completed 14-of-24 passes for 158 yards. He added 21 rushing yards for 179 yards of total offense.
S Brendan Smith's 12 tackles led Northwestern and equaled a personal single-game best he set against against Penn State in 2006. He also tied a career high with seven assisted tackles.
LB Nate Williams' seven solo tackles led NU and was a personal single-game best. 
