Sept. 5, 2009
Recap |
Box Score |
Quotes
TOWSON at NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern 47, Towson 14
September 5, 2009
Ryan Field Evanston, Ill.
Northwestern Post-Game Notes
With the victory, Northwestern is now 74-44-4 (.623) in 122 season openers and 11-4 (.733) in opening games since 1995. NU won its season opener for a fifth straight year.
Northwestern has won five consecutive regular-season nonconference contests.
Northwestern's 47 points are the most in a season opener since it defeated DePauw 62-0 in the 1944 opening game. The 33-point victory is the Wildcats' widest margin of victory since they defeated Michigan State 49-14 (35 points) on Oct. 22, 2005.
Northwestern scored 21 points in the first quarter-its best opening quarter scoring output since posting 22 points in the first quarter against UCLA in the 2005 Sun Bowl (Dec. 30, 2005).
Northwestern's 37 first-half points were the most in an opening half since they scored 41 in the first half against Wake Forest on Sept. 28, 1991 (a 41-14 Northwestern win).
The Wildcats' five rushing touchdowns are the most in a single game since they scored six against Navy on Sept. 21, 2002.
Towson's 65 rushing yards were the fewest allowed by a Northwestern defense since the 'Cats surrendered a school-record 4 rushing yards vs. Ohio last season.
The second-quarter Dan Persa to Andrew Brewer 72-yard touchdown pass marked Persa's first career scoring toss and Brewer's first career TD reception. Brewer tallied three rushing TD's in 2006 (when he primarily played quarterback).
Brewer had a career receiving day, totaling six catches for 145 yards and one touchdown.
Brewer's 72-yard TD pass was NU's longest since C.J. Bachér tossed a 78-yarder to Jeff Yarbrough against Michigan State in 2007.
Mke Kafka's 192 passing yards are a career single-game best. He equaled his single-game-best completion rate of 75 percent (15 of 20). Kafka was 12-of-16 against Minnesota last season.
Stephen Simmons' game-leading 77 rushing yards (18 carries) is a single-game career best. He also added 8 receiving yards and 82 kickoff return yards, including a 49-yarder, for a single-game-best 167 all-purpose yards.
In their debuts at running back, Arby Fields and Scott Concannon combined for four of the five Northwestern rushing TD's (two each).
A. Fields, Concannon and Jacob Schmidt each tallied their first career TD's.
Fields averaged 8.0 yards per carry (six carries, 48 yards) and had the longest rush of the game with a 22-yard score.
Quentin Davie's nine tackles were a team-best vs. Towson and also a single-game career best.
Justan Vaughn tallied his second career interception and Quentin Williams picked off his first as a Wildcat.
Stefan Demos' first career field goal attempt was a successful 26-yarder in the third quarter. He finished with 8 points.
Wide receivers Zeke Markshausen (2 for 30 yards) and Demetrius Fields (3 for 30 yards) both had career days.
After ranking as one of the nation's top teams a year ago for third-down conversion percentage, the Wildcats converted 12-of-17 (70.6 percent) third-down tries today.
Northwestern returns to Ryan Field next Saturday, entertaining Eastern Michigan (EMU hosts Army at 6 p.m. on 9/5) at 11 a.m. (Big Ten Network). 
