Postgame Notes
10/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 1, 2011
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Northwestern Postgame Notes
NU vs. Illinois • Oct. 1, 2011
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Ill.
Attendance: 53,243
Northwestern Team Notes
• This was the 105th meeting between the two in-state rivals. Northwestern, which has won six of the last nine games in the series, trails the overall series 54-46-5.
• Since 2008, NU has gone 12-7 in true road games. Eight of those wins have come against Big Ten foes, the most road wins by any Big Ten program.
• NU's defense totaled four pass sacks for (25) yards. The Wildcats came into the game ranked 48th nationally in sacks.
• Northwestern forced three turnovers in the game (one INT and two fumbles) while committing no turnovers itself. NU came into the game leading the nation in fewest turnovers (1) and fewest fumbles (0).
• NU is 26-11 under Pat Fitzgerald when it has more rushing yards. (14-3 in the past two-plus seasons).
• Northwestern has now scored in double figures 51 straight games.
• Northwestern returns to Ryan Field next Saturday (Oct. 8), playing its first home game in almost a month. NU plays host to nationally ranked Michigan (5-0, 1-0) in a 6 p.m. CT kickoff that is being televised by BTN.
Northwestern Individual Notes
• Senior QB Dan Persa made his first start and appearance since suffering his torn Achilles' tendon in the Nov. 13, 2010 game vs. Iowa.
• Redshirt freshman LB Collin Ellis made his first career start and collegiate appearance at one outside linebacker position. He finished the game with three tackles, which included a sack.
• RB Mike Trumpy, who earned the start at running back, ran for 63 yards. He left the game in the third quarter with a right leg injury. True freshman RB Treyvon Green ran for 67 yards to lead NU.
• Senior S Brian Peters recorded his eighth career interception, and his third against Illinois in the past two seasons, when he thwarted a potential Illini scoring threat by intercepting Nathan Scheelhaase, in the end zone. Peters' interception moved him into a three-way tie for eighth place on NU's career interception list (with Bobby Anderson, 1979-82, and Dick McCauley (1962-64).
• Persa tossed a career-best four touchdown passes to increase his career total to 21, which moved him into a 10th place-tie on NU's all-time touchdown list. He is tied with Mike Greenfield (1984-87) and Tom Myers (1962-64) with his 21 career TD's.
• Senior WR Jeremy Ebert tallied his 13th, 14th and 15th career touchdown receptions after grabbing a 3-yard pass from Dan Persa in the second quarter, a 39-yard grab and another 4-yard reception in the third. Ebert moved into third in NU's career TD reception list.
• With his 39-yard touchdown catch, nine of Ebert's 15 career TD receptions have now covered 20 or more yards.
• S Brian Peters led the Wildcats with 13 tackles.
• P Brandon Williams equaled his career long with a 65-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
