Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
5-6 , 3-4
Purdue
3-8 , 1-6
Team Stats
NU 7, PUR 0
NU - Vitale, Dan 25 yd pass from Siemian, Trevor (Mitchell, Jack kick) 5 plays, 81 yards, TOP 1:08
NU 14, PUR 0
NU - Jackson, Justin 9 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 9 plays, 57 yards, TOP 3:50
NU 21, PUR 0
NU - Jones, Tony 64 yd punt return (Mitchell, Jack kick)
NU 24, PUR 0
NU - Mitchell, Jack 32 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 0:52
NU 24, PUR 7
PUR - Hunt, Akeem 19 yd pass from Appleby, Austin (Griggs, Paul kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:46
NU 31, PUR 7
NU - Oliver, Zack 1 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 12 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:43
NU 38, PUR 7
NU - Jackson, Justin 68 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 3 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:35
NU 38, PUR 14
PUR - Sinz, Justin 8 yd pass from Appleby, Austin (Griggs, Paul kick) 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 0:57
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Northwestern Steams Past Purdue, 38-14
11/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Northwestern recorded four first-half takeaways on its way to a commanding 24-0 lead and ultimately downed Purdue, 38-14, at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday.
The victory lifts Northwestern to 5-6 on the year, setting the Wildcats up for a Senior Day matchup with Illinois next Saturday at Ryan Field in which NU will attempt to reach its sixth win and bowl eligibility for the sixth time in seven seasons.
In Saturday's win, true freshman tailback Justin Jackson burned the Boilermakers for 147 yards and surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau for the season, reaching the milestone on a career-long 68-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. It marks the 16th 1,000-yard rushing season in Northwestern history and the third since 2006. Jackson's rushing total ranks as the second-most all-time by an NU freshman behind Tyrell Sutton's 1,474 in 2005.
Northwestern's defense controlled the game in the opening half, limiting Purdue to 54 yards of total offense until the Boilermakers' 75-yard touchdown drive on its final offensive series of the half. Senior safety Ibraheim Campbell finished with one interception, two forced fumbles (giving him three in the last two games) and racked up eight tackles.
Senior QB Trevor Siemian threw for 93 yards and a touchdown on 7-of-12 passing before departing the game in the second quarter with a lower body injury.
The teams traded interceptions on the first two offensive series of the game, with Siemian tossing an interception on Northwestern's second play from scrimmage only to have NU's Jimmy Hall nab his second interception of the season off a deflected Austin Appleby pass.
Northwestern fared much better on its second series, getting a 44-yard rush by senior Treyvon Green and, on the next play, scoring the game's first points on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Siemian to a streaking Dan Vitale. It was Vitale's second touchdown catch of the year and first since Oct. 4 vs. Wisconsin.
Later in the quarter, Hall made his presence known again when he and Anthony Walker converged on a Purdue receiver, with Hall knocking the ball free and falling on the fumble to return possession to the Wildcats. NU capitalized on the opportunity, keeping its drive alive on a stellar fourth-and-14 conversion when Siemian scrambled to his right and found Kyle Prater on the sideline for a 19-yard gain. One play later, Jackson darted into the end zone from nine yards out, giving the 'Cats a 14-0 lead.
After a Purdue three-and-out, senior Tony Jones made it a three-touchdown game when he fielded a punt, spun through a would-be tackler and sprinted 64 yards to the end zone, posting the first punt return touchdown by a Wildcat since Venric Mark's 75-yarder at Penn State on Oct. 6, 2012.
Siemian was injured attempting to move the pile on a fourth-and-short play on NU's next series, turning the QB reins over to Zack Oliver and Matt Alviti. The Wildcats would later add three points on a 32-yard Jack Mitchell field goal, but Purdue finally found its offensive rhythm and assembled a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to enter halftime trailing the Wildcats, 24-7.
After a scoreless third quarter, Oliver put the Wildcats in front, 31-7, with his first career rushing touchdown, a QB sneak with 14:06 to play. Later in the period, Jackson iced the victory and reached his personal milestone with the 64-yard scoring rush, the longest run by a Wildcat this season.
Purdue would add a cosmetic touchdown in the final minute of the game to account for the final 38-14 score.
Next Saturday, the Wildcats will wrap up the 2014 regular season and celebrate Senior Day when they host rival Illinois in their annual battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy. The game will kick off in Evanston at 11 a.m. CT with ESPNU providing the national broadcast.
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