Northwestern University Athletics
Postgame Notes: California 31, Northwestern 24
8/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
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California 31, Northwestern 24
Aug. 30 • Ryan Field
Northwestern Game Notes
Team Notes:
• California was making its first-ever appearance in Evanston, with the two previous NU-Cal meetings having taken place in Pasadena (1949) and Berkeley (2013). This also marks California's first win in the all-time series.
• Northwestern saw its streak of nine consecutive opening-day victories (eight under Pat Fitzgerald) come to an end.
• The Wildcats also had their run of 16 straight home nonconference wins snapped. Saturday marked the first win at Ryan Field by a non-Big Ten opponent since Duke in 2007.
• Northwestern, which ranked 12th among FBS teams in fewest penalties committed per game in 2013, was not assessed any penalty yards in their opener against Cal.
Individual Notes:
• Senior safety Ibraheim Campbell recorded the ninth interception of his career in the second quarter, moving Campbell into a tie with Sherrick McManis (2006-09) and Willie Lindsey (1989-92).
• Senior LB Collin Ellis also picked up an interception, the fourth of his career and third against California. Like his two pick-sixes against Cal in 2013, Ellis corralled a tipped pass in the third quarter Saturday to set up Northwestern's third touchdown.
• Ellis ranked as NU's leading tackler in the game with 12 total stops, while Campbell tied a career high with 11 solo tackles. That sum matches Campbell's 11 solo stops against Syracuse on Sept. 1, 2012.
• WR Cameron Dickerson scored a touchdown on a 54-yard catch-and-run, the longest reception of the junior's career and his third touchdown, first since Oct. 5, 2013, vs. Ohio State.
• QB Trevor Siemian made his fourth career start and compiled 229 yards on 23-of-42 passing, reaching the precipice of the 4,000 career passing yards mark (3,946). Siemian also collected the first reception of his career on a trick play in the third quarter, catching a throwback pass from redshirt freshman superback Jayme Taylor and scampering 17 yards before diving for the pylon and the score.
• Numerous Wildcats made their NU debuts in the game, including four true freshman: SB Garrett Dickerson, RB Justin Jackson, RB Solomon Vault and DL Xavier Washington. Jackson finished as Northwestern's leading rusher with 40 yards on eight carries and his first career touchdown, a 7-yard run in the third quarter.
• Also debuting at Northwestern is wide receiver Miles Shuler, who transferred from Rutgers to Evanston last fall with two years of eligibility remaining. Shuler was Northwestern's primary kick-returner in the game, totaling 60 yards on three returns.
• PK Jack Mitchell made his first in-game appearance for the Wildcats and scored six total points, hitting on all three extra point attempts and his first career field goal attempt. Mitchell was true from a distance of 24 yards with 5:18 remaining in the game as Northwestern attempted to complete its comeback.
