Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, September 5
Evanston, Ill.
11 a.m.
Northwestern
1-0
16
vs
6
Stanford
0-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Stanford
3
0
0
3
6
Northwestern
3
7
0
6
16
Team Stats
STAN
NU
Total Yards
240
330
Pass Yards
155
105
Rushing Yards
85
225
Penalty Yards
25
57
1st Downs
17
17
3rd Downs
3
12
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
28:08
31:52
1st Quarter
STAN 3, NU 0
STAN - Ukropina,C 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 64 yards, TOP 6:27
STAN 3, NU 3
NU - Mitchell, Jack 31 yd field goal 13 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:49
2nd Quarter
STAN 3, NU 10
NU - Thorson, C. 42 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:42
4th Quarter
STAN 3, NU 13
NU - Mitchell, Jack 19 yd field goal 13 plays, 61 yards, TOP 5:21
STAN 6, NU 13
STAN - Ukropina,C 37 yd field goal 13 plays, 55 yards, TOP 4:55
STAN 6, NU 16
NU - Mitchell, Jack 49 yd field goal 9 plays, 43 yards, TOP 3:48
Game Leaders
CMP
12
TD
0
YDS
105
INT
0
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
PK
/ Football
S
/ FootballQB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballDefense Lifts 'Cats in Season-Opening 16-6 Win Over #21 Stanford
9/5/2015 2:39:00 PM | Football
Wildcats keep Cardinal out of the end zone
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Postgame Press Conference: Pat Fitzgerald | Offense | Defense
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern won its season-opener for the ninth time in the last 10 years with the defense leading the way as the Wildcats defeated No. 21 Stanford 16-6 Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field.
Sophomore linebacker Anthony Walker's career-high 10 tackles -- three of which went for a loss -- helped Northwestern limit Stanford to 240 total yards, and safety Kyle Queiro's fourth quarter interception in the end zone sealed the win.
On the offensive side, redshirt freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson scored the game's only touchdown on a 42-yard run, while sophomore back Justin Jackson broke the 100-yard mark for the seventh time in his career. The Wildcats converted on 12 third downs, and kicker Jack Mitchell hit on three of his four field goal attempts -- including a career-long 49-yarder.
Stanford opened the game with an 11-play, 64-yard drive to Northwestern's 12-yard line, but the Cardinal offense stalled inside the red zone and the Cardinal to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Conrad Ukropina.
Northwestern went three-and-out on Thorson's first career drive, but the Wildcats -- behind two tackles for a loss from Walker -- quickly forced Stanford's first punt of the game.
Then the Wildcat offense came alive. Jackson, picking up where he left off after recording the second 1,000-yard rushing season by a Northwestern freshman, broke off runs of 16 and 19 yards -- both on third down. Thorson showed impressive poise in the pocket, connecting with senior receiver Christian Jones on a key 11-yard third down gain. Northwestern eventually leveled the score behind Mitchell's 31-yard field goal.
The teams traded three-and-outs after the score as Northwestern's defense repeatedly snuffed out Stanford's attack. The Cardinal were particularly ineffective on the ground, with Northwestern limiting them to 33 rushing yards on 17 carries in the first half.
The Wildcats began their fourth drive at their own 20 and marched past midfield behind two key completions from Thorson on third down. Then, after an incomplete pass put Northwestern in a tough 3rd-and-7 position, Thorson found a huge hole to his left and burst through, outrunning the Stanford defense for a 42-yard touchdown to put the 'Cats up 10-3. NU would take the seven-point advantage into the halftime intermission.
After the break, both offenses stayed quiet for the first several drives. McCaffrey broke free for a 27-yard run on Stanford's first drive, taking the Cardinal into Northwestern territory, but the Wildcats forced back-to-back incompletions to force Stanford's fifth punt of the game.
In fact, neither team threatened to score until Northwestern's fourth drive of the half. The Wildcats started on their own 37-yard line and steadily picked away at Stanford's D as they made their way down the field. Thorson once again completed a third-down pass, this time to Jackson on 3rd-and-4, for the Wildcats' 10th conversion on 18 third-down tries. Then, from the Stanford 26-yard line, Jackson found an opening and broke free for a 21-yard pickup. Mitchell converted a chip-shot 19-yard field goal, extending Northwestern's lead to 13-3.
Stanford responded by marching 55 yards to Northwestern's 20-yard line, but the 'Cats again held their ground and forced the Cardinal's second field goal of the day as Ukropina hit on a 37-yard with 7:26 remaining to make it a seven-point game.
Northwestern got the ball back with 7:16 remaining and Thorson continued his third-down success with a 25-yard completion to Miles Schuler just inside the Northwestern sideline. A few Jackson carries took the 'Cats to Stanford's 32-yard line. Northwestern was forced to bring Mitchell out for a 49-yard field goal attempt. From three yards farther out than his previous career-long at Notre Dame, Mitchell converted to put Northwestern back up by 10 with 3:38 to go.
Stanford began its final drive at its own 28-yard line and brought the ball all the way to Northwestern's five-yard line, but Hogan tried to force a pass into the end zone, and Queiro jumped in front of the Stanford receiver for the game-clinching interception.
Northwestern looks to move to 2-0 at 3 p.m. next Saturday against Eastern Illinois. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
••••••
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