Saturday, September 3
Ryan Field
11 a.m.
Northwestern
0-1
21
vs
22
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Western Michigan
1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Western Michigan
0
6
10
6
22
Northwestern
7
0
7
7
21
Team Stats
WMU
NU
Total Yards
416
319
Pass Yards
218
196
Rushing Yards
198
123
Penalty Yards
30
20
1st Downs
27
15
3rd Downs
7
4
4th Downs
4
2
TOP
39:04
20:56
1st Quarter
WMU 0, NU 7
NU - Jackson, Justin 1 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:06
2nd Quarter
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
WMU 3, NU 7
WMU - HAMPTON, Butch 47 yd field goal 19 plays, 68 yards, TOP 10:08
WMU 6, NU 7
WMU - HAMPTON, Butch 27 yd field goal 10 plays, 48 yards, TOP 2:48
3rd Quarter
WMU 13, NU 7
WMU - ESKRIDGE, D 13 yd pass from TERRELL, Zach (HAMPTON, Butch kick) 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:29
WMU 13, NU 14
NU - Jackson, Justin 46 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 4 plays, 63 yards, TOP 1:17
WMU 16, NU 14
WMU - HAMPTON, Butch 30 yd field goal 16 plays, 63 yards, TOP 7:22
4th Quarter
WMU 16, NU 21
NU - Jackson, Justin 1 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:04
WMU 22, NU 21
WMU - BOGAN, Jamuauri 1 yd run (TERRELL, Zach passfailed), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:35
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
15
TD
0
YDS
196
INT
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
Jackson Scores Three Times but Wildcats Edged in Season-Opener
9/3/2016 2:50:00 PM | Football
STORIFY SOCIAL MEDIA RECAP
EVANSTON, Ill. – Junior running back Justin Jackson posted 171 all-purpose yards and a career-high three rushing touchdowns but Northwestern came up just short in its season-opener at Ryan Field Saturday afternoon, falling 22-21 to Western Michigan.
With 124 rushing yards, Jackson recorded his 14th career 100-yard game. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson completed 15 of 22 passes for 196 yards for the Wildcats. On the defensive end, linebacker Jaylen Prater and safety Godwin Igwebuike both had career highs, with 18 tackles and nine solo tackles, respectively.
Having won nine of their last 10 season openers, head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats rolled the dice on an aggressive first drive, attempting two fourth-down conversions. The latter was a one-yard plunge from Jackson to give Northwestern the early lead. Jackson, who started the game in sixth on Northwestern's all-time rushing charts, Jackson moved into fourth all-time rushing for Northwestern with a 4-yard rush with four minutes left in first half.
After being held to just three first downs in the first quarter, Western Michigan gleaned seven in the second en route to scoring a pair of field goals to go into the half trailing 7-6.
The Broncos took the opening possession of the second half right down the field, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Zach Terrell to D'Wayne Eskridge that gave the visitors a 13-7 lead.
Jackson again soothed the nerves of the Ryan Field faithful, taking a sweep to the right and bursting through with a 46-yard touchdown rush to regain 14-13 lead halfway through the third.
A third field goal by Butch Hampton – this time a 30-yarder, put the Broncos back in front 16-14 with 17 seconds remaining in the third quarter. However, Jackson again found space on the outside at the start of the fourth, receiving a swing pass and going 37 yards to the WMU 2. Jackson's touchdown rush on the next play reclaimed lead for the #B1GCats, 21-16.
WMU drove down field for a one-yard touchdown run by Jamuauri Bogan to take the lead with 5:38 left in the contest, but Northwestern stopped the two-point conversion to keep the deficit at one, 22-21.
Needing a score, Northwestern charged 66 yards down the field in five plays. On first-and-goal from the 6, Thorson kept the ball for himself and ran towards the east corner of the end zone, where he was met by a Bronco defender on the goal line. The ball popped out, and Western Michigan recovered it in the end zone for a touchback. Western Michigan was able to run out the final 2:54 to preserve the win.
Northwestern returns to action at Ryan Field next Saturday, Sept. 10 as it takes on Illinois State. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
EVANSTON, Ill. – Junior running back Justin Jackson posted 171 all-purpose yards and a career-high three rushing touchdowns but Northwestern came up just short in its season-opener at Ryan Field Saturday afternoon, falling 22-21 to Western Michigan.
With 124 rushing yards, Jackson recorded his 14th career 100-yard game. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson completed 15 of 22 passes for 196 yards for the Wildcats. On the defensive end, linebacker Jaylen Prater and safety Godwin Igwebuike both had career highs, with 18 tackles and nine solo tackles, respectively.
Having won nine of their last 10 season openers, head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats rolled the dice on an aggressive first drive, attempting two fourth-down conversions. The latter was a one-yard plunge from Jackson to give Northwestern the early lead. Jackson, who started the game in sixth on Northwestern's all-time rushing charts, Jackson moved into fourth all-time rushing for Northwestern with a 4-yard rush with four minutes left in first half.
After being held to just three first downs in the first quarter, Western Michigan gleaned seven in the second en route to scoring a pair of field goals to go into the half trailing 7-6.
The Broncos took the opening possession of the second half right down the field, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Zach Terrell to D'Wayne Eskridge that gave the visitors a 13-7 lead.
Jackson again soothed the nerves of the Ryan Field faithful, taking a sweep to the right and bursting through with a 46-yard touchdown rush to regain 14-13 lead halfway through the third.
A third field goal by Butch Hampton – this time a 30-yarder, put the Broncos back in front 16-14 with 17 seconds remaining in the third quarter. However, Jackson again found space on the outside at the start of the fourth, receiving a swing pass and going 37 yards to the WMU 2. Jackson's touchdown rush on the next play reclaimed lead for the #B1GCats, 21-16.
WMU drove down field for a one-yard touchdown run by Jamuauri Bogan to take the lead with 5:38 left in the contest, but Northwestern stopped the two-point conversion to keep the deficit at one, 22-21.
Needing a score, Northwestern charged 66 yards down the field in five plays. On first-and-goal from the 6, Thorson kept the ball for himself and ran towards the east corner of the end zone, where he was met by a Bronco defender on the goal line. The ball popped out, and Western Michigan recovered it in the end zone for a touchback. Western Michigan was able to run out the final 2:54 to preserve the win.
Northwestern returns to action at Ryan Field next Saturday, Sept. 10 as it takes on Illinois State. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
••••••
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