Saturday, October 7
Evanston, Ill.
11 a.m.
Northwestern
2-3 , 0-2
7
vs
31
Penn State (Homecoming)
6-0 , 3-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Penn State
3
7
14
7
31
Northwestern
0
0
0
7
7
Team Stats
PSU
NU
Total Yards
381
265
Pass Yards
286
198
Rushing Yards
95
67
Penalty Yards
30
74
1st Downs
23
15
3rd Downs
8
5
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
34:04
25:56
1st Quarter
PSU 3, NU 0
PSU - Davis, Tyler 21 yd field goal 8 plays, 49 yards, TOP 3:25
2nd Quarter
PSU 10, NU 0
PSU - Stevens, Tommy 10 yd pass from McSorley, Trace (Davis, Tyler kick) 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:11
3rd Quarter
PSU 17, NU 0
PSU - Barkley, Saquon 1 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:21
PSU 24, NU 0
PSU - Barkley, Saquon 53 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 4 plays, 71 yards, TOP 1:06
4th Quarter
PSU 31, NU 0
PSU - McSorley, Trace 5 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 11 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:53
PSU 31, NU 7
NU - Alviti, Matt 1 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:19
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
0
YDS
142
INT
2
CMP
4
TD
0
YDS
56
INT
0
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
S
/ Football
RB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
Northwestern Drops Homecoming Contest to Penn State
10/7/2017 2:31:00 PM | Football
By Zach Wingrove
EVANSTON, Ill. -- A strong defensive effort in the first half wasn't able to carry over into the second half as Northwestern dropped a 31-7 decision to No. 4 Penn State at Ryan Field on Saturday.
Junior Clayton Thorson continued his climb up the NU record books as he passed Mike Greenfield and Zak Kustok in the first half for all-time career passing yards, moving into sole possession of fifth place.
Thorson now sits at 5,907 career passing yards and needs just 25 yards to pass Trevor Siemian, the honorary captain for the Wildcats today, as No. 4 in program history.
Senior Justin Jackson continued to close on the program's all-time rushing record as he finished the day with 66 rushing yards on 16 carries. Jackson now sits at 4,468 career rushing yards and needs just 18 yards to pass Damien Anderson as the program's all-time leader in career rushing yards.
The #B1GCats' defense came to play to start the game, forcing a turnover on downs on Penn State's first possession followed by a three-and-out the next time they got the ball.
After the Nittany Lions drove deep into Wildcat territory on their third possession of the game, the 'Cats' defense held tough and held Penn State to a field goal to make the score 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Penn State entered this matchup having dominated its opponents in the first quarter, however that wasn't the case on Saturday as Northwestern's defense held Penn State's elite rushing attack to just two yards on nine carries through one quarter. The Wildcats also became just the second team this season to hold the Nittany Lions without a touchdown in the first quarter this season.
Early in the second quarter, Penn State did find the end-zone as a result of a 1-yard connection from Trace McSorley to Tommy Stevens, extending the Nittany Lions' lead to 10-0.
The Wildcats' offense moved the ball well in the first half, outgaining the Nittany Lions with 166 total yards in the first half compared to their 146. However, the 'Cats was unable to get any points out of their efforts. Northwestern's defense held strong for the remainder of the half to keep the score at 10-0. NU also continued to stifle Penn State's Heisman-hopeful running back Saquon Barkley, holding him to to minus-1 yards on eight carries in the first half.
On Penn State's first drive of the second half, Barkley found the end zone from 1 yard out for his first rushing touchdown of the day. Barkley would later score again on 53-yard run to extend the Nittany Lions' lead to 24-0.
Penn State would add to its lead with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter
With 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, senior Matt Alviti found the end-zone on a 1-yard run, the second of his career, to make the score 31-7.
Northwestern's defense finished with a season-high 12 tackles-for-loss on the game, eclipsing the previous high of nine set against Duke and Bowling Green. The performance is tied for the third-most TFLs in a game since 2000.
Senior Godwin Igwebuike led the defense with 11 total tackles, while junior Nate Hall finished with a career high nine tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack.
Chicago's Big Ten team returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Maryland. The Wildcats return home Oct. 21 when they host Iowa at Ryan Field. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- A strong defensive effort in the first half wasn't able to carry over into the second half as Northwestern dropped a 31-7 decision to No. 4 Penn State at Ryan Field on Saturday.
Junior Clayton Thorson continued his climb up the NU record books as he passed Mike Greenfield and Zak Kustok in the first half for all-time career passing yards, moving into sole possession of fifth place.
Thorson now sits at 5,907 career passing yards and needs just 25 yards to pass Trevor Siemian, the honorary captain for the Wildcats today, as No. 4 in program history.
Senior Justin Jackson continued to close on the program's all-time rushing record as he finished the day with 66 rushing yards on 16 carries. Jackson now sits at 4,468 career rushing yards and needs just 18 yards to pass Damien Anderson as the program's all-time leader in career rushing yards.
The #B1GCats' defense came to play to start the game, forcing a turnover on downs on Penn State's first possession followed by a three-and-out the next time they got the ball.
After the Nittany Lions drove deep into Wildcat territory on their third possession of the game, the 'Cats' defense held tough and held Penn State to a field goal to make the score 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Penn State entered this matchup having dominated its opponents in the first quarter, however that wasn't the case on Saturday as Northwestern's defense held Penn State's elite rushing attack to just two yards on nine carries through one quarter. The Wildcats also became just the second team this season to hold the Nittany Lions without a touchdown in the first quarter this season.
Early in the second quarter, Penn State did find the end-zone as a result of a 1-yard connection from Trace McSorley to Tommy Stevens, extending the Nittany Lions' lead to 10-0.
The Wildcats' offense moved the ball well in the first half, outgaining the Nittany Lions with 166 total yards in the first half compared to their 146. However, the 'Cats was unable to get any points out of their efforts. Northwestern's defense held strong for the remainder of the half to keep the score at 10-0. NU also continued to stifle Penn State's Heisman-hopeful running back Saquon Barkley, holding him to to minus-1 yards on eight carries in the first half.
On Penn State's first drive of the second half, Barkley found the end zone from 1 yard out for his first rushing touchdown of the day. Barkley would later score again on 53-yard run to extend the Nittany Lions' lead to 24-0.
Penn State would add to its lead with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter
With 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, senior Matt Alviti found the end-zone on a 1-yard run, the second of his career, to make the score 31-7.
Northwestern's defense finished with a season-high 12 tackles-for-loss on the game, eclipsing the previous high of nine set against Duke and Bowling Green. The performance is tied for the third-most TFLs in a game since 2000.
Senior Godwin Igwebuike led the defense with 11 total tackles, while junior Nate Hall finished with a career high nine tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack.
Chicago's Big Ten team returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Maryland. The Wildcats return home Oct. 21 when they host Iowa at Ryan Field. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
••••••
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