Northwestern
Nebraska
GAME NOTES: Wildcats Take Winning Streak on the Road to Nebraska
11/3/2017 11:06:00 AM | Football
| NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL: GAME DAY INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | BROADCAST | LIVE STATS |
| Saturday, Nov. 4 |
Nebraska | 2:30 p.m. | Memorial Stadium Lincoln, Neb. |
TV: BTN RADIO: WGN 720 |
Huskers.com |
| Big Ten Network: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Lisa Byington WGN 720: Dave Eanet (play-by-play), Ted Albrecht (analyst), Adam Hoge (sideline) Social: Twitter (@NUFBFamily and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (@nufbfamily) | Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern | Nebraska | Big Ten |
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EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern will take its three-game winning streak on the road Saturday for a Big Ten West showdown with Nebraska inside Memorial Stadium.
The Wildcats (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) and Cornhuskers (4-4, 3-2 Big Ten) will kick off on Big Ten Network at 2:30 p.m. CT., with Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen and Lisa Byington on the call. As always, fans can also listen to the contest on WGN 720 with the voice of the Wildcats Dave Eanet, Ted Albrecht and Adam Hoge.
WINNER, WINNER, WILDCAT THRILLERS
Northwestern has won in overtime in back-to-back weeks for the third time in program history after taking down No. 16 Michigan State in triple overtime last week, 39-31. The last time the Wildcats won back-to-back overtime games prior to their victories over Iowa and the Spartans was in 2007 when they defeated Michigan State, 48-41, in overtime on Oct. 6 and Minnesota in double overtime, 49-48, on Oct. 13.
The 'Cats posted their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 23 Pittsburgh in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl and the victory marked NU's first ranked win in the regular season since topping No. 25 Wisconsin, 13-7, on Nov. 21, 2015. It is NU's highest ranked win since defeating No. 15 Notre Dame, 43-40, also in overtime, on Nov. 15, 2014. The Wildcats have won each of their last three overtime games dating back to the thriller in South Bend in 2014.
BRICK WALL
The Wildcats have won three straight and four of their last six games due in large part to the improved play of their run defense. After surrendering 375 yards rushing in the first two games of the season (187.5/game), the 'Cats have given up just 569 yards over the last six (94.8/game) while holding each opponent under their season average. In Big Ten play, Northwestern has faced five of the top-100 running backs in the country in terms of yards per game this season (Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin; Saquon Barkley, Penn State; Ty Johnson, Maryland; Akrum Wadley, Iowa; LJ Scott, Michigan State). They are averaging only 56.2 yards per game and just 3.55 yards per carry. None have run for more than 90 yards.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Redshirt first-year linebacker Paddy Fisher was named the Walter Camp FBS National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after making a career-high 19 tackles (career-high 14 solo), two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries in the Wildcats' win over No. 16 Michigan State. See below for notes on Fisher's national prowess:
• Fisher's 14 solo tackles are tied for the most in a FBS game this season.
• Fisher is one of three players in FBS (Khalil Hodge, Buffalo; Frank Ginda, San Jose State) to record 17 or more tackles in at least two games this season. His 19 tackles versus MSU and 18 tackles at Duke are the top two performances in the Big Ten in 2017.
• The Katy, Texas native leads all FBS first-year players in tackles (75; 9.4/game) and solo tackles (44; 5.5/game).
• He is tied for the Big Ten lead and tied 10th nationally with three forced fumbles.
CLAYTON THORSON TIES PROGRAM RECORD FOR VICTORIES
Junior quarterback Clayton Thorson completed a career-high 33 passes on 48 attempts for 356 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another score versus Michigan State to earn his 22nd career victory to tie Brett Basanez (2002-05) for the most wins by a starting quarterback in program history.
• Thorson notched his third 300-yard passing game of the season and fifth of his career. NU is 5-0 when he throws for 300-plus yards.
• Thorson recorded his fourth game of the season with at least two touchdown passes and 10th of his career; NU is 9-1 when Thorson throws at least two touchdowns.
• His 1-yard quarterback sneak marked his 15th career rushing touchdown, breaking a tie with Mike Greenfield (14; 1984-87) for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in program history.
• Thorson is just one of two Big Ten players with 300-plus yards passing in three games this season.
THORSON CONTINUES TO CLIMB TOWARDS THE TOP
The junior quarterback from Wheaton, Illinois, continues to climb the Northwestern record books. Thorson became the fourth player in program history to surpass 7,000 yards of total offense (7,254) and 600 career completions (621) last week. He enters Saturday's game at Nebraska with 6,748 career passing yards, needing just 252 to become the fourth quarterback with 7,000 career passing yards. The #HOMEGROWN talent is also just six passing touchdowns shy of breaking Brett Basanez's (44; 2002-05) and Len Williams' (44; 1990-93) program record for passing touchdowns.
A TRICK AND A TREAT
Senior running back Justin Jackson became the first NU running back since Brian Roberson in 2007 to throw a touchdown pass when he completed a 12-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Bennett Skowronek versus Michigan State. Jackson later scored his 38th career touchdown on a 3-yard run in double overtime, tying Damien Anderson's (1998-2001) program record for total touchdowns scored. The touchdown was Jackson's 37th career rushing touchdown, leaving him just one shy of the school record also held by Anderson.
JACKSON ONE OF THE BEST IN BIG TEN HISTORY
Senior running back Justin Jackson already ranks eighth in Big Ten history with 4,773 career rushing yards, needing just 115 to pass Lorenzo White (4,887; Michigan State) for seventh. Jackson became the fifth running back in Big Ten history to reach 1,000 career rushing attempts with his 12th carry versus Michigan State and needs just 226 all-purpose yards to crack the Big Ten's top-10 list.
OFF THE EDGE
Sophomore defensive end Joe Gaziano recorded his team-leading sixth sack of the season versus Michigan State. Gaziano now has sacks in four of his last five games and his six solo sacks this season tops the Big Ten. He has recorded nine of his 10.5 career sacks in 14 career Big Ten games and is just 1.5 sacks shy of cracking Northwestern's career top-10 list.
CHARLIE AND THE FIELD GOAL FACTORY
First-year kicker Charlie Kuhbander's 35-yard field goal in the second quarter versus Michigan State was his eighth-consecutive make after missing the very first attempt of his career in the season opener. He has also made all 26 of his extra-point attempts this season. Kuhbander has scored 50 points in his first year in Evanston, the second-most by a NU rookie and the most by a first-year kicker in program history. His eight field goals as a first-year trail only Ira Adler's 11 in 1987.
CAM IS COOKIN'
Sophomore superback Cam Green matched his career high with six receptions, set a career high with 76 yards receiving, hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass in the first overtime and caught the two-point conversion in the third overtime of NU's win over Michigan State. Green had just nine catches for 58 yards in his first 18 career games, but has hauled in 15 passes for 135 yards over his last three games.
RED ALERT: 'CATS ARE COMIN'
Northwestern went a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone versus Michigan State, improving to 30-for-32 on the season. The Wildcats lead the Big Ten and rank 11th in the country -- converting at 93.8 percent -- with 24 touchdowns (15 rushing/9 passing) with six field goals.
The Wildcats have been nearly as impressive defensively, ranking 25th in the country and third in the Big Ten in red zone defense. The 'Cats are holding opponents to a 75.8 success rate in the red zone (25-for-33).
NATE HALL, Y'ALL
Junior linebacker Nate Hall has been a one-man wrecking ball the last four weeks. Hall has made 33 tackles (8.3/game) over the last four games, with 6.5 coming for a loss. He ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 1.06 tackles for loss per game and his eight solo tackles for loss are tied for second behind only Ohio State's Nick Bosa. Hall recorded his first career interception to seal the Wildcats' victory in triple overtime versus the Spartans.
NEW 'CATS ON THE BLOCK
Chicago's Big Ten Team has played 12 true first-year students this season after playing only three last season. The previous high under Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald was six. The group includes...
• OL Rashawn Slater: First true first-year starting offensive lineman since Auston Matthews in 2005.
• DE Samdup Miller: Has started all seven games and became the first rookie Wildcat to record a sack in three-straight games (Wisconsin, Penn State, Maryland) since Ifeadi Odenigbo in 2013.
• LB Blake Gallagher: Has three games with five tackles this season and 21 total through eight contests.
ACROSS THE MIDDLE
Junior wide receiver Flynn Nagel caught a 22-yard touchdown for the game-winning score in triple overtime to cap his career-best day. Nagel set career highs with eight receptions and 87 receiving yards, surpassing his previous high 81 set against Michigan State in 2016. He is tied with Justin Jackson for the team lead with 33 receptions and is second on the team with 338 receiving yards.
SHUT IT DOWN
In their five wins this season, the Wildcats have allowed just 20 second-half points. The 'Cats have outscored their opponents 68-20 in the second half of their five wins, allowing just seven points total in the third quarter alone.
THORSON AMONG FINAL 20 FOR JOHNNY UNITAS GOLDEN ARM AWARD
Junior Clayton Thorson was among 20 quarterbacks included on the remaining candidates list for the 2017 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award given annually to the country's top college quarterback. The Golden Arm Award is presented at the end of each season since 1987 to the nation's top college quarterback, based on his accomplishments both on and off the field. Candidates must be a college senior or fourth-year junior on schedule to graduate with their class. These strong leaders have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and worked hard for themselves and their teams during the season and beyond.
#HOMEGROWN BACKFIELD LEADS THE WAY
Much of the Wildcats' success this season has fallen on the shoulders of the #HOMEGROWN backfield of senior running back Justin Jackson and junior quarterback Clayton Thorson. The Wildcats are averaging 497.6 yards of offense and 34.6 points per game in their three wins this season.
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