2017 Music City Bowl Champions

12/29/2017 6:35:00 PM | Football

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NASHVILLE -- In his final game as a Wildcat, Justin Jackson rushed for a game-high 157 yards and two touchdowns to lead Northwestern to its 10^th win of the season and the 2017 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl title with a 24-23 victory over Kentucky.

Northwestern (10-3) finished the season on an eight-game winning streak and notched just its fifth 10-win season in program history. The Music City Bowl victory sealed the first time in program history that the Wildcats have won back-to-back bowl games.

Senior Kyle Queiro made the play of the game in the fourth quarter, picking off a pass with 7:49 remaining in the fourth quarter and taking it 26 yards to the house. The score put NU ahead, 24-14. The interception was Queiro's eighth of his career and fifth of the season.

Up front on the defensive end, Joe Gaziano matched Godwin Igwebuike for a team-high six tackles, while also picking up a sack, two pass break ups, three QB hurries and one forced fumble.

The game came down to the wire as Kentucky's Stephen Johnson ran for a score with 0:37 remaining in the contest to make it a 24-23 ballgame. Northwestern's defense held strong as UK went for the two-point conversion and the win, but Johnson's pass fell incomplete.

Northwestern posted 442 yards of total offense compared to Kentucky's 338 yards. The #B1GCats dominated in the run game, posting 333 yards on the ground, while Kentucky only gained 65.

In addition to Jackson's 157 rushing yards, redshirt first year Jeremy Larkin busted out for a career-high 112 yards on the ground, while quarterback Matt Alviti scooted for 54.

Jackson went over the century mark for the 27^th time in his career and moved into 10^th in NCAA history in career rushing yards with a 14-yard carry in the second quarter.

After Kentucky scored a touchdown on its opening drive, Northwestern responded with 17-unanswered points.

First-year kicker Charlie Kuhbander connected on a 33-yard field goal with 3:14 to go in the first quarter to cut into Kentucky's lead, 7-3.

Junior Clayton Thorson left the game in the first quarter with a lower body injury and did not return. Alviti stepped in and completed four passes for 50 yards. His four completions matched a career-high.

Following Thorson's departure, Jackson put Northwestern in front with a five-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 10-7 contest. The senior running back added another rushing score in the second quarter to give NU a 17-7 lead at the half.

After allowing a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, Northwestern's defense settled in, forcing one interception and five punts. Junior Montre Hartage hauled in his third pick of season midway through the second quarter.

Kentucky got back on the board in the third quarter when Johnson found pay dirt on a three-yard scamper to pull within three of Northwestern, 17-14.

Northwestern answered with Queiro's pick-six and defensive stand on Kentucky's two-point conversion to claim to the 2017 Music City Bowl title.