Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, September 2
Evanston, Ill.
2:30 p.m.
Northwestern
1-0
31
vs
20
Nevada
0-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Nevada
7
10
0
3
20
Northwestern
7
0
10
14
31
Team Stats
NEV
NU
Total Yards
341
508
Pass Yards
199
352
Rushing Yards
142
156
Penalty Yards
65
90
1st Downs
19
27
3rd Downs
5
8
4th Downs
0
3
TOP
21:05
38:55
1st Quarter
NEV 0, NU 7
NU - Wilson, Macan 33 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 5 plays, 43 yards, TOP 2:06
NEV 7, NU 7
NEV - DEMPS, Wyatt 11 yd pass from GANGI, Ty (PETTIT, Spencer kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:42
2nd Quarter
NEV 14, NU 7
NEV - MANNIX, McLane 41 yd pass from GANGI, Ty (PETTIT, Spencer kick) 4 plays, 51 yards, TOP 0:55
NEV 17, NU 7
NEV - PETTIT, Spencer 31 yd field goal 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:25
3rd Quarter
NEV 17, NU 10
NU - Kuhbander, C. 23 yd field goal 10 plays, 49 yards, TOP 2:31
NEV 17, NU 17
NU - Lees, Riley 19 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 8 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:28
4th Quarter
NEV 20, NU 17
NEV - PETTIT, Spencer 33 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 1:18
NEV 20, NU 24
NU - Thorson, C. 1 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:45
NEV 20, NU 31
NU - Thorson, C. 1 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 6 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:37
Game Leaders
CMP
28
TD
2
YDS
352
INT
1
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football#B1GCats Pull Away For 31-20 Win Over Nevada
9/2/2017 5:55:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Redshirt junior quarterback Clayton Thorson passed for two touchdowns then ran for two more in the fourth quarter as Northwestern rode a strong second-half performance to a season-opening 31-20 win over Nevada Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field.
Thorson completed 28 of 38 passes for 352 yards and Bennett Skowronek posted career bests of eight receptions and 123 receiving yards. Thorson's completion and passing yardage totals both matched career highs. Senior Justin Jackson contributed 109 rushing yards and 42 rushing yards.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard first as Thorson found Macan Wilson streaking down the middle of the field for a leaping 33-yard touchdown reception with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter to put NU up 7-0.
However, Nevada answered right back on the next drive, going 75 yards in eight plays capped by an 11-yard pass from Ty Gangi to Wyatt Demps.
Missed opportunities in the red zone and big plays by the Wolf Pack hurt the 'Cats the remainder of the half.
Northwestern failed to connect on a 22-yard field goal attempt and had a fumble at the Nevada 10-yard line that prevented the Wildcats from further denting the scoreboard in the opening half.
Meanwhile, Nevada took advantage of big plays, getting a 41-yard touchdown pass from Gangi to McLane Mannix before Spencer Pettit tacked on a 31-yard field goal with 36 seconds left in the second quarter as the visitors eventually took a 17-7 halftime lead.
Northwestern came out of the intermission and scored on its first possession of the second half as freshman Charlie Kuhbander connected on a 23-yard field goal to bring the 'Cats within a touchdown.
The Wildcats tied the game when Thorson hooked up with redshirt freshman Riley Lees on a 19-yard scoring strike with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Nevada regained the lead, 20-17, when Pettit hit on a 33-yard field goal with 10:13 remaining. NU answered back by marching 75 yards in 11 plays, capped by a scoring rush by Thorson on 4th and 1 to give the hosts a 24-20 lead with 5:28 left.
A solid kick return allowed the Wolf Pack to start its ensuing drive at its own 39. However, the interior of the Northwestern line led by Tyler Lancaster stuffed Gangi on a rush on 4th and 1 and the Wildcats took over with 3:29 remaining.
The 'Cats sealed the game when Thorson hooked up on a 41-yard completion on 3rd and 7 that got the ball down to the Nevada 3. Three rushes late by Thorson, the quarterback punched the ball in from a yard out to wrap up the scoring with 52 seconds to go.
Northwestern returns to action at 11 a.m. Central time when it travels to Duke. The Wildcats return home Sept. 16 when they host Bowling Green at Ryan Field. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
Thorson completed 28 of 38 passes for 352 yards and Bennett Skowronek posted career bests of eight receptions and 123 receiving yards. Thorson's completion and passing yardage totals both matched career highs. Senior Justin Jackson contributed 109 rushing yards and 42 rushing yards.
The Wildcats got on the scoreboard first as Thorson found Macan Wilson streaking down the middle of the field for a leaping 33-yard touchdown reception with 7:13 remaining in the first quarter to put NU up 7-0.
However, Nevada answered right back on the next drive, going 75 yards in eight plays capped by an 11-yard pass from Ty Gangi to Wyatt Demps.
Missed opportunities in the red zone and big plays by the Wolf Pack hurt the 'Cats the remainder of the half.
Northwestern failed to connect on a 22-yard field goal attempt and had a fumble at the Nevada 10-yard line that prevented the Wildcats from further denting the scoreboard in the opening half.
Meanwhile, Nevada took advantage of big plays, getting a 41-yard touchdown pass from Gangi to McLane Mannix before Spencer Pettit tacked on a 31-yard field goal with 36 seconds left in the second quarter as the visitors eventually took a 17-7 halftime lead.
Northwestern came out of the intermission and scored on its first possession of the second half as freshman Charlie Kuhbander connected on a 23-yard field goal to bring the 'Cats within a touchdown.
The Wildcats tied the game when Thorson hooked up with redshirt freshman Riley Lees on a 19-yard scoring strike with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Nevada regained the lead, 20-17, when Pettit hit on a 33-yard field goal with 10:13 remaining. NU answered back by marching 75 yards in 11 plays, capped by a scoring rush by Thorson on 4th and 1 to give the hosts a 24-20 lead with 5:28 left.
A solid kick return allowed the Wolf Pack to start its ensuing drive at its own 39. However, the interior of the Northwestern line led by Tyler Lancaster stuffed Gangi on a rush on 4th and 1 and the Wildcats took over with 3:29 remaining.
The 'Cats sealed the game when Thorson hooked up on a 41-yard completion on 3rd and 7 that got the ball down to the Nevada 3. Three rushes late by Thorson, the quarterback punched the ball in from a yard out to wrap up the scoring with 52 seconds to go.
Northwestern returns to action at 11 a.m. Central time when it travels to Duke. The Wildcats return home Sept. 16 when they host Bowling Green at Ryan Field. Tickets are available at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
••••••
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