Monday, December 31
San Diego, Calif.
6 p.m.
Northwestern
9-5
31
vs
20
Utah
9-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northwestern
0
3
28
0
31
Utah
14
6
0
0
20
Champs Again: Northwestern Wins 2018 Holiday Bowl
12/31/2018 10:16:00 PM | Football
SAN DIEGO — No. 22 Northwestern converted three Utah turnovers into 21 points in a dizzying nine-minute stretch in the pouring rain in the third quarter of the Holiday Bowl on Monday night, including Jared McGee's 82-yard fumble return for a touchdown, to stun the No. 17 Utes, 31-20.
The Wildcats (9-5) scored 28 points in the third quarter to win their third straight bowl game under coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson cemented his name in the Northwestern record book, becoming the all-time leader in passing yards en route to being named the game's offensive MVP.
Sophomore JR Pace was named the game's defensive MVP after he posted seven tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. The interception was his fourth of the season and sixth of his career.
Sophomore linebacker Blake Gallagher snagged his first career interception in the third quarter. Junior Paddy Fisher, junior Joe Gaziano, sophomore Earnest Brown IV and junior Trae Williams each forced a fumble in a banner night for the Wildcat defense.
Fisher made 13 tackles to reach double-digit tackles for his second-straight game and fifth time this season.
Gaziano also made one sack on the night, to move into a tie for third all-time in program history with 21 sacks.
Sophomore Riley Lees scored two touchdowns, including a five-yard reception and an eight-yard rush. The latter was the first rushing touchdown of his career and it was the first game in his career featuring multiple scores.
Senior superback Trey Klock also hauled in the first touchdown of his career on his first career catch, a 20-yard strike in the eventful third quarter.
Trailing 20-3 at halftime, the Wildcats responded with a 28-0 third quarter. The defense exploded for six turnovers on the evening, with five coming in the second half. The 28 points scored in the third quarter were the most points scored in any quarter in Holiday Bowl history.
On the first possession of the second half, Gallagher came up with an interception. On the first offensive play on the next drive, sophomore Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman hauled in a 52-yard reception, the longest of his career. Lees grabbed a five-yard score on the next play on Thorson's 60th career touchdown pass to make it 20-10.
Utah drove all the way to the Northwestern six-yard line in search of a response, but Gaziano stripped Jason Shelley. McGee picked up the loose ball and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-17. It was the longest fumble recovery in Holiday Bowl history and second-longest in NU history, trailing only an 86-yard return in 2005 against Michigan State.
On Utah's next possession, Trae Williams Jr. forced another fumble, which Pace returned for 34 yards. It would set the stage for Klock's 20-yard reception out of a novel formation to give Northwestern their first lead of the game at 24-20.
Northwestern scored its fourth touchdown of the quarter on Lees' eight-yard keeper, and seized a commanding 31-20 lead.
The #B1GCats saw out the final quarter comfortably and completed their second half shutout of the Utes. Thorson returned to the game for the final series to close out his Wildcat career on the field with his teammates.
The Wildcats (9-5) scored 28 points in the third quarter to win their third straight bowl game under coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson cemented his name in the Northwestern record book, becoming the all-time leader in passing yards en route to being named the game's offensive MVP.
Sophomore JR Pace was named the game's defensive MVP after he posted seven tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. The interception was his fourth of the season and sixth of his career.
Sophomore linebacker Blake Gallagher snagged his first career interception in the third quarter. Junior Paddy Fisher, junior Joe Gaziano, sophomore Earnest Brown IV and junior Trae Williams each forced a fumble in a banner night for the Wildcat defense.
Fisher made 13 tackles to reach double-digit tackles for his second-straight game and fifth time this season.
Gaziano also made one sack on the night, to move into a tie for third all-time in program history with 21 sacks.
Sophomore Riley Lees scored two touchdowns, including a five-yard reception and an eight-yard rush. The latter was the first rushing touchdown of his career and it was the first game in his career featuring multiple scores.
Senior superback Trey Klock also hauled in the first touchdown of his career on his first career catch, a 20-yard strike in the eventful third quarter.
Trailing 20-3 at halftime, the Wildcats responded with a 28-0 third quarter. The defense exploded for six turnovers on the evening, with five coming in the second half. The 28 points scored in the third quarter were the most points scored in any quarter in Holiday Bowl history.
On the first possession of the second half, Gallagher came up with an interception. On the first offensive play on the next drive, sophomore Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman hauled in a 52-yard reception, the longest of his career. Lees grabbed a five-yard score on the next play on Thorson's 60th career touchdown pass to make it 20-10.
Utah drove all the way to the Northwestern six-yard line in search of a response, but Gaziano stripped Jason Shelley. McGee picked up the loose ball and returned it 82 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-17. It was the longest fumble recovery in Holiday Bowl history and second-longest in NU history, trailing only an 86-yard return in 2005 against Michigan State.
On Utah's next possession, Trae Williams Jr. forced another fumble, which Pace returned for 34 yards. It would set the stage for Klock's 20-yard reception out of a novel formation to give Northwestern their first lead of the game at 24-20.
Northwestern scored its fourth touchdown of the quarter on Lees' eight-yard keeper, and seized a commanding 31-20 lead.
The #B1GCats saw out the final quarter comfortably and completed their second half shutout of the Utes. Thorson returned to the game for the final series to close out his Wildcat career on the field with his teammates.
••••••
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Team Stats
NU
UTAH
Total Yards
322
393
Pass Yards
241
302
Rushing Yards
81
91
Penalty Yards
28
35
1st Downs
17
19
3rd Downs
3
5
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
31:51
28:09
1st Quarter
NU 0, UTAH 7
UTAH - Dixon, Jaylen 27 yd pass from Shelley, Jason (Gay, Matt kick) 6 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:54
NU 0, UTAH 14
UTAH - Jackson, Jake 4 yd pass from Shelley, Jason (Gay, Matt kick) 5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:39
2nd Quarter
NU 3, UTAH 14
NU - Kuhbander, C. 21 yd field goal 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:02
NU 3, UTAH 17
UTAH - Gay, Matt 32 yd field goal 11 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:39
NU 3, UTAH 20
UTAH - Gay, Matt 20 yd field goal 10 plays, 33 yards, TOP 2:24
3rd Quarter
NU 10, UTAH 20
NU - Lees, Riley 4 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 2 plays, 56 yards, TOP 0:36
NU 17, UTAH 20
NU - McGee, Jared 82 yd fumble recovery (Kuhbander, C. kick)
NU 24, UTAH 20
NU - Klock, Trey 20 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 2 plays, 31 yards, TOP 0:31
NU 31, UTAH 20
NU - Lees, Riley 8 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:34
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
21
TD
2
YDS
241
INT
1
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DB
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