Despite Fast Start, NU Falls to No. 14 Michigan

9/29/2018 7:14:00 PM | Football

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EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern (1-3, 1-1 Big Ten) led No. 14/15 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) all the way into the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats fell, 20-17, on Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd at Ryan Field.

The 'Cats scored on their first three possessions of the game to take a commanding lead. Northwestern held Michigan to just 21 yards of total offense in the first quarter, marking the lowest total for the Wolverines in an opening quarter this season.

The Wildcats would hold a lead late into the fourth quarter until Michigan took its first lead of the game with just over four minutes to play.

Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson scored his 19th rushing touchdown of his career — the third most by a quarterback in program history. He finished the game 16-of-27 passing for 174 yards.

Junior running back John Moten IV scored his second touchdown of the season and the fourth of his career, posting 36 yards on a season-high 13 rushing attempts.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore linebacker Blake Gallagher led the team with a season-high 12 total tackles, including six solo. Sophomore defensive back JR Pace finished the game with a career-high 11 tackles, including seven solo, while also posting one tackle for loss.

After the Northwestern defense forced a three-and-out on Michigan's first drive of the game, the 'Cats gained strong field position, starting on their own 44-yard line.

A seven-yard pass from Thorson to sophomore wide receiver Ramaud Chiakhiao-Bowman, followed by a nine-yard run by Moten gave the Wildcats the ball on the Wolverines' 41-yard-line.

Two plays later, Thorson completed a 36-yard pass to first-year wide receiver JJ Jefferson who dodged a handful of tackles to set the 'Cats up one yard shy of the end zone. Thorson rushed for a one-yard touchdown to give Northwestern an early, 7-0, lead at 10:18 in the first quarter.

On Northwestern's second possession, back-to-back passes by Thorson to sophomore wide receiver Kyric McGowan and senior wide receiver Flynn Nagel for 15 and nine yards, respectively, gave the 'Cats the ball on the Michigan 23-yard line.

Sophomore kicker Charlie Kuhbander completed the 10-play, 37-yard drive with a career-long 45-yard field goal to put the 'Cats up 10-0 with 9:04 left to play in the first.

With just under 1:30 to play in the first quarter, the 'Cats stopped Michigan on fourth-down-and-one, forcing the Wolverines to turn the ball over on downs on the Northwestern 48-yard-line. A pair of passes from Thorson to Chiakhiao-Bowman for eight yards and to Nagel for another nine set up a nine-yard rush by senior Solomon Vault and gave the 'Cats the ball on Michigan 22-yard line.

A pass interference penalty by the Wolverines gave Northwestern the ball at the seven-yard-line. Two plays later, Moten rushed for a three-yard touchdown at 12:56 in the second quarter, increasing the Wildcats' lead to 17-0.

Michigan got on the scoreboard at 9:14 in the second when Karan Higdon rushed for a four-yard touchdown to complete a seven-play, 79-yard scoring drive for the Wolverines.

On its first possession of the third quarter, Michigan pulled within seven when Quinn Nordin converted a 23-yard field goal at 7:40 to cap off an 11-play, 69-yard scoring drive.

The Wolverines added to their lead when quarterback Shea Patterson completed a 24-yard pass to Nick Eubanks to set Michigan up on the Northwestern 12-yard line. At the end of an 11-play, 56-yard scoring drive, Nordin converted a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the third quarter to make it 17-13.

Michigan set up its first lead of the day when a 22-yard pass from Patterson to Zach Gentry set the Wolverines up on the Northwestern six-yard line. Two plays later, Higdon rushed for a five-yard touchdown with 4:06 left to play in the game to give Michigan a three-point advantage that it would hold for the remainder of the game.

Chicago's Big Ten Team returns to action when it travels to East Lansing, Michigan, to take on Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 11 a.m.

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