Saturday, October 31
Iowa City, Iowa
2:30 p.m.
Northwestern
2-0 , 2-0
21
at
20
Iowa
0-2 , 0-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northwestern
0
14
7
0
21
IOWA
17
3
0
0
20
Photo by: S. J. Carrera, Inc.
Wildcats Improve to 2-0 in Road Win Over Iowa
10/31/2020 6:16:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern (2-0) erased a 17-point first quarter deficit in a 21-20 comeback win over Iowa (0-2) thanks to an incredible second half effort from the Wildcats' defense.
With the win, the 'Cats have now won three-straight games at Kinnick Stadium. Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald improves to 9-6 in his career vs. the Hawkeyes, his nine wins are tied for the most by any team in college football during that span.
The Wildcats defense was dominant: holding the Hawkeyes scoreless in the second half and allowing just 293 total yards of offense while forcing three takeaways. The 'Cats' defense was impenetrable in the fourth quarter, allowing just 95 yards on four separate Iowa drives to preserve Northwestern's one point lead.
Brandon Joseph recorded the first two interceptions of his career, becoming the first Wildcat with a multi-interception game since JR Pace on Oct. 13, 2018 against Nebraska.
Northwestern's senior linebacker trio of Paddy Fisher, Chris Bergin and Blake Gallagher each recorded double-digit tackles, including a career-high 12 tackles from Bergin. Today's game marked the first time since Oct. 13, 2018 where the 'Cats had three different players compile double-digit tackles. Gallagher also recorded his fifth-career interception in the final minute of the game to seal the win for Northwestern.
The 'Cats offense relied heavily on the run game, throwing 18 passes compared to 60 rushing attempts. Led by junior Isaiah Bowser and senior Jesse Brown, the Wildcats racked up 143 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Brown turned a career-high 10 carries into 29 yards and a career-high two touchdowns, doubling his career total to four touchdowns. Bowser handled 25 carries for 85 yards.
Graduate quarterback Peyton Ramsey continued to lead an efficient Northwestern attack, completing 11-of-18 passes for 130 yards while adding 29 yards on the ground.
Senior wide receiver Kyric McGowan recorded a career-high five receptions for 63 yards and added his second-career rushing touchdown to put NU on the board in the second quarter.
Iowa capitalized on a Northwestern muffed punt to open the scoring early in the first quarter, when Spencer Petras connected with Brandon Smith for a seven-yard touchdown. The Hawkeyes extended their lead to 17-0 later in the quarter on a 15-yard run by Tyler Goodson and a 22-yard field goal.
The 'Cats opened the second quarter with a 16-play drive that ended in a touchdown, their second-longest drive of the season. After Brown converted a pivotal 4th-and-1 in the red zone, Kyric McGowan pounded in a three-yard rushing score to cut the deficit to 10.
The Hawkeyes extended their lead to 20-7 on a 47-yard field goal, however Northwestern stormed 79-yards down the field to pull within six on a one-yard touchdown run from Brown, his first score since 2017.
Northwestern and Iowa traded punts to open the second half, but the 'Cats quickly gained momentum when Joseph intercepted Petras, the first takeaway of his career, to set the Wildcats up at the Iowa 35-yard line. From there, the offense went to work. Ramsey soon found junior Charlie Mangieri for a nine-yard connection to set up the 'Cats at the two-yard line. After being stuffed at the goal line on first and second down, Brown found the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the day to put the Wildcat ahead.
Leading for the first time in the game, the Wildcats' defense held strong, forcing a three-and-out for the Hawkeyes. Fisher made a key open-field tackle on third down to force a punt. After a punt from the 'Cats, Iowa had a nearly 40-yard drive halted by a third-down sack from sophomore Eku Leota. Leota has three sacks in his last five games, dating back to the 2019 season.
With 8:05 left in the game, Ramsey threw his first interception in a Northwestern uniform, setting Iowa up in NU territory. However, the 'Cats defense was there to pick up their quarterback. Gallagher recorded a tackle for loss on second down to force a third-and-long, setting up Joseph's second interception of the day to preserve the Northwestern lead.
The Hawkeyes got the ball back with 4:38 left in the fourth quarter to begin the most important drive of the game. Despite immediately forcing a fourth down, Iowa went for it on 4th and 1 on their own 22-yard line and converted to keep the drive alive. However, the 'Cats defense continued to hold strong, forcing a turnover-on-downs to give the ball back to the offense with under two minutes to play.
After Northwestern failed to pick up a first down, Iowa got the ball once again with 1:25 left in the game needing only a field goal to win. The 'Cats defense closed out its dominant outing as Gallagher intercepted Petras on the third play of the drive to seal the win.
Chicago's Big Ten team returns to action on Saturday, November 7 at 11 a.m. as they take on Nebraska at Ryan Field.
With the win, the 'Cats have now won three-straight games at Kinnick Stadium. Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald improves to 9-6 in his career vs. the Hawkeyes, his nine wins are tied for the most by any team in college football during that span.
The Wildcats defense was dominant: holding the Hawkeyes scoreless in the second half and allowing just 293 total yards of offense while forcing three takeaways. The 'Cats' defense was impenetrable in the fourth quarter, allowing just 95 yards on four separate Iowa drives to preserve Northwestern's one point lead.
Brandon Joseph recorded the first two interceptions of his career, becoming the first Wildcat with a multi-interception game since JR Pace on Oct. 13, 2018 against Nebraska.
Northwestern's senior linebacker trio of Paddy Fisher, Chris Bergin and Blake Gallagher each recorded double-digit tackles, including a career-high 12 tackles from Bergin. Today's game marked the first time since Oct. 13, 2018 where the 'Cats had three different players compile double-digit tackles. Gallagher also recorded his fifth-career interception in the final minute of the game to seal the win for Northwestern.
The 'Cats offense relied heavily on the run game, throwing 18 passes compared to 60 rushing attempts. Led by junior Isaiah Bowser and senior Jesse Brown, the Wildcats racked up 143 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Brown turned a career-high 10 carries into 29 yards and a career-high two touchdowns, doubling his career total to four touchdowns. Bowser handled 25 carries for 85 yards.
Graduate quarterback Peyton Ramsey continued to lead an efficient Northwestern attack, completing 11-of-18 passes for 130 yards while adding 29 yards on the ground.
Senior wide receiver Kyric McGowan recorded a career-high five receptions for 63 yards and added his second-career rushing touchdown to put NU on the board in the second quarter.
Iowa capitalized on a Northwestern muffed punt to open the scoring early in the first quarter, when Spencer Petras connected with Brandon Smith for a seven-yard touchdown. The Hawkeyes extended their lead to 17-0 later in the quarter on a 15-yard run by Tyler Goodson and a 22-yard field goal.
The 'Cats opened the second quarter with a 16-play drive that ended in a touchdown, their second-longest drive of the season. After Brown converted a pivotal 4th-and-1 in the red zone, Kyric McGowan pounded in a three-yard rushing score to cut the deficit to 10.
The Hawkeyes extended their lead to 20-7 on a 47-yard field goal, however Northwestern stormed 79-yards down the field to pull within six on a one-yard touchdown run from Brown, his first score since 2017.
Northwestern and Iowa traded punts to open the second half, but the 'Cats quickly gained momentum when Joseph intercepted Petras, the first takeaway of his career, to set the Wildcats up at the Iowa 35-yard line. From there, the offense went to work. Ramsey soon found junior Charlie Mangieri for a nine-yard connection to set up the 'Cats at the two-yard line. After being stuffed at the goal line on first and second down, Brown found the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the day to put the Wildcat ahead.
Leading for the first time in the game, the Wildcats' defense held strong, forcing a three-and-out for the Hawkeyes. Fisher made a key open-field tackle on third down to force a punt. After a punt from the 'Cats, Iowa had a nearly 40-yard drive halted by a third-down sack from sophomore Eku Leota. Leota has three sacks in his last five games, dating back to the 2019 season.
With 8:05 left in the game, Ramsey threw his first interception in a Northwestern uniform, setting Iowa up in NU territory. However, the 'Cats defense was there to pick up their quarterback. Gallagher recorded a tackle for loss on second down to force a third-and-long, setting up Joseph's second interception of the day to preserve the Northwestern lead.
The Hawkeyes got the ball back with 4:38 left in the fourth quarter to begin the most important drive of the game. Despite immediately forcing a fourth down, Iowa went for it on 4th and 1 on their own 22-yard line and converted to keep the drive alive. However, the 'Cats defense continued to hold strong, forcing a turnover-on-downs to give the ball back to the offense with under two minutes to play.
After Northwestern failed to pick up a first down, Iowa got the ball once again with 1:25 left in the game needing only a field goal to win. The 'Cats defense closed out its dominant outing as Gallagher intercepted Petras on the third play of the drive to seal the win.
Chicago's Big Ten team returns to action on Saturday, November 7 at 11 a.m. as they take on Nebraska at Ryan Field.
Team Stats
NU
IOWA
Total Yards
273
293
Pass Yards
130
216
Rushing Yards
143
77
Penalty Yards
45
20
1st Downs
18
20
3rd Downs
10
6
4th Downs
2
2
TOP
33:33
26:27
1st Quarter
NU 0, IOWA 7
IOWA - Smith,Brandon 7 yd pass from Petras,Spencer (Duncan,Keith kick) 1 plays, 7 yards, TOP 0:06
NU 0, IOWA 14
IOWA - Goodson,Tyler 15 yd run (Duncan,Keith kick), 3 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:22
NU 0, IOWA 17
IOWA - Duncan,Keith 22 yd field goal 13 plays, 61 yards, TOP 5:04
2nd Quarter
NU 7, IOWA 17
NU - Mcgowan,Kyric 3 yd run (Kuhbander,C kick), 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:23
NU 7, IOWA 20
IOWA - Duncan,Keith 47 yd field goal 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 3:11
NU 14, IOWA 20
NU - Brown,Jesse 1 yd run (Kuhbander,C kick), 14 plays, 79 yards, TOP 5:44
3rd Quarter
NU 21, IOWA 20
NU - Brown,Jesse 2 yd run (Kuhbander,C kick), 8 plays, 35 yards, TOP 3:31
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
11
TD
0
YDS
130
INT
1
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
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LB
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LB
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DB
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TE
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WR
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QB
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