Ground Game, Defense Carry 'Cats Past Miami (Ohio) In 2024 Opener, 13-6

Saturday, August 31

Evanston, Ill.

2:30 p.m. CT

Northwestern

1-0 , 0-0

Miami (Ohio)

0-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miami (OH)

Northwestern

Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics

Ground Game, Defense Carry 'Cats Past Miami (Ohio) In 2024 Opener, 13-6

8/31/2024 7:04:00 PM | Football

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Northwestern tallies two interceptions and four sacks in season-opening victory

EVANSTON, Ill. (August 31, 2024) - Northwestern piled up 150 rushing yards, while limiting visiting Miami (Ohio) (0-1) to just 40 yards on the ground as it picked up a 13-6 victory on Saturday afternoon at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium in the 2024 regular season opener for both teams.

Making his Wildcat (1-0) debut, QB Mike Wright paced Northwestern both on the ground and through the air, finishing with a team-best 65 yards rushing, a total that included a 13-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter. The Atlanta, Ga. product also added 178 yards on 18-of-30 passing without an interception.

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Wright's top target on the afternoon was WR Bryce Kirtz, who reeled in six receptions for 91 yards. WR Frank Covey IV chipped in 31 yards on four catches.

On the defensive side, DB Theran Johnson totaled a team-high six tackles, while Mac Uihlein racked up five stops, two of which were sacks. DB Evan Smith and DB Robert Fitzgerald both came away with interceptions, with Fitzgerald's fourth-quarter takeaway all but cementing Northwestern's victory.

Northwestern closed the day by converting on 45.5 percent (5-for-11) of its third-down attempts.

How It Happened
After trading punts to begin the day, a 20-yard keeper by Wright set the stage for a 45-yard Jack Olsen field goal that put Northwestern on the board first, 3-0, with 7:21 remaining in the first quarter. Miami countered with a lengthy drive that saw it cover 56 yards over 11 plays, with Dom Dzioban's 43-yard kick knotting the score up at 3-3 late in the opening frame.

Northwestern's defense stiffened early in the second quarter. With Miami driving into field goal range, a third-down tandem sack by Kenny Soares Jr. and Anto Saka backed the Redhawks up and forced an errant 50-yard attempt from Dzioban. Points proved tough to come by for both teams, as Northwestern and Miami headed to halftime in a 3-3 deadlock.

Following a three-and-out from its defense, Northwestern put together an impressive eight-play, 62-yard march to take a lead that it would not relinquish. Staring at a 3rd and 10 from the Miami 38-yard line, Wright scrambled out of the pocket before connecting with Thomas Gordon for a 25-yard gain that set the 'Cats up in the red zone. Wright cashed in the ensuing play, racing into the end zone from 13 yards out to give the 'Cats a 10-3 lead with 9:42 to play in the third quarter.

Wright was instrumental in another Wildcat scoring drive that spanned 77 yards across 10 plays in 4:22. Back-to-back completions to Kirtz, the last of which covered 33 yards, set Northwestern up at the Miami 45-yard line. A Wright keeper on 3rd and 1 again saw the 'Cats continue their march before Olsen connected from 38 yards out to push the gap to 13-3 with 14:47 remaining in regulation.

Smith came up with Northwestern's first turnover of the day just over two minutes after Olsen's kick. Brett Gabbert's 3rd and 10 pass over the middle deflected off the hands of Javon Tracy before falling into the hands of Smith at the Wildcat 33-yard line.

Miami refused to go away, pulling back within one possession, 13-6, on a 26-yard chip shot from Dzioban at the midway point of the quarter. The Redhawks were back on the move again in the waning minutes. With Miami facing 2nd and 9 from the Northwestern 35-yard line, Fitzgerald came up with one of the afternoon's defining moments, picking off Gabbert's pass intended for Reggie Virgil to get the Wildcat offense back on the field with only 57 seconds to play. Wright put the game away shortly after, with a 16-yard rush to cement its second win in a home opener in as many years.

Game Notes
» Northwestern outgained Miami by a 328-267 margin.
» Northwestern limited Miami to just 40 yards rushing on the afternoon, while finishing with 150 yards of its own on the ground.
    » The total is the fewest by a Wildcat opponent since September 11, 2021 vs. Indiana State (31 yards) and the fewest by an FBS foe since November 14, 2020 vs. Purdue (2 yards).
» The Wildcats' four sacks are their most in a season-opener since August 31, 2013 vs. Cal (4.0).
» Saturday's showing marked the first game in which the 'Cats have not allowed an opposing touchdown since October 24, 2020 vs. Maryland.

Up Next
Northwestern returns to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Friday, September 6 to host Duke in an 8 p.m. kickoff that will be televised on FS1.