Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, October 18
Evanston, Ill.
2 p.m. CT
Northwestern
19
vs
0
Purdue
'Cats Win Fourth Straight, Dominate Purdue, 19-0
10/18/2025 6:30:00 PM | Football
Northwestern posts first shutout since 2017
EVANSTON, Ill. (October 18, 2025) — Posting its first shutout since 2017, Northwestern dominated Purdue by a final score of 19-0 on Saturday afternoon at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. In their return to the shores of Lake Michigan, the Wildcats (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) extended their winning streak to four, while picking up their third straight win over the Boilermakers (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten).
"[I am] really excited about the way that our defense was able to close out with the shutout. That's a big deal," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Ultimately, we just said it in the locker room, that's a team shutout. When you win the rushing battle the way that we did today, and when you win the time of possession battle like we did today, that's complimentary football."
On the defensive side of the ball, Northwestern tallied 10 quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, and three pass breakups. Redshirt junior defensive back Robert Fitzgerald, the team's leader in tackles on the season, racked up 13 stops and a pass deflection. Graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein notched seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception — his third of the year. In a career day, redshirt junior defensive lineman Brendan Flakes had seven tackles, the most by a Northwestern defensive lineman since the 2022 season, in addition to two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Graduate student quarterback Preston Stone tossed a pair of touchdown passes, as he found graduate student tight end Hunter Welcing and junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde for scores. Stone logged 132 passing yards, with Wilde leading the team in both receptions (4) and yards (47).
Northwestern also had immense success in the run game, setting a season-high in carries (50), while tallying its most rushing yards (232) in a Big Ten game since December 12, 2020, against Illinois. Redshirt sophomore running back Joseph Himon II registered career-highs in carries (22) and rushing yards (87), while redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe took 12 carries for 67 yards. Redshirt first-year Dashun Reeder added five touches for 51 yards.
"The beautiful thing you see over the course of these last few weeks is [that] we know who we are," Braun said. "It starts with the run game, and it's built around that."
On the opening drive of the day, Northwestern put points on the board with a 27-yard field goal from graduate student kicker Jack Olsen — the reigning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. The Wildcats accumulated 56 rushing yards on the drive, with Komolafe leading the way with 33 yards.
Northwestern's momentum continued on the defensive side of the ball. A key tackle for loss from Flakes and graduate student defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard helped force a three-and-out from Purdue, as the Boilermakers were held to only five yards on their lone drive of the opening stanza.
With the offense back on the field, the Wildcats took off on a 14-play, 74-yard drive, converting two third downs and a fourth down. Stone capped off the drive by finding Welcing from three yards out to push the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Northwestern's offense went back to work following another stop by its defense. Stone connected with sophomore wide receiver Hayden Eligon II for his longest completion of the day, a 35-yard strike that saw the 'Cats approach the Purdue red zone. Olsen again capped off the drive, drilling a 38-yard kick to make it 13-0, a lead that Northwestern would carry into halftime.
The Wildcats recorded 16 first downs across the opening 30 minutes, while outgaining the Boilermakers in total yardage, 203-57. Purdue's 57 first-half yards were the fewest by a Northwestern opponent since November 30, 2019, when Illinois was held to 30 yards.
"We're super lucky to have the defense we do," Stone said. "They had 11 guys flying around the whole game, not just doing their job, but really setting the tone and inflicting pain on that offense."
Northwestern effectively put the game out of reach with a dominant 12-play, 76-yard drive that spanned 7:34 in the third quarter. Stone provided the exclamation point, finding Wilde from 12 yards out to stretch the margin to 19-0. Wilde has now found the end zone in four straight games.
The Wildcat defense slammed the door shut the rest of the afternoon, with Purdue's final six drives ending in either a turnover or a turnover on downs.
"Huge credit to our players in the week of preparation. Huge credit to Coach (Tim) McGarigle and the game plan," Braun said. "We're really starting to find our identity on defense of what it looks like to close out a game."
Northwestern seeks a fifth straight victory when it travels to No. 25 Nebraska on Saturday, October 25. A kickoff time and television designation are yet to be announced.
"[I am] really excited about the way that our defense was able to close out with the shutout. That's a big deal," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Ultimately, we just said it in the locker room, that's a team shutout. When you win the rushing battle the way that we did today, and when you win the time of possession battle like we did today, that's complimentary football."
On the defensive side of the ball, Northwestern tallied 10 quarterback hurries, five tackles for loss, and three pass breakups. Redshirt junior defensive back Robert Fitzgerald, the team's leader in tackles on the season, racked up 13 stops and a pass deflection. Graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein notched seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception — his third of the year. In a career day, redshirt junior defensive lineman Brendan Flakes had seven tackles, the most by a Northwestern defensive lineman since the 2022 season, in addition to two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Graduate student quarterback Preston Stone tossed a pair of touchdown passes, as he found graduate student tight end Hunter Welcing and junior wide receiver Griffin Wilde for scores. Stone logged 132 passing yards, with Wilde leading the team in both receptions (4) and yards (47).
Northwestern also had immense success in the run game, setting a season-high in carries (50), while tallying its most rushing yards (232) in a Big Ten game since December 12, 2020, against Illinois. Redshirt sophomore running back Joseph Himon II registered career-highs in carries (22) and rushing yards (87), while redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe took 12 carries for 67 yards. Redshirt first-year Dashun Reeder added five touches for 51 yards.
"The beautiful thing you see over the course of these last few weeks is [that] we know who we are," Braun said. "It starts with the run game, and it's built around that."
On the opening drive of the day, Northwestern put points on the board with a 27-yard field goal from graduate student kicker Jack Olsen — the reigning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. The Wildcats accumulated 56 rushing yards on the drive, with Komolafe leading the way with 33 yards.
Northwestern's momentum continued on the defensive side of the ball. A key tackle for loss from Flakes and graduate student defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard helped force a three-and-out from Purdue, as the Boilermakers were held to only five yards on their lone drive of the opening stanza.
With the offense back on the field, the Wildcats took off on a 14-play, 74-yard drive, converting two third downs and a fourth down. Stone capped off the drive by finding Welcing from three yards out to push the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Northwestern's offense went back to work following another stop by its defense. Stone connected with sophomore wide receiver Hayden Eligon II for his longest completion of the day, a 35-yard strike that saw the 'Cats approach the Purdue red zone. Olsen again capped off the drive, drilling a 38-yard kick to make it 13-0, a lead that Northwestern would carry into halftime.
The Wildcats recorded 16 first downs across the opening 30 minutes, while outgaining the Boilermakers in total yardage, 203-57. Purdue's 57 first-half yards were the fewest by a Northwestern opponent since November 30, 2019, when Illinois was held to 30 yards.
"We're super lucky to have the defense we do," Stone said. "They had 11 guys flying around the whole game, not just doing their job, but really setting the tone and inflicting pain on that offense."
Northwestern effectively put the game out of reach with a dominant 12-play, 76-yard drive that spanned 7:34 in the third quarter. Stone provided the exclamation point, finding Wilde from 12 yards out to stretch the margin to 19-0. Wilde has now found the end zone in four straight games.
The Wildcat defense slammed the door shut the rest of the afternoon, with Purdue's final six drives ending in either a turnover or a turnover on downs.
"Huge credit to our players in the week of preparation. Huge credit to Coach (Tim) McGarigle and the game plan," Braun said. "We're really starting to find our identity on defense of what it looks like to close out a game."
Northwestern seeks a fifth straight victory when it travels to No. 25 Nebraska on Saturday, October 25. A kickoff time and television designation are yet to be announced.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFootball - Purdue Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, October 19
Football - 'Cats Shut Out Purdue, 19-0 (10/18/25)
Saturday, October 18
Football - David Braun Joins B1G Today (10/17/25)
Friday, October 17
Football - Purdue Game Week Press Conference (10/13/25)
Monday, October 13
