Northwestern 27, Minnesota 0 • Postgame Notes

Kyle Kelley

NORTHWESTERN POSTGAME NOTES

Minnesota at 16/17 Northwestern  • October 3, 2015
Ryan Field • Evanston, Ill.
Attendance:  30,044
 
Northwestern Team Notes
 
  • Northwestern breaks Minnesota’s two-game series victory string. Since 2007, NU is 6-3 vs. the Golden Gophers.
     
  • Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald is also 6-3 vs. Minnesota.
     
  • The Wildcats are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since starting 5-0 in 2012 (the Wildcats ended the season 10-3) and the fourth time under Coach Pat Fitzgerald.
     
  • This is the largest margin of victory over the Golden Gophers since a 42-6 win over Minnesota in 1943 and the second-highest in the series.
     
  • This is NU’s first shutout of a Big Ten team since the nationally No. 11-ranked Wildcats defeated No. 24 Wisconsin, 24-0 in the ‘Cats Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl season of 1995.
     
  • NU has shut out two opponents in the same season for the first time since defeating Indiana, 20-0 and Iowa, 9-0 in 1965.
     
  • Going into the game, Northwestern led the Big Ten and ranked third in the country in scoring defense. Northwestern has allowed 35 points allowed in its first five games (7.0 ppg) and has outscored opponents 127-35.
    • The 35 points allowed through five games is the fewest since the 'Cats gave up just 33 in 1943. In that season during World War II, NU yielded 64 points in eight games.
    • The Wildcats have not allowed a touchdown in 17-of-20 quarters this season and only three touchdowns in 2015 overall. The defense has allowed just three touchdowns through the first five games.
       
  • Chicago's Big Ten Team has converted 14-of-17 (.824) red-zone opportunities this season (perfect on four entries in the red zone today).
     
  • Minnesota was successful on just 4-of-16 third conversion attempts today. For the season, Wildcat opponents have gone just 15-for-75 (20 percent) on third down.
     
  • Northwestern held the Golden Gophers to 74 yards rushing, 99 passing and 173 total today. Minnesota had been averaging 158, 219.5 and 337.5 yards per game in those respective categories this season. Going into the game, Northwestern was No. 11 nationally, yielding 266 yards per game.
     
  • Going into the game, Northwestern’s pass defense had the nation’s No. 10-ranked defensive pass efficiency rating of 87.51. Today Minnesota quarterbacks had an efficiency rating below 67.
     
  • The NU defense made 10 tackles for loss totaling 32 yards.
 
 
Northwestern Individual Notes
  • RB Justin Jackson again led all ball-carriers with 120 yards (6.0 yards a carry), marking his seventh 100-yard effort in the last eight games and 10th of his career. Jackson has led the ‘Cats in rushing in each of his first 17 career games.
    • Since being held under 100 yards in his first four career games, Jackson has rushed for at least 100 in 10 of the last 12 contests.
    • Jackson gained 101 yards by the end of the third quarter.
    • Jackson’s 31-yard run was the game’s longest play from scrimmage.
    • The national leader in number of rushing attempts this season, Jackson has 88 rushing attempts in the last three contests (20 attempts today, 118 in 2015).
       
  • QB Clayton Thorson had his most accurate day as a Wildcat (14-of-19, .737) and had a pass efficiency rating of 130.3.
    • Thorson completed his 14 passes to eight different Wildcats.
    • Thorson, who doubled his touchdown production today with two rushing scores, leads the team with four TDs in 2015. It was his first career two rushing touchdown game.
       
  • The two leading Wildcats in active career receptions, WR Christian Jones and SB Dan Vitale, tied for the team lead in receptions today with three. Jones has 119 career catches, Vitale 117.
     
  • WR/KR Miles Shuler’s second-quarter punt return was for a career-long 55 yards.
     
  • LB Anthony Walker’s 13-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown marks his team-leading second recovery this season and third in his career and his second career touchdown (intercepted a pass for a TD vs. Penn State last season).
     
  • S Godwin Igwebuike led NU with a career-tying best of nine tackles. His team-leading eight solo efforts was a personal best.
     
  • DE Dean Lowry tied for the second-most tackles today with five (with S Traveon Henry), which included two tackles for loss.
     
  • LB Joseph Jones notched his first career quarterback sack, while DL Deonte Gibson earned his eighth career sack today.
     
  • CB Nick Van Hoose tied with CB Matthew Harris for the team lead with three pass breakups. Van Hoose is now tied for third with Sherrick McManus (2006-09) with 30 career PBUs.
     
  • With two-of-three successful field goal attempts today, K Jack Mitchell is now 10-of-13 on three-pointers this season.
     
  • Of P Hunter Niswander’s six punts today, two fell within the 20-yard line.