Northwestern University Athletics

#20 Northwestern 13, #25 Wisconsin 7 • Postgame Notes

Northwestern Postgame Notes
#20 Northwestern at #25 Wisconsin • November 21, 2015
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wis.
Attendance:  75,276
 
Northwestern Team Notes
  • This was the 97th meeting with Wisconsin and Northwestern’s 35th win in the series. The Wildcats’ 13-7 victory is the first in Madison since 2000 and the first by the road team in the last nine meetings.
     
  • NU won its fourth consecutive game to improve to 9-2, its most wins since the Wildcats went 10-3 in 2012.
    • This is the fifth time since 1904 that the Wildcats have won at least nine games in a season.
    • Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald has been a part of all five seasons; two as a player and three as the head coach.
       
  • Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald improved to 5-2 versus ranked opponents in November.
    • Fitzgerald improves to 69-55 overall.
       
  • NU gained 149 rushing yards to Wisconsin’s -26 yards on the ground. The Wildcats improved 9-0 this season when outrushing their opponents and 52-16 during the Fitzgerald era.
     
  • The Wildcats forced a season-high five turnovers (two interceptions and three fumble recoveries), the most since forcing five against Purdue Nov. 22, 2014.
    • NU is 7-0 this season when winning the turnover battle and 49-19 under Fitzgerald.
       
  • Northwestern held Wisconsin to program record -26 yards rushing on 26 carries.
    • The previous record for fewest rushing yards allowed was 4 versus Ohio on Sept. 20, 2008.
    • In the first half, the Wildcats allowed just 50 yards of total offense in the first half, limiting the Badgers to -19 yards rushing on 16 carries
       
  • Northwestern’s 11 tackles for loss marked a season high and the third time this season the defense has had double digits TFLs.
    • The 11 TFLs are the most by the Wildcats since 12 at Rice on Sept. 18, 2010.
       
  • The Wildcats had a season-high 6.0 sacks totaling 50 yards, the most since 8.0  against Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 10, 2009.
     
  • The Cardiac ‘Cats are now 5-0 this season in games decided by seven points or fewer.
 
Individual Notes
  • RB Justin Jackson matched his career high with 35 carries (35 vs. Duke – 9/19/2015) and finished with 139 yards rushing.
    • Jackson went over 100 yards rushing for the third-straight game, the seventh time this season and the 13th time in his career.
    • The sophomore running back gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with his third touchdown of the season.
      • Jackson has scored in back-to-back games on the ground and a total of 13 times in his career.
    • He ranks eighth in program  history with 2,359 career rushing yards and is now 106 shy of Greg Boykin (1972-76) for seventh.
       
  • LB Anthony Walker Jr., finished with a team-high eight tackles and half a tackle for loss. He is now tied for fifth in single-season history with 16.0 tackles for loss.
    • Walker also had an interception in the fourth quarter. It is his second of the season and third of his career.
    • The sophomore linebacker is now just one tackle shy of 100 for the season.
       
  • DE Dean Lowry had a half a sack in the first half to bring his career total to 12.5, which ranks eighth in program history.
    • Lowry also had his first fumble recovery of the season and third of his career.
       
  • DE Deonte Gibson finished the game with a career-high 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss. Gibson leads the Wildcats with nine sacks this season and is now alone for seventh most in program history with 15 in his career.
     
  • DE Ifeadi Odenigbo picked up a half a sack in the first half and is now in sole possession of 10th all time in Northwestern history with 11.5 career sacks.
     
  • CB Nick VanHoose recorded an interception for the third time in four games. The interception was the eighth of his career, moving him into a tie for 10th all time at Northwestern.
    • VanHoose also recorded his team-leading 11th pass breakup of the season. He ranks third in program history with 36 and is just four shy of moving into a tie for second with Marvin Bard (2001-04).
       
  • LB Nate Hall tied for the team-high with eight tackles and now has 26 tackles over his last three games.
     
  • CB Matthew Harris had a season-high seven tackles (five solo), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on a muffed punt.
    • The forced fumble was third of his career while the recovery was his first.
       
  • SB Garrett Dickerson matched his career high of two catches for the fourth time. Dickerson finished with two catches for a team-high 24 yards receiving.
     
  • S Terrance Brown made his first career start in place of injured Traveon Henry and finished with three tackles.