Northwestern 24, Ball State 19 • Postgame Notes

NORTHWESTERN POSTGAME NOTES

Ball State at 17 Northwestern  • September 26, 2015
Ryan Field • Evanston, Ill.
Attendance:  30,107
 
Northwestern Team Notes
  • Northwestern is 19-10-1 vs. MAC teams after its first meeting against Ball State.
     
  • The Wildcats are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since starting 4-0 in 2013 and the fifth time under Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald.
     
  • Fitzgerald owns a 29-10 record in September games, 14-1 dating to 2012, and 20-2 since 2010.
    • Fitzgerald is 33-7 (.825) in nonconference games.
       
  • Northwestern has allowed 35 points allowed in first three games (8.8 ppg). Going into the game, NU led the nation in scoring defense.
    • The Wildcats have not allowed a touchdown in 13-of-16 quarters this season.
       
  • Chicago's Big Ten Team has converted 9-of-12 (75 percent) red-zone opportunities this season (1-of-2 tonight).
     
  • Ball State was 5-of-16 on third down efficiency. For the season Wildcat opponents have gone just 11-for-59 (19 percent) on third down.
     
  • The Wildcats gained 546 yards total offense (6.2 yards per play), the most since 547 in an overtime win over Notre Dame on Nov. 15, 2015.
     
  • NU showed balance tonight, rushing for 290 yards and passing for 256, but all three touchdowns came through the air. The last time NU had three-plus passing touchdowns in a game was when Trevor Siemian threw four touchdowns at Illinois on Nov. 30, 2013.
     
  • Ball State had been averaging 466.7 ypg total offense, 249.0 yards rushing and 217.7 yards passing this season. The Cardinals gained 359 total yards on 181 rushing and 178 passing yards tonight.
Northwestern Individual Notes
  • RB Justin Jackson carried the ball 33 times for a career-high 184 yards, marking his sixth 100-yard effort in the last seven games and ninth of his career. Jackson has led the ‘Cats in rushing in each of his first 16 career games.
    • Jackson has 68 rushing attempts in the last two contests.
      • Jackson’s 62-yard scamper was the second-longest run of his career and the longest NU run from scrimmage in 2015.
         
  • QB Clayton Thorson (18-of-31 for 256 yards, three touchdowns and a long of 66 yards) notched single game career highs in all passing categories. Tonight, Thorson had his first career 200-yard passing effort.
     
  • SB Dan Vitale’s second-quarter 66-yard touchdown reception was his career long as well as Thorson’s longest pass completion. It was the Wildcats’ longest play from scrimmage this season.
    • Vitale’s 21-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter marks the first time he has multiple scoring receptions in a contest.
    • Vitale led the Wildcats with five receptions for 108 yards.
       
  • WR Austin Carr’s 21-yard touchdown catch gives him two for the season, which ties him for the team lead with Vitale. Carr caught a scoring pass for the second time in the last three games.
     
  • WR Christian Jones who had four catches for 46 yards, leads Vitale in career catches for current Wildcats, 116-114.
     
  • For the first time this season, S Traveon Henry led NU with seven tackles (all solos). He is the leader in stops among current Wildcats with 197 tackles and 125 solo efforts.
    • Henry also led NU with a career-tying two tackles for loss and his first career fumble recovery.
       
  • LB Jaylen Prater made six tackles, the second-highest single-game total of his career.
     
  • CB Matthew Harris recorded a career-high three pass breakups.
     
  • DE Dean Lowry was again busy with a pass breakup (now 15 in his career), a team-high two quarterback hurries and a blocked kick.
     
  • Jack Mitchell saw his consecutive string of successful field goal attempts end at six in the fourth quarter. With his 21-yard field goal in the third quarter, Mitchell has made eight field goals in 10 tries this season.