Northwestern
4-4 , 3-2
Ohio State
7-1 , 4-1
Wildcats Put Scare in No. 6 Buckeyes, Fall 24-20 in Columbus
10/29/2016 6:06:00 PM | Football
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Northwestern gave No. 6 Ohio State a scare on Halloween Weekend in Ohio Stadium, driving deep into Buckeyes territory with a chance to tie the game late on Saturday before the Buckeyes escaped with a 24-20 win over the Wildcats.
Clayton Thorson threw for 256 yards on 22 completions, and Austin Carr -- the Big Ten's leading receiver -- had another monster day hauling in eight receptions for 158 yards. OSU quickly went up 10-0 in the contest and held a 17-10 lead at the half, but Northwestern fought back to knot the score, 17-17, heading into the final quarter.
Though the Buckeyes regained the lead, 24-17, early in the fourth, the Wildcats came storming right back down the field and had first and goal to go inside the OSU five-yard line with under five minutes to play. NU was forced to settle for a field goal, and OSU ran out the clock from there.
Northwestern falls to 4-4 (3-2 B1G), while OSU now is 7-1 (4-1 B1G).
BUY TICKETS TO NORTHWESTERN'S NOV. 5 GAME AGAINST No. 11 WISCONSIN AT RYAN FIELD NOW!
While Ohio State was able to jump out to a 10-0 lead in the first nine minutes, Northwestern's defense largely cracked down on the Buckeyes. After those two drives, the Wildcats tightened the clamps, allowing just two scores the rest of the game.
With time winding down in the first quarter, Carr made a tiptoe catch on the sideline for an 11-yard gain, and Garrett Dickerson's reception converted a fourth-and-two from the four to bring Northwestern within striking distance. Clayton Thorson made it 10-7 when punched it in to open the second quarter, the second consecutive game the Wildcats have scored on the first play of the second quarter.
Ohio State responded with their third score to pull ahead 17-7, but the Wildcats were able to continue their offensive outburst. Thorson broke out a 33-yard run to break into the red zone, setting up a Jack Mitchell 23-yard field goal to pull the #B1GCats back within a score at 17-10 to head into the half.
The #B1GCat offense continued to roll in the second half, again changing the scoreboard halfway through the quarter. Thorson found Carr for a 35-yard reception to bring the Wildcats to the 5-yard-line, giving Carr over 100 yards on the game for the third straight contest and the fifth overall this season. Three plays later, Thorson connected with Dickerson to tie the game, 17-17.
The Wildcat defense continued to stymie the Buckeyes, holding them to just 85 yards in the third quarter. Ohio State took a 24-17 lead, however, with just under 10 minutes to play. Northwestern clawed back, going 60 yards on 16 plays to get deep into the red zone, where Mitchell drilled a 33-yard field goal with 3:31 to play.
Northwestern needed a stop to upset No. 6 Ohio State, and twice it forced the Buckeyes into 3rd and 7 or longer, but on the second of those third-down plays, Ohio State's J.T. Barrett was able to scramble for a first down, and the Buckeyes ran out the clock from there.
Northwestern now returns home to face No. 11 Wisconsin at 11 a.m. CT, Saturday, Nov. 5. BUY TICKETS HERE!
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Team Stats
NU 0, OSU 7
OSU - Weber, Mike 1 yd run (Durbin, Tyler kick), 9 plays, 94 yards, TOP 2:56
NU 0, OSU 10
OSU - Durbin, Tyler 35 yd field goal 9 plays, 33 yards, TOP 3:35
NU 7, OSU 10
NU - Thorson, C. 1 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:45
NU 7, OSU 17
OSU - Weber, Mike 23 yd run (Durbin, Tyler kick), 15 plays, 80 yards, TOP 8:28
NU 10, OSU 17
NU - Mitchell, Jack 23 yd field goal 12 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:29
NU 17, OSU 17
NU - Dickerson, G. 2 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Mitchell, Jack kick) 10 plays, 84 yards, TOP 3:41
NU 17, OSU 24
OSU - Samuel, Curtis 3 yd run (Durbin, Tyler kick), 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:36
NU 20, OSU 24
NU - Mitchell, Jack 33 yd field goal 16 plays, 60 yards, TOP 6:12
