Northwestern Falls at Minnesota, 29-12

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Northwestern traveled to Minnesota Saturday for its final Big Ten road trip of the 2016 season and had trouble getting its high-octane offense heated up the cold TCF Bank Stadium weather, falling to the Gophers, 29-12.

The loss drops Northwestern to 5-6 overall on the season, 4-4 in the Big Ten, and sets up a huge Land of Lincoln showdown against Illinois next week at Ryan Field. The game now carries bowl eligibility implications for the #B1GCats in addition to rights to the Land of Lincoln Trophy. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT next Saturday, Nov. 26.

BUY TICKETS TO NORTHWESTERN'S FINAL HOME GAME NOV. 26 AGAINST ILLINOIS AT RYAN FIELD!

Minnesota improved to 8-3 (5-3) with its win Saturday.

Minnesota got off to an early start, scoring on their opening possession, but missing the extra point. From there on, both defenses clamped down. Northwestern held Minnesota to just 13 yards the rest of the quarter. The offense almost got on the scoreboard with two minutes left in the quarter, but Jack Mitchell's 44-yard field goal attempt into the wind was dragged wide.

Northwestern continued keeping points off the board to start the second. On a deep Minnesota pass, Marcus McShepard outjumped a Golden Gopher receiver for an interception, preventing a probable score. Minnesota did tack on a field goal halfway through the quarter, extending its lead to 9-0. Northwestern responded by driving 56-yards on nine plays, but, facing fourth-and-one in the red zone, its conversion fell short. The Golden Gophers would score just before the half to go into halftime leading 12-0.

Things began to turn around for the Wildcats in the third quarter. While Minnesota used a field goal to take a 15-0 lead, Northwestern's defense shut them down for the rest of the quarter. Minnesota would record just 34 yards in the quarter while earning just two first downs.

Northwestern was dealt a setback when Austin Carr was on the receiving end of a targeting foul, knocking him out of the game. But the Wildcats quickly galvanized, going the length of the field with a 12 play, 75-yard drive, capped off by Justin Jackson plunging into the end zone with a four-yard run. After failing to convert a two-point conversion, the #B1GCats were kicking off down 15-6. On the kickoff, Anthony Walker, Jr., stripped the Minnesota kick-returner of the ball, giving Northwestern possession on the 22-yard line. On fourth-and-one, Thorson's pass to Eric Dickerson fell incomplete, leaving NU short on the opportunity.

Minnesota found the end zone to start the fourth quarter, leading 22-6, but the Wildcats continued to claw back. Getting the ball with 6:46 remaining, the Wildcats picked up three first downs before needing to convert on fourth-and-12 from the Minnesota 42. Minnesota committed a defensive holding penalty to keep the drive alive, then three plays later, Clayton Thorson found Flynn Nagel in the corner of the end zone to claw back to 22-12 with two and a half minutes remaining. The two-point conversion failed again, and the ensuing onside kick was returned inside the NU 15-yard-line.

The Golden Gophers added a late touchdown to account for the 29-12 victory over the Wildcats.

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Northwestern Falls at Minnesota, 29-12

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Team Stats

Clayton Thorson

Players Mentioned

Austin Carr

Justin Jackson

Marcus McShepard

Jack Mitchell

Flynn Nagel

Clayton Thorson

Anthony Walker, Jr.

Players Mentioned

Austin Carr

Justin Jackson

Marcus McShepard

Jack Mitchell

Flynn Nagel

Clayton Thorson

Anthony Walker, Jr.

Northwestern University Athletics