Wednesday, December 28
New York, NY
1 p.m.
Northwestern
7-6
31
vs
24
Pittsburgh
8-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Pitt
3
7
7
7
24
Northwestern
0
14
7
10
31
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
Northwestern Runs Over No. 23 Pitt to Win Pinstripe Bowl
12/28/2016 4:18:00 PM | Football
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NEW YORK -- Justin Jackson rushed 33 times for 226 yards and three touchdowns Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, leading Northwestern to an exciting 31-24 win over No. 23 Pitt in the Pinstripe Bowl. Jackson was named the Bowl MVP.
NU's defense helped shut down an incredible high-powered Pitt offense with stellar red-zone defense, including a pair of interceptions near the goal line.
Quarterback Clayton Thorson added a touchdown toss to give him a Northwestern single-season record 22 on the year.
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Despite giving up an early field goal, the Wildcats responded with 14 unanswered points on the back of Jackson.
The #B1GCats made a key fourth-and-goal stand in the first quarter when junior linebacker Anthony Walker, Jr., stopped Pitt running back James Conner mid air. After a short quarterback sneak by sophomore Clayton Thorson, Jackson matched his career long with a 68-yard run to move the 'Cats into Pitt territory.
Jackson finished the first quarter with 91 rushing yards, the most in a quarter in his career, and capped the drive early in the second quarter with an eight-yard score to put NU in front, 7-3.
Pitt drove into the red zone for the third time and again came up empty when junior Godwin Igwebuike picked off Nate Peterman at the goal line. Unfortunately, the Wildcats gave the ball back on the ensuing drive when Thorson threw an interception in the end zone.
The Wildcats forced a punt on Pitt's next drive and quickly went 74 yards on eight plays in just 2:34 to take a 14-3 lead. Thorson found junior Macan Wilson for a gain of 32 yards to put NU inside the Pitt 30 and Jackson found room to the right side just two plays later to score his second touchdown of the game from 16 yards out.
The two-score lead was short lived for Northwestern however as the Panthers went deep on the first play of the next drive for a 69-yard score to pull within 14-10.
Both teams drove into their opponents territory as the first half came to a close, but the 'Cats turned it over on a lateral pass and Pitt's last-second hail mary attempt was batted down by junior Kyle Queiro to protect the lead.
Pitt took the lead back early in the second half when Quadree Henderson raced 57 yards on a jet sweep to set up a five-yard touchdown run by Peterman two plays later to give the Panthers a 17-14 lead with 13:13 to go in the third quarter.
The 'Cats wasted no time taking the lead back thanks again to their workhorse running back Jackson. On 3rd and 7 from the Pitt 40 yard line, Jackson went up the middle and juke a defenders out of his shoes to score his third touchdown of the game and eclipse the 200-yard mark for the first time in his career.
His third rushing touchdown matched his career high set against Western Michigan and Illinois earlier this season and also tied Darnell Autry's Northwestern bowl game record set in the 1996 Rose Bowl.
Pitt drove down into the Northwestern red zone again on its next drive before a bad snap and a shared Joe Gaziano and Xavier Washington sack pushed the Panthers back. An ensuing field goal went wide, but Pitt got a second change when Northwestern's punt following an offensive three-and-out was blocked. This time the Panthers converted early in the fourth quarter to regain a 24-21 lead with 13:15 to play in the game.
On Northwestern's next drive, Thorson stayed poised in the pocket and guided the Wildcats deep into Pittsburgh territory while converting on multiple fourth-down plays. On the final one, Thorson found a wide open Garret Dickerson in the flat, and Dickerson raced 21 yards to the end zone to put NU back on top, 28-24, with 8:23 to play in the game.
The TD toss was the 22nd of Thorson's year, giving him the NU single-season record.
Northwestern immediately got the ball back when Walker, Jr., forced a fumble and Tyler Lancaster pounced on it. Four plays later, Jack Mitchell booted a 37-yard field goal to make NU's lead 31-24, with just over six minutes to play.
Pitt again drove deep into the Northwestern territory, but yet again the Wildcats red zone defense stood tall. On third down, Jared McGee broke up a sure touchdown in the end zone before, on the very next play, making the interception at the 3-yard-line to give NU the ball back with 2:49 to go.
Northwestern had to punt, and Hunter Niswander responded with a beautiful 50-yard boot. Kyle Quiero then stepped in front of a pass to seal the game with the Wildcats third interception of the game.
••••••
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Team Stats
UP
NU
Total Yards
438
462
Pass Yards
269
214
Rushing Yards
169
248
Penalty Yards
50
35
1st Downs
18
27
3rd Downs
6
9
4th Downs
0
4
TOP
24:38
35:22
1st Quarter
UP 3, NU 0
UP - Blewitt, C. 46 yd field goal 5 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:14
2nd Quarter
UP 3, NU 7
NU - Jackson, Justin 8 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 10 plays, 99 yards, TOP 4:19
UP 3, NU 14
NU - Jackson, Justin 16 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 8 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:35
UP 10, NU 14
UP - Weah, J. 69 yd pass from Peterman, N. (Blewitt, C. kick) 1 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:11
3rd Quarter
UP 17, NU 14
UP - Peterman, N. 5 yd run (Blewitt, C. kick), 4 plays, 68 yards, TOP 1:46
UP 17, NU 21
NU - Jackson, Justin 40 yd run (Mitchell, Jack kick), 14 plays, 89 yards, TOP 5:18
4th Quarter
UP 24, NU 21
UP - Aston, G. 6 yd pass from DiNucci, B. (Blewitt, C. kick) 6 plays, 22 yards, TOP 3:20
UP 24, NU 28
NU - Dickerson, G. 21 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Mitchell, Jack kick) 14 plays, 76 yards, TOP 4:44
UP 24, NU 31
NU - Mitchell, Jack 37 yd field goal 5 plays, 9 yards, TOP 2:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
23
TD
1
YDS
214
INT
1
Players Mentioned
DL
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S
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RB
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DL
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S
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K
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P
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LB
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DE
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WR
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