Saturday, September 17
Ryan Field
7 p.m.
Northwestern
1-2
24
vs
13
Duke
1-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Duke
0
7
0
6
13
Northwestern
7
0
10
7
24
Team Stats
DU
NU
Total Yards
396
406
Pass Yards
279
320
Rushing Yards
117
86
Penalty Yards
62
37
1st Downs
23
22
3rd Downs
5
8
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
27:07
32:53
1st Quarter
DU 0, NU 7
NU - Dickerson, G. 26 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Mitchell, Jack kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:30
2nd Quarter
DU 7, NU 7
DU - Duncan, J 4 yd run (Reed, AJ kick), 12 plays, 99 yards, TOP 4:47
3rd Quarter
DU 7, NU 14
NU - Vault, Solomon 44 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Mitchell, Jack kick) 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 0:08
DU 7, NU 17
NU - Mitchell, Jack 40 yd field goal 7 plays, 47 yards, TOP 1:50
4th Quarter
DU 7, NU 24
NU - Carr, Austin 58 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Mitchell, Jack kick) 3 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:52
DU 13, NU 24
DU - Wilson, S 1 yd run (Reed, AJ kickfailed), 10 plays, 81 yards, TOP 1:42
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
18
TD
3
YDS
320
INT
2
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
SB
/ Football
S
/ Football
RB
/ Football
S
/ Football
K
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ FootballNorthwestern Pulls Away From Duke Under The Lights, 24-13
9/17/2016 10:47:00 PM | Football
STORIFY SOCIAL MEDIA RECAP
EVANSTON, Ill.— Clayton Thorson threw for a career high 320 yards and connected on a trio of long touchdown tosses to Garrett Dickerson, Solomon Vault and Austin Carr as Northwestern defeated the Duke Blue Devils, 24-13, Saturday night at Ryan Field.
Justin Jackson gained 94 yards on the ground and Carr's six receptions netted a career high 135-yards. Anthony Walker, Jr. had five tackles, including two for loss, moving him into 10th in program history with 32, while Jared McGee led the game with nine total tackles, more than double his previous career high.
Northwestern picked up its first win of the season heading into Big Ten play next week against Nebraska while Duke fell to the same overall record of 1-2.
BUY TICKETS TO NORTHWESTERN'S NIGHT TILT WITH NEBRASKA NEXT SATURDAY AT RYAN FIELD!
Prior to the game, the Northwestern Class of 2020 took the field during the annual "Wildcat Dash," which saw over 2,000 first year and transfer students race across Ryan Field before packing into the student section.
Jackson started the game by tearing out 36 yards rushing on the first drive. Thorson sealed the drive with a 26-yard pass to Dickerson for the receiver's first-career touchdown. Jackson's 69 yards in the first quarter tied the most he has registered in a quarter in his career.
Both offenses were looking to the air for early yardage, with 298 of the 422 yards gained in the first half from passes. With the Blue Devils driving late in the first quarter, Godwin Igwebuike stepped into a pass at the Northwestern 22, his first interception preserving the Wildcats' advantage.
The second quarter saw just five drives total, with each grinding at least two minutes off the clock and earning a total of 13 first downs. Duke covered the length of the field to tie the game up at 7-7 three minutes before the interval. The #B1GCats looked to reclaim the lead on the ensuing drive, going 66-yards to set up a 34-yard field goal from the left hash, but Jack Mitchell's attempt as time expired went narrowly left.
Duke looked poised to christen the second half with a score on their opening drive, having reached the Northwestern 17-yard line. Duke quarterback Daniel Jones then rolled right, where Walker met him at the line of scrimmage, popping the ball out with his right fist for his both his fifth-career forced fumble and recovery.
With 5:52 left in the third, Duke looked to punt from the NU 47-yard line when their punter could not handle the snap, gifting Northwestern the ball on the 44. For the second-straight season, Solomon Vault gave Northwestern a lead over Duke early in the second half, snaring a 44-yard pass from Thorson to take a 14-7 lead. (Vault returned the second half kickoff to paydirt in the 2015 meeting between these teams.)
Mitchell added a 40-yard field goal seconds from the end of the third quarter, moving Northwestern's advantage to 17-7. It was Mitchell's 33rd career field goal, the seventh most in program history.
The game opened up in the fourth quarter, with 215 total yards gained in the period. Duke had a chance to pull back within one score with 10 minutes left, but their 34-yard field goal attempt missed wide right. Carr sealed the victory with a career-long 56-yard touchdown reception with five minutes to play. Duke was able to pull back a late touchdown, but missed the extra point and was able to do no more damage, as Northwestern put the finishing touches on their 24-13 victory.
Northwestern returns to action at Ryan Field next Saturday, Sept. 24 as it takes on Nebraska. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
EVANSTON, Ill.— Clayton Thorson threw for a career high 320 yards and connected on a trio of long touchdown tosses to Garrett Dickerson, Solomon Vault and Austin Carr as Northwestern defeated the Duke Blue Devils, 24-13, Saturday night at Ryan Field.
Justin Jackson gained 94 yards on the ground and Carr's six receptions netted a career high 135-yards. Anthony Walker, Jr. had five tackles, including two for loss, moving him into 10th in program history with 32, while Jared McGee led the game with nine total tackles, more than double his previous career high.
Northwestern picked up its first win of the season heading into Big Ten play next week against Nebraska while Duke fell to the same overall record of 1-2.
BUY TICKETS TO NORTHWESTERN'S NIGHT TILT WITH NEBRASKA NEXT SATURDAY AT RYAN FIELD!
Prior to the game, the Northwestern Class of 2020 took the field during the annual "Wildcat Dash," which saw over 2,000 first year and transfer students race across Ryan Field before packing into the student section.
Jackson started the game by tearing out 36 yards rushing on the first drive. Thorson sealed the drive with a 26-yard pass to Dickerson for the receiver's first-career touchdown. Jackson's 69 yards in the first quarter tied the most he has registered in a quarter in his career.
Both offenses were looking to the air for early yardage, with 298 of the 422 yards gained in the first half from passes. With the Blue Devils driving late in the first quarter, Godwin Igwebuike stepped into a pass at the Northwestern 22, his first interception preserving the Wildcats' advantage.
The second quarter saw just five drives total, with each grinding at least two minutes off the clock and earning a total of 13 first downs. Duke covered the length of the field to tie the game up at 7-7 three minutes before the interval. The #B1GCats looked to reclaim the lead on the ensuing drive, going 66-yards to set up a 34-yard field goal from the left hash, but Jack Mitchell's attempt as time expired went narrowly left.
Duke looked poised to christen the second half with a score on their opening drive, having reached the Northwestern 17-yard line. Duke quarterback Daniel Jones then rolled right, where Walker met him at the line of scrimmage, popping the ball out with his right fist for his both his fifth-career forced fumble and recovery.
With 5:52 left in the third, Duke looked to punt from the NU 47-yard line when their punter could not handle the snap, gifting Northwestern the ball on the 44. For the second-straight season, Solomon Vault gave Northwestern a lead over Duke early in the second half, snaring a 44-yard pass from Thorson to take a 14-7 lead. (Vault returned the second half kickoff to paydirt in the 2015 meeting between these teams.)
Mitchell added a 40-yard field goal seconds from the end of the third quarter, moving Northwestern's advantage to 17-7. It was Mitchell's 33rd career field goal, the seventh most in program history.
The game opened up in the fourth quarter, with 215 total yards gained in the period. Duke had a chance to pull back within one score with 10 minutes left, but their 34-yard field goal attempt missed wide right. Carr sealed the victory with a career-long 56-yard touchdown reception with five minutes to play. Duke was able to pull back a late touchdown, but missed the extra point and was able to do no more damage, as Northwestern put the finishing touches on their 24-13 victory.
Northwestern returns to action at Ryan Field next Saturday, Sept. 24 as it takes on Nebraska. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at NUsports.com or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
••••••
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