Saturday, September 16
Evanston, Ill.
6:30 p.m.
Northwestern
2-1
49
vs
7
Bowling Green
0-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Bowling Green
7
0
0
0
7
Northwestern
14
21
0
14
49
Wildcats Roar Past Falcons Under The Lights at Ryan Field
9/16/2017 9:20:00 PM | Football
By Zach Wingrove, NUsports.com contributor
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's offense exploded for a season-high 678 total yards as the Wildcats wrapped up their nonconference schedule with an emphatic 49-7 win over Bowling Green under the lights at Ryan Field on Saturday night.
The Wildcats were firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball on Saturday. Led by captains Clayton Thorson and Justin Jackson, Northwestern's offense finished with 375 passing yards and 303 rushing yards on the day, scoring on five consecutive drives to finish the first half. The defense was led by Paddy Fisher and Godwin Igwebuike, holding Bowling Green to a lone touchdown on the day, the fewest points Northwestern has allowed in a game since 2015.
BUY TICKETS TO NORTHWESTERN'S HOMECOMING GAME OCTOBER 7 AGAINST PENN STATE!
After two early defensive stops, Northwestern's offense struck first thanks to a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Justin Jackson to cap off a seven-play, 50 yard scoring drive. The touchdown marked the 32nd of Jackson's career, passing Tyrell Sutton for fourth all-time in Northwestern history.
Bowling Green answered with a touchdown of its own to tie the score, 7-7, but the Wildcats retaliated moments later as Thorson connected with sophomore Bennett Skowronek for a 58-yard touchdown to put the 'Cats back up 14-7. The reception marked Northwestern's longest passing play of the season as well as Skowronek's first career touchdown, and it started a run of 42 unanswered points for NU to close the game.
The Wildcats' defense came up with a big turnover to start the second quarter when junior Montre Hartage stripped the ball loose from Datrin Guyton to force a fumble. Senior Godwin Igwebuike recovered the fumble on the Northwestern 37-yard line and returned it 45 yards into Falcon territory to put the Wildcats in excellent scoring position. Thorson wasted no time capitalizing on the good field position as he found Skowronek on the very next play for the duo's second touchdown connection of the game, this time off an 18-yard score to put the Wildcats up 21-7.
Northwestern added to its lead minutes later after the defense forced another quick three-and-out. This time, the #B1GCats mounted a five play, 75-yard drive and finished with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Jackson, moving him past Jason Wright for 3rd all-time in program history with 33 career rushing touchdowns.
The Wildcats' high-powered offense continued to roll on the following possession, this time driving 90 yards in 13 plays en route to a 14-yard rushing touchdown by redshirt first-year Jeremy Larkin, the first of his career. The score extended Northwestern's lead to 35-7, which it carried into halftime.
Northwestern got back on the board early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 2-yard run by Jackson to make the score 42-7. The touchdown was set up by a 28-yard pass from Thorson to senior Garrett Dickerson.
The ensuing drive, Matt Alviti took over under center and started the drive off with a 68-yard rush, the longest play from scrimmage this season for the 'Cats. Two plays later, redshirt first-year Jesse Brown found the endzone on an 8-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career, to make the score 49-7.
Thorson finished the day with a career high 209.2 QB rating, completing 23 of 30 passes for a career high 370 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. His top target was Dickerson who caught 9 passes for 150 yards, both of which are career highs. Jackson finished with 121 yards on 18 carries and three rushing touchdowns, tying a career high. Northwestern also finished the day averaging 9.2 average yards per play, breaking the school record by nearly a full yard.
The win improves Northwestern to 2-1 on the season, while dropping Bowling Green to 0-3. Chicago's Big Ten team will return to action in two weeks on Saturday, September 30, when they travel to Madison to take on Wisconsin in a huge West Division showdown.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's offense exploded for a season-high 678 total yards as the Wildcats wrapped up their nonconference schedule with an emphatic 49-7 win over Bowling Green under the lights at Ryan Field on Saturday night.
The Wildcats were firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball on Saturday. Led by captains Clayton Thorson and Justin Jackson, Northwestern's offense finished with 375 passing yards and 303 rushing yards on the day, scoring on five consecutive drives to finish the first half. The defense was led by Paddy Fisher and Godwin Igwebuike, holding Bowling Green to a lone touchdown on the day, the fewest points Northwestern has allowed in a game since 2015.
BUY TICKETS TO NORTHWESTERN'S HOMECOMING GAME OCTOBER 7 AGAINST PENN STATE!
After two early defensive stops, Northwestern's offense struck first thanks to a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Justin Jackson to cap off a seven-play, 50 yard scoring drive. The touchdown marked the 32nd of Jackson's career, passing Tyrell Sutton for fourth all-time in Northwestern history.
Enjoy the highlights from tonight's 49-7 win over Bowling Green at Ryan Field! #B1GCats
— #B1GCats (@NU_Sports) September 17, 2017
RECAP: https://t.co/2efwAdzCJx pic.twitter.com/NYMM39rw7d
Bowling Green answered with a touchdown of its own to tie the score, 7-7, but the Wildcats retaliated moments later as Thorson connected with sophomore Bennett Skowronek for a 58-yard touchdown to put the 'Cats back up 14-7. The reception marked Northwestern's longest passing play of the season as well as Skowronek's first career touchdown, and it started a run of 42 unanswered points for NU to close the game.
The Wildcats' defense came up with a big turnover to start the second quarter when junior Montre Hartage stripped the ball loose from Datrin Guyton to force a fumble. Senior Godwin Igwebuike recovered the fumble on the Northwestern 37-yard line and returned it 45 yards into Falcon territory to put the Wildcats in excellent scoring position. Thorson wasted no time capitalizing on the good field position as he found Skowronek on the very next play for the duo's second touchdown connection of the game, this time off an 18-yard score to put the Wildcats up 21-7.
Northwestern added to its lead minutes later after the defense forced another quick three-and-out. This time, the #B1GCats mounted a five play, 75-yard drive and finished with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Jackson, moving him past Jason Wright for 3rd all-time in program history with 33 career rushing touchdowns.
The Wildcats' high-powered offense continued to roll on the following possession, this time driving 90 yards in 13 plays en route to a 14-yard rushing touchdown by redshirt first-year Jeremy Larkin, the first of his career. The score extended Northwestern's lead to 35-7, which it carried into halftime.
Northwestern got back on the board early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 2-yard run by Jackson to make the score 42-7. The touchdown was set up by a 28-yard pass from Thorson to senior Garrett Dickerson.
The ensuing drive, Matt Alviti took over under center and started the drive off with a 68-yard rush, the longest play from scrimmage this season for the 'Cats. Two plays later, redshirt first-year Jesse Brown found the endzone on an 8-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his career, to make the score 49-7.
Thorson finished the day with a career high 209.2 QB rating, completing 23 of 30 passes for a career high 370 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. His top target was Dickerson who caught 9 passes for 150 yards, both of which are career highs. Jackson finished with 121 yards on 18 carries and three rushing touchdowns, tying a career high. Northwestern also finished the day averaging 9.2 average yards per play, breaking the school record by nearly a full yard.
The win improves Northwestern to 2-1 on the season, while dropping Bowling Green to 0-3. Chicago's Big Ten team will return to action in two weeks on Saturday, September 30, when they travel to Madison to take on Wisconsin in a huge West Division showdown.
••••••
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Team Stats
BGSU
NU
Total Yards
352
678
Pass Yards
256
375
Rushing Yards
96
303
Penalty Yards
15
23
1st Downs
21
30
3rd Downs
5
8
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
29:55
30:05
1st Quarter
BGSU 0, NU 7
NU - Jackson, Justin 5 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 7 plays, 50 yards, TOP 2:27
BGSU 7, NU 7
BGSU - CLEVELAND, Josh 20 yd run (SUDER, Jake kick), 9 plays, 81 yards, TOP 3:35
BGSU 7, NU 14
NU - Skowronek, B. 58 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 3 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:06
2nd Quarter
BGSU 7, NU 21
NU - Skowronek, B. 18 yd pass from Thorson, C. (Kuhbander, C. kick) 1 plays, 18 yards, TOP 0:07
BGSU 7, NU 28
NU - Jackson, Justin 2 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:34
BGSU 7, NU 35
NU - Larkin, Jeremy 14 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 13 plays, 90 yards, TOP 4:37
4th Quarter
BGSU 7, NU 42
NU - Jackson, Justin 2 yd run (Kuhbander, C. kick), 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:07
BGSU 7, NU 49
NU - Brown, Jesse 8 yd run (Redd, Makay kick), 3 plays, 82 yards, TOP 1:32
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
23
TD
2
YDS
370
INT
0
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
SB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
S
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
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