Sept. 1, 2007
Northwestern
Northwestern won its third-straight season-opener, after notching wins over Ohio (2005) and Miami (Ohio) the past two years. The Wildcats (1-0), who also won their second straight game at Ryan Field, remain at home and play host to Nevada next Saturday (11 a.m., Big Ten Network).
Northwestern is now 72-44-4 in season-opening games. In the last 13 years, the Wildcats are 9-4 in lid-lifters. This was the first-ever meeting between Northwestern and Northeastern.
Northwestern notched its first shutout in 10 years. The Wildcats defeated Oklahoma 24-0 10 years ago (Aug. 23, 1997) in the Pigskin Classic, which was played at Soldier Field. Northwestern's last shutout at Ryan Field came on Oct. 21, 1995 - a 35-0 win over Wisconsin.
After surrendering 179 yards of offense in the first half, Northwestern held the Husky attack to just 81 yards in the second half.
Tyrell Sutton, RB, recorded his 10th career 100-yard rushing game, gaining 108 yards on 24 carries. He also caught 4 passes for 24 yards, giving him 132 all-purpose yards. He scored his 22nd career TD in the third quarter, moving him into a fifth-place tie on NU's all-time rushing TD list with Zak Kustok (1999-2001).
With his 108 yards, Sutton climbed into fifth place on the Wildcats' all-time rushing list. He now has 2,582 career yards, 43 yards shy of Jason Wright (2000-03, 2,625 yards). Sutton passed Noah Herron (2001-04) today on the career rushing list.
Sutton climbed two spots to 10th place on NU's career all-purpose yardage list. He now has 3,271 career yards, and is 102 yards short of ninth place, held by Mike Adamle (1968-70, 3,373).
C.J. Bachér, QB, completed a career-best 23 passes today and threw for 243 yards, 26 shy of his career high (269), set last year in a win over Illinois.
With Mike Kafka's 2-of-2 passing, the Wildcats finished 25-of-31 passing for an 80.6 completion percentage. That ties NU's team passing completion percentage mark, set in 2005 against Illinois (also 25-of-31, 80.6 percent).
Northwestern scored a touchdown on its first drive of the game and season, going 72 yards in 10 plays. C.J. Bachér, who completed 7-of-7 passes for 61 yards on the drive, scored the TD on a 5-yard keeper with 5:48 to go in the first quarter.
WR Jeff Yarbrough savored a career day, catching 7 passes for 68 yards. One of his receptions went for a game- and career-long 32 yards.
WR Eric Peterman equaled a career high with 4 receptions (for 44 yards).
PK Amado Villarreal converted both of his field goal attempts (25 and 35 yards) and all three PAT kicks for a career-most 9 points.
P Stefan Demos averaged 39.0 yards per punts, with two of his boots landing inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
Neither team committed a turnover in today's game.
CB Sherrick McManis led the Wildcat defense with a career-most 10 tackles (six solos). He also had a career-best 2 TFL's. Northwestern's next two leading tacklers were LB's Adam Kadela (8 tackles) and Prince Kwateng (5 tackles). The 5 hits were a career-most for Kwateng.
Northwestern reached the red zone five times, and scored on all five trips - three touchdowns and two field goals.
Northeastern failed to reach the red zone all day. The closest the Huskies came to the red zone was the Wildcats' 22-yard line.
Northeastern
Today's loss drops the Huskies to 2-4 all-time against Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) opponents. The Huskies have lost to Virginia Tech, Navy and Boston College in the past. The Huskies last defeated an FBS opponent on Sept. 7, 2002 when they blanked Ohio, 31-0.
Senior running back Maurice Murray moved into fourth place all-time in school history in rushing yards, surpassing Harold Scott (1986-89). Murray now has 2,433 yards and is just 1,259 yards shy of the school record, 3,692, held by L.J. McKanas (1998-2001).
The Huskies are now 31-40-1 in season-opening games, though they are 7-4 in season openers over the last 11 seasons.
Carrying over from 2006, the Huskies have now played 10 consecutive quarters without committing a turnover. Northeastern last turned the ball over in the second quarter of the Huskies' 34-24 win over Hofstra on Nov. 11, 2006.
The Huskies will play their home opener and CAA Football opener next Saturday, Sept. 8 when they host Richmond at Parsons Field at 12:30 p.m.