Sept. 29, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior quarterback C.J. Bachér (Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit) has earned his third career Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor after guiding the unbeaten Wildcats to a 22-17 come-from-behind win over Iowa this past Saturday in Iowa City.
Trailing by two touchdowns at Iowa, Bachér threw three touchdown passes, the last coming with 7:54 to play on a 3-yard strike to Eric Peterman to give the Wildcats the lead, 22-17. Just before halftime, Bachér found Rasheed Ward open and drilled a 1-yard pass to him in the left corner of the end zone. On NU's opening drive of the second half, Bachér and the 'Cats quickly got back into the ballgame by driving 76 yards in four plays and pulled to within one at 17-16 on a 15-yard strike to Peterman.
Bachér finished the game by completing 28 of 45 passes for 284 yards and his three TD strikes. He also moved into third place on NU's all-time passing yardage list and now has 5,929 career yards. Bachér ranks fourth on NU's career completions list with 523.
Bachér earned his first and second Big Ten player-of-the-week honors following back-to-back wins over Michigan State and Minnesota on Oct. 8 and 15 of 2007.
The Wildcats, who just missed breaking into this week's USA Today Coaches' poll with 98 votes (26th place), extended their best unbeaten start in 46 years. Northwestern (5-0) has an open date this weekend and returns to play at home on Saturday, Oct. 11 vs. Michigan State.