Northwestern 23, Purdue 13
When it looked like Northwestern was in danger of becoming complacent, the Wildcats’ defense ended any notion of that.
With Purdue (4–6, 2–5) clawing its way back to trail by 10 late in the fourth quarter, Northwestern (7–3, 5–2)cornerback Marcus McShepard picked off a Boilermaker pass to seal a 23–13 win.
The win was the fifth in a row for the Cats, and they didn’t need an extra period this week to get there.
“We just talk about going one-and-oh each week,” Head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Anytime you win five in a row, it’s not an easy feat.”
“I think our guys have a lot of confidence right now.”
Fitzgerald called Purdue a “much improved football team” after the game, calling Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm an outstanding hire by Purdue over the offseason.
“He exudes exactly what you need,” Fitzgerald said. “He gets players to buy in.”
The opening quarter was scoreless, and reminiscent of Northwestern-Iowa as both teams combined for five punts and two failed fourth-down attempts.
Northwestern thought it found life in the second quarter with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown by Riley Lees.
That score, however, was brought back by an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Joe Gaziano who blocked a Purdue player out of bounds.
The Cats responded exceptionally to the potentially deflating call. Clayton Thorson capped a five-play drive with a one-yard tuck-and-run for a touchdown to put Northwestern up 7–0.
Purdue threatened late in the first half after a fake punt pass to long snapper Ben Makowski got the Boilermakers to the NU 25-yard line.
Cats’ cornerback Montre Hartage was also ejected for targeting on the play, adding insult to injury.
However, the Boilermakers were halted at the NU 4 yard-line, as they turned it over on downs. Northwestern went 96-yards in the next seven plays to go up 14–0 at halftime on an 11-yard touchdown catch by Bennett Skowronek.
“It was an outstanding flip of momentum,” Fitzgerald said.
Thorson methodically picked apart Purdue at the start of the second half as well, as the Wildcats first two second half drives ended in field goals.
The Cats would add one more field goal, and stop Purdue on three fourth-down attempts with two or less yards to go.
“It just looked like we controlled the line of scrimmage on those plays,” Fitzgerald said.
“You just have to make those stops,” defensive lineman Jordan Thompson said. “They score, and we lose.”
Purdue got on the board late in the third and fourth quarter with touchdown tosses to Jarrett Burgess and Anthony Mahoungou.
But, Northwestern’s defense stalled four of Purdue’s six second half drives, and put the game away with the late pick.
Cats’ star running back Justin Jackson was held to 46 yards on 25 attempts, but Thorson gave the offense life with 296 passing yards and two total touchdowns.
