OFFENSIVE STARTERS POS
No.
Name
Career Start
QB
#18
Clayton Thorson
31
RB
#21
Justin Jackson
36
SB
#9
Garrett Dickerson
18
WR
#15
Macan Wilson
3
WR
#2
Flynn Nagel
15
WR
#88
Bennett Skowronek
3
LT
#72
Blake Hance
27
LG
#59
J.B. Butler
10
C
#69
Brad North
22
RG
#71
Tommy Doles
18
RT
#64
Andrew Otterman
1
Offense Game Notes Senior running back Justin Jackson passed Tyrell Sutton (200508; 5,138) for 2nd on Northwestern’s career allpurpose yards list. The alltime leader is Damien Anderson (199801; 5,271). Jackson set the NU career record for allpurpose plays, passing Damien Anderson (199801; 1,022), and ending the day with 1,032. Junior quarterback Clayton Thorson passed Mike Greenfield (198487; 5,803) for 6th place on Northwestern’s alltime passing yards list. Thorson then took over 5th place from Zak Kustok (199901; 5,822). Next up for Thorson in 4th place is Trevor Siemian (201114; 5,931). With 94 more yards, Thorson will become the fourth Wildcat signalcaller to throw for more than 6,000 yards in a career. Thorson’s 540 career completions now rank fifth alltime among NU quarterbacks, passing Sandy Schwab, who completed 533 from 1982 to ’85. Senior quarterback Matt Alviti scored his second career rushing touchdown. First year WR Jace James caught his first career pass today for 25 yards. Northwestern has rushed for at least one touchdown in eight of the last nine contests.
DEFENSIVE STARTERS POS
No.
Name
Career Start
DE
#97
Joe Gaziano
5
DT
#67
Tyler Lancaster
31
DT
#99
Jordan Thompson
16
DE
#91
Samdup Miller
5
WLB
#10
Brett Walsh
10
MLB
#42
Paddy Fisher
5
SLB
#32
Nate Hall
18
CB
#29
Trae Williams
12
S
#21
Kyle Queiro
17
S
#16
Godwin Igwebuike
36
CB
#24
Montre Hartage
17
Defensive Game Notes, Special Teams Game Notes, Team Game Notes and Career Highs are on the second page. FOOTBALL GAME NOTES: NORTHWESTERN vs. Penn State (Oct. 7, 2017 | Ryan Field)
Defensive/Special Teams Notes ● Northwestern has not allowed a point on the opponent’s opening drive through five games this season. The team has not allowed a touchdown on the opponent’s opening drive for seven straight games, with the last opening drive touchdown coming from Minnesota on Nov. 19, 2016. ● Northwestern is the 2nd team this year to hold Penn State without a touchdown in the opening quarter. Iowa also did on Sept. 23. ● The Wildcats held Penn State to 1 rushing yards in the first half, the first time NU has held an opponent to negative rushing yards in the first half since limiting Wisconsin to 19 yards on Nov. 21, 2015. ● Sophomore defensive tackle Alex Miller recorded the 1st sack of his career, a 6yard sack of Trace McSorley in the 3rd quarter. ● Of sophomore defensive end Joe Gaziano’s 7.5 career sacks, seven have come in Big Ten play. ● Northwestern recorded five sacks, the most since sacking Iowa six times on Oct. 1, 2016. ● Northwestern held the Big Ten’s No. 2 offensive attack to 381 yards total offense. PSU had been averaging 471.2 yards per game. Career Highs ● Samdup Miller Tackles for Loss (1.5) ● Paddy Fisher Tackles for Loss (1.5) ● Alex Miller Sacks (1.0) ● Nate Hall Solo tackles (8), TFL (2.0), sacks (1.0) ● Macan Wilson Receptions (4, ties career high) ● Matt Alviti Completions (4), pass attempts (7) ● Jace James Receptions (1), receiving yards (25) Team Notes ● Penn State selected heads and lost the toss. Northwestern deferred to the 2nd half, and Penn State chose to defend the north endzone. ● Attendance: 41,061
FOOTBALL GAME NOTES: NORTHWESTERN vs. Penn State (Oct. 7, 2017 | Ryan Field)