Crazy finish.
NU capitalizes on its final red zone trip, ending on a three-yard TD pass from Bacher to Lane. Lane lined up in the slot, found a soft spot in the zone and just camped out there waiting for Bacher's pass. Great pass, great catch.
NU's defense makes a stand to save the game moments later, as David Ngene sacked Lewis in the backfield. Lewis tried to spike the ball to save the down, but it bounces away. Adam Kadela makes a balla play on Senior Day, pouncing on the loose ball to preserve the win.
NU is bowl eligible.
Final score: NU 31, IU 28
Peace out.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The Final Countdown
NU leads a nice drive with some rushes by Sutton and key passes by Bacher, including an 18-yard pass to Sutton and a 15-yarder to Lane.
Second and 7 from the 8
Second and 7 from the 8
TD - IU
IU makes the most of Bacher's INT, marching 80 yards for a touchdown.
Great play by the Hoosiers on 3rd-and-goal from the 5. Hardy is in single coverage on the left side by Sherick McManis. Hardy fakes the fade pattern which everyone in the building - including, um, me - saw coming. He jukes inside and is wide open for a 5-yard TD strike to give the Hoosiers a 28-24 lead.
McManis returns the kickoff to the 27.
NU is down 4 with 5:25 left. The game and the season are on the line. We'll see what happens....
Great play by the Hoosiers on 3rd-and-goal from the 5. Hardy is in single coverage on the left side by Sherick McManis. Hardy fakes the fade pattern which everyone in the building - including, um, me - saw coming. He jukes inside and is wide open for a 5-yard TD strike to give the Hoosiers a 28-24 lead.
McManis returns the kickoff to the 27.
NU is down 4 with 5:25 left. The game and the season are on the line. We'll see what happens....
Bacher picked off...again
On 3rd-and-goal from the 3, Bacher lobs a fade to Kim Thompson in the right deep corner of the end zone. IU's Tracy Porter saw it coming, leaps high and picks it off - Bacher's third INT of the game.
Bacher now has more INTs on the season (17) than touchdowns (16).
It's worth noting that NU is 5-0 when Bacher has one or fewer picks and 0-5 when he has more than one.
Bacher now has more INTs on the season (17) than touchdowns (16).
It's worth noting that NU is 5-0 when Bacher has one or fewer picks and 0-5 when he has more than one.
IU's pass offense makes it a game
So IU's 6-7 receiver James Hardy is, like, good, or something. He just scored on an 11-yard pass, breaking a tackle by Eddie Simpson and extending the ball over the goal line with his monster arms.
Indiana 21
Northwestern 24
Big play on the drive: Reggie McPherson got McBurned - again. On 3rd-and-12, Lewis scrambles in the pocket and avoids tackles by Rejaie Johnson and Ngene. He launches the ball down to Ray Fisher, who's covered all over by McPherson...but Fisher still leaps and makes the grab. 38-yard gain and a first down to set up Hardy's score.
And now we're through with three quarters at Ryan Field, and the Cats lead by three.
To review: @ Purdue: NU takes a 17-14 lead into the fourth...and loses.
Home against Iowa: NU takes a 17-14 lead into the fourth quarter...and loses.
And now with a three-point lead going into the fourth...your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea with this team.
Indiana 21
Northwestern 24
Big play on the drive: Reggie McPherson got McBurned - again. On 3rd-and-12, Lewis scrambles in the pocket and avoids tackles by Rejaie Johnson and Ngene. He launches the ball down to Ray Fisher, who's covered all over by McPherson...but Fisher still leaps and makes the grab. 38-yard gain and a first down to set up Hardy's score.
And now we're through with three quarters at Ryan Field, and the Cats lead by three.
To review: @ Purdue: NU takes a 17-14 lead into the fourth...and loses.
Home against Iowa: NU takes a 17-14 lead into the fourth quarter...and loses.
And now with a three-point lead going into the fourth...your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea with this team.
Wow.
Seriously. Wow.
On 3rd-and-5 from the IU 15, NU busts out some trickery. Bacher fakes a bubble screen pass to the left, then hands off to senior RB Brandon Roberson. Robes rushes right - and it becomes apparent that he's actually rolling out to pass.
Kim Thompson gets some separation from IU cornerback Tracy Porter. Robes lobs it over Porter, who tips it. Nonetheless, Thompson comes down with the ball in his stomach and falls to the ground in the end zone next to the right sideline. TD!
NU 24
Indiana 14
On 3rd-and-5 from the IU 15, NU busts out some trickery. Bacher fakes a bubble screen pass to the left, then hands off to senior RB Brandon Roberson. Robes rushes right - and it becomes apparent that he's actually rolling out to pass.
Kim Thompson gets some separation from IU cornerback Tracy Porter. Robes lobs it over Porter, who tips it. Nonetheless, Thompson comes down with the ball in his stomach and falls to the ground in the end zone next to the right sideline. TD!
NU 24
Indiana 14
Another dumb play by the Hoosiers
Nice defensive stand by the Cat - thanks to a couple botched plays by IU, including a dropped pass.
On the punt, NU's Eric Peterman calls for fair catch...but gets hit anyway. Tack on another 15 yards.
If NU somehow steals this win, you can think IU's play calling and stupid mistakes.
On the punt, NU's Eric Peterman calls for fair catch...but gets hit anyway. Tack on another 15 yards.
If NU somehow steals this win, you can think IU's play calling and stupid mistakes.
How are they winning?
Tyrell Sutton rushes in from 1 yard out for the go-ahead touchdown: 17-14, NU.
Key plays on the drive: On 3rd-and-long, Bacher finds Ross Lane over the middle, who made up for his interception earlier with a leaping 27-yard catch. Sutton came up with a key third down catch later in the drive on a short little out for six yards to set up 1st-and-goal.
IU's got the ball. Gotta run.
Key plays on the drive: On 3rd-and-long, Bacher finds Ross Lane over the middle, who made up for his interception earlier with a leaping 27-yard catch. Sutton came up with a key third down catch later in the drive on a short little out for six yards to set up 1st-and-goal.
IU's got the ball. Gotta run.
Lucky break for the Cats
NU got a really lucky break. On 3rd-and-15, IU QB Kellen Lewis launches a bomb to a streaking Ray Fisher over the middle...who burns NU safety Reggie McPherson for a 70-yard touchdown.
BUT.
After a nice challenge by coach Pat Fitzgerald, the refs find that Lewis crossed the line of scrimmage as he threw the ball. Illegal forward pass - 5-yard penalty and loss of down. Erase the score.
NU's still in it - down 14-10.
BUT.
After a nice challenge by coach Pat Fitzgerald, the refs find that Lewis crossed the line of scrimmage as he threw the ball. Illegal forward pass - 5-yard penalty and loss of down. Erase the score.
NU's still in it - down 14-10.
HALFTIME - IU 14, NU 10
NU makes some key defensive stops - Ngene with a sack on second down, John Gill with a batted down pass on third down - to force IU to punt from just into NU territory.
Bacher essentially takes a knee to end the first half, and NU is lucky to go into the locker room down 14-10.
IU will get the ball first to start the second half, and it'll be interesting to see what adjustments both teams make. The Cats have been so inconsistent this year in the fourth quarter - great performances against Nevada, Minnesota and Michigan State, but lousy showings against Michigan, Purdue and Iowa.
But with their season - and the seniors' careers - resting on their second-half performance today, how will NU respond?
Bacher essentially takes a knee to end the first half, and NU is lucky to go into the locker room down 14-10.
IU will get the ball first to start the second half, and it'll be interesting to see what adjustments both teams make. The Cats have been so inconsistent this year in the fourth quarter - great performances against Nevada, Minnesota and Michigan State, but lousy showings against Michigan, Purdue and Iowa.
But with their season - and the seniors' careers - resting on their second-half performance today, how will NU respond?
NU makes it close...with defense?!
NU's David Ngene creams IU QB Kellen Lewis on one play. Lewis leaves banged up.
Next play, IU's backup QB, Ben Chappell drops back on 3rd-and-6 looking for their monster receiver, 6-foot-7 James Hardy...but NU linebacker Eddie Simpson steps in front of the play, catches the ball and takes it back 41 yards for the touchdown.
Looks like we've got ourselves a ballgame...and who would have thought it'd be because of the defense?
Indiana 14
NU 10
Next play, IU's backup QB, Ben Chappell drops back on 3rd-and-6 looking for their monster receiver, 6-foot-7 James Hardy...but NU linebacker Eddie Simpson steps in front of the play, catches the ball and takes it back 41 yards for the touchdown.
Looks like we've got ourselves a ballgame...and who would have thought it'd be because of the defense?
Indiana 14
NU 10
NU's chances bounce off of Lane's thigh
Sigh.
On 3rd-and-6 from the Indiana 12, Bacher finds Ross Lane open in the end zone over the middle. Bacher makes a perfect throw to Lane, who grabs the ball with his hands and tries to reel it into his body. As he's in the air, he brings it down to his chest...and the ball hits his left thigh.
It bounces off of his quadricep and into IU safety Austin Thomas' chest. He catches the ball and takes a knee in the end zone for a touchback.
Four trips into IU territory. Three points.
On 3rd-and-6 from the Indiana 12, Bacher finds Ross Lane open in the end zone over the middle. Bacher makes a perfect throw to Lane, who grabs the ball with his hands and tries to reel it into his body. As he's in the air, he brings it down to his chest...and the ball hits his left thigh.
It bounces off of his quadricep and into IU safety Austin Thomas' chest. He catches the ball and takes a knee in the end zone for a touchback.
Four trips into IU territory. Three points.
IU strikes again
IU QB Kellen Lewis makes a great fake to RB Bryan Payton and scampers 14 yards down the left side for a touchdown. Indiana takes the lead, 14-3.
The Hoosiers looked great on that drive with a nice blend of passing and rushing. Could be a shootout....
...If NU could score. The Cats held the ball for more than 13 minutes in the first quarter and racked up 140+ yards, taking the ball into IU territory three times. They have three points, after Villarreal missed a 31-yard FG a minute into the second quarter. Three trips into the other side of the field. Three points.
Lots of yards, not lots of points. Sounds all-too familiar.
The Hoosiers looked great on that drive with a nice blend of passing and rushing. Could be a shootout....
...If NU could score. The Cats held the ball for more than 13 minutes in the first quarter and racked up 140+ yards, taking the ball into IU territory three times. They have three points, after Villarreal missed a 31-yard FG a minute into the second quarter. Three trips into the other side of the field. Three points.
Lots of yards, not lots of points. Sounds all-too familiar.
End of the first quarter
Indiana 7
Northwestern 3
Offense looks strong, and it doesn't seem like the Hoosiers can stop the Cats. Sutton has 43 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards, as NU has dominated the ball in the first half. Balanced offense - 13 rushes, 14 passes - something you rarely see with the Cats.
Too bad it doesn't matter - only 3 points on the first two trips into IU territory, and a botched special teams play still has the Hoosiers in the lead.
Defense came up with some nice pass defense and a little pressure on IU QB Kellen Lewis. But, as we've seen the past few weeks, it doesn't matter how NU starts the game - only how they finish.
Northwestern 3
Offense looks strong, and it doesn't seem like the Hoosiers can stop the Cats. Sutton has 43 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards, as NU has dominated the ball in the first half. Balanced offense - 13 rushes, 14 passes - something you rarely see with the Cats.
Too bad it doesn't matter - only 3 points on the first two trips into IU territory, and a botched special teams play still has the Hoosiers in the lead.
Defense came up with some nice pass defense and a little pressure on IU QB Kellen Lewis. But, as we've seen the past few weeks, it doesn't matter how NU starts the game - only how they finish.
Bacher picked off
On first down in Indiana territory, Bacher is picked off by Indiana's Tracy Porter. Bacher was looking for Kim Thompson on a post from the right side, and Thompson had a step on his cornerback. The throw was slightly behind the receiver, though, and Porter jumped in front and took the ball for a 13-yard return.
The Cats could be looking at a 14-3 deficit in a few minutes...
The Cats could be looking at a 14-3 deficit in a few minutes...
NU on the board first
Amado Villarreal just drilled a 29-yard FG to put NU on the board first, 3-0.
The Cats showed some decent balance on the drive - well, decent in NU terms. Four rushes, six passes and one botched snap by C.J. Bacher. A couple nice plays on the drive: Bacher found Ross Lane over the middle on 3rd-and-long for 19 and a first down. And again on 3rd-and-6 in IU territory, Bacher lobbed a pass over the defense to Sutton, who made a nice cutback and scampered for 20 yards.
Offense appears to be clicking, but stalled deep in IU territory after two rushes went nowhere Bacher's third down pass to Eric Peterman was a little long.
IU coming up with the ball for the first time.
And, as I was writing this, IU took the kickoff 91 yards for a TD. Yikes.
Indiana 7
Northwestern 3
The Cats showed some decent balance on the drive - well, decent in NU terms. Four rushes, six passes and one botched snap by C.J. Bacher. A couple nice plays on the drive: Bacher found Ross Lane over the middle on 3rd-and-long for 19 and a first down. And again on 3rd-and-6 in IU territory, Bacher lobbed a pass over the defense to Sutton, who made a nice cutback and scampered for 20 yards.
Offense appears to be clicking, but stalled deep in IU territory after two rushes went nowhere Bacher's third down pass to Eric Peterman was a little long.
IU coming up with the ball for the first time.
And, as I was writing this, IU took the kickoff 91 yards for a TD. Yikes.
Indiana 7
Northwestern 3
IU Predictions
Game just kicked off, and we're scrambling for some predictions:
Matt:
Indiana's passing offense rips holes in Northwestern's porous
secondary. Seinor Day can't carry the Cats, who are already mentally
shot from the last two weeks.
Indiana 42, NU 28
Chris: Indiana 31-28
Abe: 28-27, Indiana
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