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Thorson's late TDs lift Northwestern over Nevada 31-20
EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Clayton Thorson knew Northwestern's 31-20 comeback victory over Nevada wasn't all his own doing.
But for a moment, the junior who threw for two touchdowns and ran for two critical fourth-quarter scores in the season opener for both teams couldn't help but bask in the spotlight.
''I love it,'' Thorson said. ''Everyone else does all the work, and I punch it in.''
His two 1-yard plunges, the first for a 24-20 lead and the second for insurance, made the difference on the scoreboard. His leadership may have made more of a difference in the second half.
When receiver Bennett Skowronek fumbled after taking the ball deep into Wolf Pack territory in the second quarter, it was Thorson who told him to let it go.
''I was able to refocus after that,'' said Skowronek, who had six of his eight receptions in the second half, including two catches worth 41 yards on Northwestern's go-ahead drive.
For Thorson, a 352-yard passing day is just another routine outing. For Northwestern, Thorson's 237-yard second half was what was needed to overcome a Nevada defense playing for the first time under head coach Jay Norvell.
''We expected to have to adjust,'' Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said.
One adjustment came on Thorson's first 1-yard scoring play. After stacking the line of scrimmage with linebackers on previous plays, the Wolf Pack allowed a gap, and Thorson exploited it, following the block of right guard Tommy Doles.
''They had a lot of guys in different areas,'' Fitzgerald said.
It was the final play in a 75-yard drive that finished off a comeback from a 17-7 deficit. Nevada built its lead on a pair of Ty Gangi touchdown passes and Spencer Pettit's 31-yard field goal late in the first half, then lost it almost as quickly on Charlie Kuhbander's 23-yard field goal and Thorson's 19-yard game-tying TD pass to Riley Lee.
''There's no consolation,'' Norvell said. ''We really came here to win the game. That was our goal; to come here to win the game. We tried to show the players how we could win the game all the way through training camp.''
Nevada's defense kept it close until it began to show the strain of being the field for 38 minutes. The Wildcats wore the Wolf Pack out.
''They kept battling, kept fighting, making Northwestern work and that was incredibly encouraging,'' Norvell said.
Gangi couldn't get the one interception he threw out of his mind.
''I had some throws I wish I could have taken back; decisions I wish I could have taken back,'' said Gangi. ''We came to win. We just didn't come out on top.''
''To get to the locker room down two (scores) and go back in up two shows a lot of resiliency,'' Fitzgerald said. ''But we've got a ton of work to do.''
TAKEAWAYS
Nevada: The Wolf Pack showed plenty in Norvell's first game as head coach, for three quarters. But Nevada allowed 152 yards and two touchdowns in the final quarter, and that was the difference.
Northwestern: Thorson's 163.6 quarterback rating may not hold up all year, but it signified why coach Pat Fitzgerald has faith in the junior. That, and the 18 wins he's piled up in two-plus seasons.
KEY NUMBERS
Nevada: Gangi, having won a preseason battle with Alabama transfer David Cornwell for the start, threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns. That was enough for Norvell to say he'd start next week against Toledo.
Northwestern: Justin Jackson ran for 109 yards on 30 carries, part of the reason the Wildcats controlled the clock so thoroughly. He moved into 15th on the Big Ten's all-time rushing list with 4,238 career yards.
INJURY REPORT
Nevada receiver Kaleb Fossum suffered a dislocated kneecap, and had it popped it back into place before leaving the field on a cart in the third quarter. He did not return.
UP NEXT
Nevada: The Wolf Pack return home to host MAC foe Toledo next week.
Northwestern: The Wildcats travel to Duke for a rematch of last year's 24-13 Northwestern win.
LAST WORD
''He had a good start to the year, but I'm not going to compare him to a Biletnikoff finalist; give me 12 weeks,'' Fitzgerald said when asked about receiver Bennett Skowronek's eight-catch day.
Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
T. GangiĀ
6 QB
|
T. Gangi | 16/37 | 199 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. CornwellĀ
12 QB
|
D. Cornwell | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. KincaideĀ
5 RB
|
J. Kincaide | 15 | 86 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. MooreĀ
23 RB
|
K. Moore | 5 | 40 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. GangiĀ
6 QB
|
T. Gangi | 4 | 16 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. MannixĀ
1 WR
|
M. Mannix | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. DahnĀ
10 QB
|
G. Dahn | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. MannixĀ
1 WR
|
M. Mannix | 0 | 2 | 76 | 1 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
W. DempsĀ
19 WR
|
W. Demps | 0 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. FossumĀ
7 WR
|
K. Fossum | 0 | 4 | 36 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. ScottĀ
88 TE
|
B. Scott | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. KincaideĀ
5 RB
|
J. Kincaide | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. MooreĀ
23 RB
|
K. Moore | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. O'Leary-OrangeĀ
17 WR
|
B. O'Leary-Orange | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. JohnsonĀ
19 DB
|
D. Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. ArmstrongĀ
15 WR
|
T. Armstrong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. BrentĀ
9 WR
|
J. Brent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
A. PaulhusĀ
50 LB
|
A. Paulhus | 11-4 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. ReedĀ
90 DE
|
M. Reed | 8-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. BaberĀ
5 DB
|
D. Baber | 8-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. SewellĀ
7 LB
|
G. Sewell | 6-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. SilvaĀ
93 DE
|
J. Silva | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. RufusĀ
2 DB
|
A. Rufus | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. MuhammadĀ
3 DB
|
A. Muhammad | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. MuhammadĀ
4 DB
|
E. Muhammad | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. MoodyĀ
18 DB
|
E. Moody | 3-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. WilsonĀ
34 LB
|
T. Wilson | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. AdamsĀ
52 LB
|
K. Adams | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. SawyerĀ
8 DB
|
J. Sawyer | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. SekonaĀ
96 DT
|
H. Sekona | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. CrumbieĀ
1 DB
|
V. Crumbie | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McDadeĀ
78 DT
|
J. McDade | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. HallĀ
30 LB
|
L. Hall | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. BrownĀ
25 DB
|
D. Brown | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. ChoudjaĀ
95 DE
|
P. Choudja | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. WeberĀ
24 LB
|
L. Weber | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. GreggĀ
92 DL
|
N. Gregg | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. RushĀ
99 DT
|
K. Rush | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
S. PettitĀ
48 K
|
S. Pettit | 2/2 | 41 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Q. ConawayĀ
35 P
|
Q. Conaway | 3 | 38.0 | 1 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. GangiĀ
6 QB
|
T. Gangi | 2 | 30.5 | 1 | 44 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
V. CrumbieĀ
1 DB
|
V. Crumbie | 2 | 27.0 | 35 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. FossumĀ
7 WR
|
K. Fossum | 2 | 18.0 | 24 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. FossumĀ 7 WR
|
K. Fossum | 2 | 9.0 | 13 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
C. ThorsonĀ
18 QB
|
C. Thorson | 28/38 | 352 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. JacksonĀ
21 RB
|
J. Jackson | 30 | 109 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. LarkinĀ
28 RB
|
J. Larkin | 6 | 16 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. RobertsĀ
6 WR
|
J. Roberts | 2 | 16 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. ThorsonĀ
18 QB
|
C. Thorson | 7 | 14 | 1 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Moten IVĀ
20 RB
|
J. Moten IV | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
B. SkowronekĀ
88 WR
|
B. Skowronek | 0 | 8 | 123 | 0 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. WilsonĀ
15 WR
|
M. Wilson | 0 | 3 | 77 | 1 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. JacksonĀ
21 RB
|
J. Jackson | 0 | 5 | 42 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. LeesĀ
19 WR
|
R. Lees | 0 | 2 | 35 | 1 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F. NagelĀ
2 WR
|
F. Nagel | 0 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. DickersonĀ
9 RB
|
G. Dickerson | 0 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. McGowanĀ
86 WR
|
K. McGowan | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. GreenĀ
84 RB
|
C. Green | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ja. BrownĀ
17 WR
|
Ja. Brown | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
N. HallĀ
32 LB
|
N. Hall | 6-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McGeeĀ
41 S
|
J. McGee | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. WalshĀ
10 LB
|
B. Walsh | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. MillerĀ
91 DL
|
S. Miller | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. FisherĀ
42 LB
|
P. Fisher | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. QueiroĀ
21 S
|
K. Queiro | 3-3 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. McShepardĀ
7 DB
|
M. McShepard | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. LancasterĀ
1 DL
|
T. Lancaster | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. IgwebuikeĀ
16 S
|
G. Igwebuike | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. HartageĀ
24 CB
|
M. Hartage | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. OxleyĀ
75 DL
|
B. Oxley | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. MillerĀ
95 DL
|
A. Miller | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. KuhbanderĀ
14 K
|
C. Kuhbander | 1/2 | 23 | 4/4 | 7 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
H. NiswanderĀ
96 P
|
H. Niswander | 3 | 47.7 | 0 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Moten IVĀ
20 RB
|
J. Moten IV | 3 | 16.3 | 19 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |