Northwestern looks to extend win streak in Nevada
BY NICK CHURCHILL
September 20, 2006 | 9:48 AM
The Northwestern University football team is going to Vegas, baby.
Ok, they're playing Nevada and the game is in Reno, so the stakes are a little lower. But after an embarrassing loss at the hands of Division 1-AA New Hampshire two weeks ago, and after barely skating by Eastern Michigan last Saturday, the Wildcats are in dire need of a statement win. For this team, a big win over Nevada would be a statement.
Nevada (1-2) is coming off their first ever victory over Colorado State, a team who had beaten them 7 times in a row. Nevada features double threat quarterback Jeff Rowe, who passed for 210 yards and ran for 65 more in last week's game. Rowe completed a ridiculous 19 of 22 passes (86%) and also threw for two touchdowns of 39 and 11 yards, respectively. Nevada had the game won at halftime, and it ended in a rout, 28-10.
For the (2-1) Wildcats, the challenge will be to make Rowe one dimensional. NU made Eastern Michigan zero dimensional last weekend, holding them to 47 yards passing and 87 yards rushing. If Rowe is on his game, expect Mike Kafka or Andrew Brewer to begin airing it out early, to try and take advantage of a Nevada secondary relatively inexperienced against the spread offense. Brewer replaced Kafka after a sub par first half last week, and keyed a 72 yard NU scoring drive, scoring on a 1 yard run.
But Northwestern's key, as always, is sophomore stud Tyrell Sutton. The tailback rushed for 91 yards last weekend. Sutton will be expected to carry the load on the road this week, as he did all last year and has done in all 3 games so far this year. One of the Big Ten's finest young backs, Sutton is this year's horse, the one player who it seems can always be held accountable. He will be looking for a big day against the Wolfpack.
Ok, they're playing Nevada and the game is in Reno, so the stakes are a little lower. But after an embarrassing loss at the hands of Division 1-AA New Hampshire two weeks ago, and after barely skating by Eastern Michigan last Saturday, the Wildcats are in dire need of a statement win. For this team, a big win over Nevada would be a statement.
Nevada (1-2) is coming off their first ever victory over Colorado State, a team who had beaten them 7 times in a row. Nevada features double threat quarterback Jeff Rowe, who passed for 210 yards and ran for 65 more in last week's game. Rowe completed a ridiculous 19 of 22 passes (86%) and also threw for two touchdowns of 39 and 11 yards, respectively. Nevada had the game won at halftime, and it ended in a rout, 28-10.
For the (2-1) Wildcats, the challenge will be to make Rowe one dimensional. NU made Eastern Michigan zero dimensional last weekend, holding them to 47 yards passing and 87 yards rushing. If Rowe is on his game, expect Mike Kafka or Andrew Brewer to begin airing it out early, to try and take advantage of a Nevada secondary relatively inexperienced against the spread offense. Brewer replaced Kafka after a sub par first half last week, and keyed a 72 yard NU scoring drive, scoring on a 1 yard run.
But Northwestern's key, as always, is sophomore stud Tyrell Sutton. The tailback rushed for 91 yards last weekend. Sutton will be expected to carry the load on the road this week, as he did all last year and has done in all 3 games so far this year. One of the Big Ten's finest young backs, Sutton is this year's horse, the one player who it seems can always be held accountable. He will be looking for a big day against the Wolfpack.
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