Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Northwestern Wildcats Match Player Stats On Sep 24, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 24, 2016

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw for one touchdown and set up two others as No. 20 Nebraska opened Big Ten play with a 24-13 victory at Northwestern on Saturday night.

The Cornhuskers (1-0, 4-0) had their lowest point production of the season, but still piled up 556 yards to the Wildcats' 388.

Armstrong was 18-of-29 for 246 yards and also rushed 13 times for a game-high 132 yards.

Quarterback Clayton Thorson scored on a 42-yard run and combined with Austin Carr on a 24-yard touchdown pass for the Wildcats (0-1, 1-3). Running back Justin Jackson rushed for 84 yards on 20 carries while Carr had a career-high eight catches for 109 yards.

Thorson was 24-of-37 for 249 yards. He was sacked three times and intercepted with 1:23 left in regulation as Nebraska secured the win.

Nebraska built on a 10-7 halftime lead in its first drive of the second half. Armstrong set up a score with a 35-yard completion to Brandon Reilly at the Northwestern eight, and three plays later found Cethan Carter on a four-year TD pass.

Northwestern replied with a the Thorson to Carr touchdown strike but missed on the extra point as the Cornhuskers maintained a 17-13 lead with 7:29 showing. Less than four minutes later Jordan Westerkamp's 10-yard sweep helped Nebraska to a 24-13 lead.

The Cornhuskers piled up plenty of yardage -- 285 net yards -- in the opening half but twice turned the ball over inside the Northwestern 1 before finally hitting pay dirt late.

Running back Terrell Newby sprinted 49 yards on the opening drive and seemed destined for the game's first score. But Newby fumbled into the end zone and the ball bounced out of bounds to give Northwestern possession.

On their second drive, the Wildcats stalled inside the Cornhusker 10 and kicker Jack Mitchell missed a field goal try from the 27.

Nebraska opened the second quarter with a 27-yard pass from Armstrong to Carter to the Northwestern eight, but stalled and settled for a 23-yard Drew Brown field goal and a 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats took a 7-3 lead with 9:09 left in the half on Thorson's 42-yard run and his first rushing TD of the season.

The Cornhuskers were camped at the Wildcat two with 3:24 to play in the second quarter after Armstrong's 37-yard sideline dash. But Devine Ozigbo fumbled at the one and Northwestern safety Godwin Igwebuike recovered in the end zone for the touchback.

Northwestern went four and out, giving Nebraska another shot and this time the Cornhuskers succeeded. Nebraska knocked on the on the door after a 59-yard pass from Armstrong to Alonzo Moore. One play later, Newby rushed four yards for the Cornhuskers' first touchdown and a 10-7 lead.

NOTES: Nebraska opened its sixth Big Ten season with a perfect (3-0) non-conference record for the second time in three years. ... Four of the last five meetings between the Cornhuskers and Wildcats have been decided by three or fewer points coming into Saturday. ... Nebraska scored 30 or more points in eight games last year. Through three games this season Nebraska was ranked 17th nationally, averaging 43.3 points per game. ... Northwestern RB Justin Jackson moved into third place on the school's all-time rushing list but he still has a long way to go to catch No. 2 Darnell Autry (1994-96) and his 3,793 yards. ... LB Jaylen Prater entered Saturday atop the Big ten with 30 total tackles. ... Northwestern travels to Iowa next week while Nebraska hosts Illinois.