[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Northwestern Wildcats (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday after two consecutive brutal losses to Big Ten rivals Michigan and Iowa hoping to avenge those losses as well the Hail Mary that the Cornhuskers won on the last time the Wildcats visited Memorial Stadium.
Wildcat freshman signal caller Clayton Thorson tossed a fourth quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Dan Vitale and kicker Jack Mitchell’s late field goal helped seal the 30-28 victory against Nebraska. (3-5, 1-3)
“It’s tough being shut out and then losing by 30. It weighs on you,” Thorson stated after the game. “We came together on Monday morning and said we’re not letting this happen, we’re not letting down.”
Thorson completed 13 of his 28 passes for 177 yards in the air and the one touchdown. Thorson also ran for a career high 126 yards on 9 carries and one rushing TD. Breaking off runs of 68 and 49 yards. Running back Justin Jackson added 40 yards on the ground on 14 carries. Vitale snagged 5 catches on the day for 55 yards and the one TD and Jackson tallied 55 yards on 2 grabs from Thorson.
The Wildcat defense came up big as Nick VanHoose had a 72 yard pick six versus the Cornhusker offense. Anthony Walker tallied 13 tackles and Dean Lowery had 10, including a school record six for losses and dropped the Cornhusker QB twice for sacks. The defense held the Huskers to a season low 82 yards on the ground.
“We stuck together and found a way to make some plays in the first half and make it a game,” Fitzgerald said. “Great team win, huge team win to get us over the hump.”
The 6th victory of the season for coach Pat Fitzgerald and his Wildcat squad makes them bowl eligible for the first time since 2012.
