All season long, David Braun has stressed that when the ground game is clicking, the attack through the air can follow.
The Northwestern coach was proven right on Saturday when the Wildcats amassed 515 yards of offense in a 42-7 drubbing of Louisiana-Monroe. And after both team’s opening drives, it seemed like everything just went right.
“Proud of the way that we executed on offense today for the most part,” Braun said Saturday following the victory at the Lakefront. “And then I think one thing that all of us within the program have to understand is we still have a lot of needed improvement.”
Northwestern recorded 246 yards on the ground with two scores against ULM and added 269 yards through the air — a season-high. The Wildcats have only surpassed 200-plus yards in either category once this season in a Sept. 5 game against FCS opponent Western Illinois. Against the Roughnecks, a game also won by a score of 42-7, the Wildcats tallied 281 rushing yards and 245 through the air.
With the exception of the opener at Tulane, Northwestern has amassed more yards on the ground than through the air, including outgaining Oregon, 178 yards to 176 rushing.
Ground game
Caleb Komolafe powered the Wildcats’ ground attack with 13 carries for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 39-yard run in the first drive of the second half.
Dashun Reeder outgained Komolafe with 79 yards on 11 carries, while quarterback Preston Stone added 49 yards on five carries himself. Seven players were credited with carries and only Komolafe suffered a loss of yardage with just four.
After veteran running back Cam Porter went down with an injury earlier in the season, Komolafe has stepped up in a big way with 76 carries for 344 yards and four touchdowns.
“I saw my read keys, what coach (Aristotle Thompson) has been talking about all week,” said Komolafe. “We drilled this in practice, and it was a good feeling. I’m glad I made the most of the opportunity. I left some out there earlier in the first half, so I wanted to make up for that.”
The increased workload hasn’t phased Komolafe.
“I’d say preparing like I’m ready to play out there at any moment is ultimately has me successful in this situation,” he said. “So, honestly, I’m not really phased by it. I’m just making the most of my opportunity.”
Air Attack
After struggling to find his rhythm to start the season, the bye week and back-to-back wins has Stone looking like the field general he was expected to be for Northwestern. Stone finished 20-of-31 for 262 yards and three scores against ULM, setting a season-high for the SMU transfer.
Komolafe called Stone a “dog” while Braun praised him for getting back on track.
“Truly understands the most valuable statistic any quarterback has is his win-loss record,” said Braun. “And when things were there in the passing game today, he took them. When things weren’t there, he used his feet to be efficient or extend plays.
“You know, I really think it comes down to him not pressing and feeling like he has to make the exceptional play, every play, you know. He doesn’t have to week in and week out be the reason that we win. There will be weeks that he is, but he doesn’t have to be the reason every week. He just needs to play winning football.”
For what felt like the first time this season, Stone didn’t rely as much on Griffin Wilde has he has in past games.
While Wilde leads Northwestern with 25 catches for 375 yards and two scores, he wasn’t the lead receiver against ULM. Instead, that honor went to Hayden Eligon II with three catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. Wilde did haul in three receptions for 64 yards and a score of his own, however it was Drew Wagner that caught the most passes from Stone with six for 63 yards and a score.
Ultimately, eight different players recorded at least one catch in the win. Braun has said everybody from players to staff would “love to see the ball spread around” more. Some of the reliance on Wilde has been because Eligon and Wagner had missed time in camp, missing valuable time to build chemistry with Stone.
“I think what we’re starting to see is as those guys have come back and started to create a certain level of rhythm and timing with Preston, there’s just a comfort level that continues to rise,” said Braun.
“It’s what we see out of them every day in practice. I’m excited for both those guys. I don’t want to understate how awesome it is to see those guys showing up. But seeing Hayden make the plays that he did today and show up, it’s not a surprise. Seeing Drew step up. I think Ricky (Ahumaraeze) had one catch today, but it was a big time catch. I see Frank Covey out there blocking his butt off. Chase Farrell’s getting in there mixing it up. We were pretty close to getting Chase in an explosive situation in the past game, but specifically Hayden and Drew. That’s what we see out of those guys every day in practice. But that’s the next step, right? It’s one thing to do it in practice, that’s the starting point, but that needs to show up on game day.”
Offensive Line
Stone broke off for a 30-yard run against ULM, something not seen much so far this year.
“I had a play call where I could either throw it quick or get downhill,” he said. “So, saw a lane, O-line did a great job locking it up and just do what I could.”
Ultimately, that was the story of the day: the offensive line did a great job blocking. Northwestern didn’t allow a single sack in the win and Komolafe was the only rusher tackled behind the line of scrimmage for just four yards lost.
Braun praised the offensive line’s play and crediting Caleb Tiernan and Jackson Carsello for helping the unit gel.
“What a collaborative opportunity for us to go work together,” Braun said. “And I think it starts with those two. I mean, what a lesson for our young people to see like two dudes just checking their ego at the door, going to work and putting the program’s best interest ahead of their own.”
Northwestern faces a tall task Saturday when they travel to Happy Valley to face a battered and bruised Penn State.
