Northwestern overcame a slow start on Friday in Detroit as the Wildcats won the GameAbove Sports Bowl, 34-7, over Central Michigan.
Transfer wideout Griffin Wilde was named bowl MVP after 10 catches for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Quarterback Preston Stone finished his collegiate career with 226 yards and three scores through the air, going 19-of-31.
The first quarter was a real dud for both teams.
On the opening drive, Northwestern failed to convert on 4th-and-1 but held firm to prevent a 43-yard field goal attempt by CMU’s Cade Graham. Both sides were held scoreless through the first quarter, with the Chippewas outgaining the Wildcats with 34 total yards of offense to 23.
A seven yard pass from Stone to Wilde with 1:13 left in the first gave Northwestern its first first down of the game.
The second quarter remained much the same until a Braden Turner interception changed the tides for Northwestern.
Taking over at the CMU 29-yard line, the Wildcats moved six yards before, on 3rd-and-4, Stone found Wilde from 23 yards out for the first score of the game.
On CMU’s next drive, Joe Labas was strip sacked by Aidan Hubbard allowing Carmine Bastone to recover the loose ball inside the redzone.
Northwestern capitalized on that turnover also as Caleb Komolafe and the Wildcats channeled the Detroit Lions on 4th-and-2 at the CMU 2-yard line to go up 14-0.
Labas then fumbled the snap, turning the ball back over to the Wildcats at their own 23-yard line. Northwestern wasted no time as Stone found a wide-open Lawson Albright in the endzone to make it a quick 21-0 with 3:31 left in the first half.
Northwestern went into the half up, 21-0.
The Chippewas’ first drive of the second half saw quarterback Angel Flores come in on 3rd-and-1 to run it up the middle, but a hit by Mac Uihlein caused him to fumble, allowing Turner to grab it and return the ball for 47 yards. Jack Olsen missed the pint after as the Wildcats went up, 27-0.
Northwestern’s first touchdown that didn’t stem from a turnover happened late in the third, when a defensive pass interference call moved the Wildcats to the CMU 11-yard line. Despite a CMU holding penalty, Stone connected with Wilde to go up, 34-0.
Central Michigan found the endzone late, when Labas connected with Brock Townsend from three yards out to score..
With the win, Northwestern head coach David Braun wins his second bowl game in three years at the helm and making it six-straight bowl wins for the Wildcats
The win gives the Wildcats a final record of 7-6 on the year, while the Chippewas fall to 7-6.
