NU left feeling blue
There are lots of reasons Northwestern owns just one 3-0 start in the last 45 seasons.
Many of them haunted the Wildcats in a stunning 20-14 loss to Duke on Saturday night at Ryan Field, which enabled the Blue Devils to snap a national-worst 22-game losing streak.
Endless penalties.
Multiple turnovers.
A remarkable decision by NU coach Pat Fitzgerald to take a field goal off the board late in the first half.
A startling willingness by the Wildcats' defense to turn a struggling quarterback into a Heisman Trophy candidate.
And yet, even without injured running back Tyrell Sutton (ankle), all of those reasons still were nearly swept aside in the waning seconds by another boggling Northwestern comeback.
Taking over at their own 35 with 1:17 to go, the Wildcats needed just 4 plays to set up a first-and-goal at Duke's 7-yard line.
But quarterback C.J. Bacher couldn't connect on 4 passes into the end zone -- 2 of which inspired cries for pass interference from many of the 23,716 in attendance -- and the Blue Devils celebrated their triumphant stand by racing around deliriously on Northwestern's grass.
Duke sophomore Thaddeus Lewis, who entered the night outside of the nation's top 100 quarterbacks in pass efficiency, completed 17 of his first 18 passes for 235 yards to stake the Blue Devils to a 20-7 halftime lead that somehow held up.
"It is an adrenaline rush," said Lewis, who had never won a college game. "You come out here and you play hard and your defense plays hard for four quarters, so to see the clock go to 0:00 and you are the winners is a great feeling."
Meanwhile, the Wildcats left feeling rotten, and they must renew themselves quickly since they open the Big Ten slate next Saturday at No. 10 Ohio State.
Somehow Northwestern (2-1) had just 2 touchdowns to show for its 506 yards of total offense, which included Bacher's career-high 368 passing yards.
"Number one, we did not finish drives," Fitzgerald said. "Number two, self-inflicted wounds. That's on us. We have to play more disciplined, focused, and we need to play smart football. We did not play smart football."
As the Blue Devils (1-2) scored touchdowns on three straight drives, Lewis drilled holes in NU's man coverage as the visitors converted 4 of 5 third downs and their lone fourth-down try.
After Lewis' third touchdown strike gave Duke a 20-7 lead with 6:16 left in the first half, Northwestern put itself into position to cut the margin to 20-10 by the break.
Amado Villarreal booted a 34-yard field goal with just less than two minutes to go, but Duke was flagged for being offside and Fitzgerald opted to take the points off the board to set up a fourth-and-3 at Duke's 11.
"I asked the offensive staff, 'We've got points. Do you have a play for me to get the first down?' " Fitzgerald said. "And (offensive coordinator) Garrick (McGee) didn't hesitate. He said, 'I've got a play for you.' And I said, 'Let's go. Let's go for it.'
"I believe in our offense. I believe in the playcalling, and I believe in the guys going out and executing."
But Bacher's short pass to backup running Omar Conteh near the sideline was broken up on a big hit by cornerback Glenn Williams.