Bacher comes up big again
It's hard to know where Northwestern would be without C.J. Bacher.
Below .500 is a good bet, and 1-6 isn't out of the question. Instead, the Wildcats could be heading to a bowl thanks to the weekly miracle workings of their junior quarterback.
Bacher followed last week's school-record, 520-yard passing performance at Michigan State with another gem in Saturday's overtime win against Minnesota. He set career highs in completions (41) and attempts (58), racking up 470 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions.
His two-week passing output is staggering: 79-for-106 (74.5 percent), 990 yards, 9 touchdowns and no interceptions. It marks the second-highest two-game passing total in Big Ten history behind Purdue quarterback Drew Brees, who had 1,016 yards against Minnesota and Wisconsin in 1998.
Bacher, who earned Big Ten and National Offensive Player of the Week awards last week, finished with the third-best passing total in NU history.
"There were a couple points in the game where I felt like there was no way we could be stopped," Bacher said, "no matter who was on the other side of the ball."
Wide receiver Eric Peterman has been the main beneficiary of Bacher's boom, setting career highs in receptions the last two games. Peterman followed last week's 9-catch, 141-yard effort with 12 receptions for 114 yards Saturday, hauling in the tying touchdown with eight seconds left in regulation.
After converting nine third downs of 6 yards or longer last week, Bacher made several gutsy throws, including an across-the-body bullet to Ross Lane on fourth-and-4 in the first overtime.
"He's matured a lot, and most importantly as a leader," Peterman said of Bacher. "That's what our offense is really thriving on right now. He's become a playmaker."
Emotional win: The victory was especially meaningful for Northwestern offensive coordinator Garrick McGee, who coached just three days after the death of his father, Larry. The younger McGee went home to Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday after Larry, the longtime football coach at Booker T. Washington High School, succumbed to cancer.
"I'm extremely proud of Garrick," head coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "It's been a real tough year for him and his family. A very emotional time."
McGee rejoined the team Friday and was acknowledged in the locker room after the game.
"I don't think words can describe how he was feeling," C.J. Bacher said. "He really called a great game today, so much adversity he's facing. We're proud of him, and he's proud of us."
Inches to go: Linebacker Eddie Simpson played for the first time since Sept. 8 after missing time with a leg injury. Simpson, who appeared mostly in the nickel package, tipped a pass that Corey Wootton intercepted in the fourth quarter. … Quarterback Adam Weber's 430 yards of total offense marked the second-highest total in Minnesota history. … NU has allowed only 1 sack the last two games after surrendering 9 the previous two weeks. … Wildcats linebacker Adam Kadela had a career-high 15 tackles.