NU's Lane wants the ball, especially when payoff is points

Ross Lane played it cool after Wednesday's practice, saying field position never impacts his approach to catching passes.

But whenever Northwestern huddles near an opponent's goal line, Lane can't curb his enthusiasm. It's a dead giveaway.

"He's looking at me; he wants the ball," Wildcats quarterback C.J. Bacher said. "I see it in his eyes."

The Bacher-Lane link has proven invaluable for Northwestern this season. Lane has caught 6 touchdown passes -- no other NU receiver has more than 2 -- and ranks second behind Eric Peterman in receptions (33) and yards (418).

Few wide receivers in the country have made more pressure-packed catches than Lane, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior from Fort Myers, Fla.

His big catches include:

• A 13-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left against Nevada to clinch a 36-31 come-from-behind victory Sept. 8.

• Two third-down touchdown grabs against Michigan State on Oct. 6. On one score, a keyed-up Lane called out Bacher's name before receiving the ball.

• An 8-yard scoring grab late in the third quarter against Minnesota to ignite Saturday's comeback.

• A 10-yard catch on fourth-and-4 with NU trailing Minnesota 42-35 in the first overtime. Two plays later, Lane squeezed a 5-yard touchdown pass.

"I really like going after the ball down there," Lane acknowledged. "I've had luck by being the person that he (Bacher) came to a lot."

The lanky Floridian then let his inner Chad Johnson slip out.

"If it works," he said, "I'd keep going for it."

Bacher will comply, especially if Lane continues to find gaps in the most congested area of the field. It has been that way since Lane's freshman year, when he caught a game-winning score against Iowa.

Several factors contribute to Lane's red-zone effectiveness. His size is a novelty for an NU team that usually features smaller receivers.

"He's just a playmaker," Bacher said. "It's nice to have a receiver that you can throw it to and know that either he's going to get it or it's going to be an incompletion."

Lane's route running and awareness of space also helps him stand out.

"He understands conceptually what teams are trying to do to us down there," NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said. "He does a great job of using the field to his advantage, even though there's a shortened distance."

Added Lane: "I love it because there's a little bit of space and you're open right away. (Defensive backs) can't catch up to you."

Lane is used to doing his best work in confined areas. He played goalie for his high school soccer team and helped Bishop Verot reach the 2004 state title game.

Heavy recruiting interest and the prospect of a full scholarship made football an obvious choice for Lane, who was named Varsity 2A Player of the Year in Florida. But his soccer experience still helps him as a wideout.

"Adjusting to the ball is my main thing," Lane said. "Being able to get your feet set and see the ball flight."

Lane's ability to track the fourth-and-4 pass against Minnesota saved NU from an overtime loss. He was the second option on the play but improvised to find an open spot.

"You've got to just get open, get the yards you need and kind of throw all the technique out the window," Lane said. "You might get yelled at, you might get praised.

"I was just hoping he was looking for me."