Colter takes blame for Northwestern’s loss
WEST POINT, N.Y. — It might be another quarter-century before Northwestern wants to visit Michie Stadium again.
With Heisman hopeful quarterback Dan Persa confined to the sidelines with a nagging Achilles tendon injury, Northwestern struggled to convert crucial third-down plays as Army (1-2) topped the Wildcats 21-14 Saturday.
The defeat broke a streak of seven straight regular-season nonconference victories for Northwestern (2-1), part of a larger 14-1 stretch.
Backup QB Kain Colter got the start but was pulled in the fourth quarter in favor of Trevor Siemian. Colter finished with 89 yards on 12-of-23 passing, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Ebert late in the first half to tie the game at 7-7.
That proved to be Northwestern’s last points for nearly two full quarters until Siemian (105 yards) connected with Ebert for a 62-yard strike to tie it at 14-14 with 6:03 to go in the fourth.
“I 100 percent feel like it was my fault,” said Colter, who added a team-high 57 rushing yards. “I didn’t put points on the board, didn’t help my team out, and I take the blame for that. I just had a terrible game and let my team down.”
The Wildcats were 3 of 12 on third downs and had possession for 19:41.
“We had to be in hurry-up offense all the time,” Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We had to step out and do something completely different than we usually do.”
Northwestern, whistled for 7 penalties for 60 yards, also fell 23-7 in 1988, Army’s last Big Ten home opponent.
The Wildcats had a chance to tie, and Siemian hit Ebert for 18 yards into Army territory. But the Army defense forced an incompletion of fourth down with 66 seconds left.
Ebert also had a 14-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter from Colter.
Persa warmed up before the game and had a headset on during the action. He’s expected to return Oct. 1 when Northwestern opens Big Ten action against Illinois.
Army finished with 381 yards rushing on 75 carries to Northwestern’s 115 yards on 27 tries. The teams entered the game ranked 1-2 nationally in total number of rushes.