NU gets a week to recover after rough trip to Stanford
Who knew a weekend escape to sunny California would turn into such a miserable experience?
Northwestern's 17-7 loss to Stanford last Saturday was a problem for so many reasons. There were injuries to key players, bad penalties, underwhelming performances and ultimately, it was a game they could have easily won.
The injuries were especially rough. Leading rusher Isaiah Bowser left with a knee injury and quarterback T.J. Green may have suffered a career-ending setback.
Green replaced an ineffective Hunter Johnson and led the Wildcats to the 5-yard line on the opening drive of the third quarter. On second down, Green ducked a charging pass rusher and ended up taking a knee to the side of the helmet. As a result of the hit, Green lost the ball and appeared unable to brace himself for the ensuing tackle. After the game, NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said the fifth-year senior was at the hospital and would need surgery for a foot injury.
"I called him right after I found out. We were in tears," receiver Bennett Skowronek said after the game, according to insidenu.com. "I know how hard he worked to get where he was. My heart breaks for him, how hard he's worked and everything he's done. I know he's going to fight through this and come back. That's all really. I'm heartbroken."
The Wildcats are off this week before hosting UNLV Sept. 14 and Fitzgerald didn't have his usual Monday news conference, so there was no update on Bowser's condition. As the game at Stanford wore on, Bowser's value became even more obvious. He ran for 54 yards on 10 carries. Everyone else from Northwestern combined for 39 yards on 23 carries.
Johnson sat out last season after transferring from Clemson and made his Northwestern debut Saturday. Johnson was rated the top QB in the nation by ESPN as a senior in high school. Against Stanford, he looked more like a third-stringer who was thrust into emergency duty after getting no practice reps.
Johnson finished the day 6-for-17 through the air for 55 yards and 2 interceptions. On the bright side, he did have 5 runs for 31 yards during the Wildcats' lone scoring drive, which made the score 10-7 with 7:48 remaining.
"A lot of things to learn from," Johnson said. "That's what being a quarterback is all about - learning and correcting those mistakes."
Northwestern got the ball back and reached the Stanford 44-yard line, but were knocked back by a holding penalty and eventually punted. The Wildcats' final possession resulted in a sack, fumble and Stanford touchdown with 20 seconds left.
Another costly NU penalty happened with two seconds left in the first half. Junior defensive lineman Earnest Brown was called for a personal foul when he delivered a forearm to the chin of sliding Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello.
The penalty moved the ball from the 48 to the 33, and Stanford kicker Jet Toner ended the half with a 51-yard field goal to make it 10-0. Costello appeared to suffer a concussion and did not return to the game. Brown did not receive a targeting ejection for the hit, which was certainly a debatable decision.
"(I told him) he has to be smarter, it's a play that can't happen," Fitzgerald said. "Earnest owned it and it was a teachable moment."
Northwestern couldn't convert another good scoring chance in the third quarter. Cornerback Greg Newsome scooped up a Stanford fumble and was headed for the end zone, but Cardinal receiver Michael Wilson made a diving ankle tackle at the 21-yard line. Eventually, NU kicker Charlie Kuhbander missed a 38-yard field goal try.