CATS ESCAPE, BUT THORSON INJURED
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Go ahead and question Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald’s decisions to go for it over and over on fourth down, even late in a move that nearly cost the Wildcats dearly. He new his defense had his back.
The Wildcats broke up Kentucky’s two- point conversion, and No. 20 Northwestern held off Kentucky 24- 23 on Friday in a Music City Bowl that might be remembered more for injuries, ejections and a wild finish.
“I’m not sure words can describe that game,” Fitzgerald said. “Wow. What a great job by our young men. We had to persevere through so much.”
Justin Jackson ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns as Northwestern ( 10- 3) finished off back- to- back bowl wins in consecutive years for the first time in program history. The Wildcats notched their second 10- win season in three years and third in six under Fitzgerald. The senior class also won its 27th game.
Both starting quarterbacks left in the first half with injuries, though Kentucky’s Stephen Johnson returned early in the third quarter. Kentucky lost running back Benny Snell Jr. to an ejection for contact with an official early in the second quarter, and Northwestern lost leading tackler, linebacker Paddy Fisher, before halftime when he was ejected for targeting.
Kentucky ( 7- 6) still had a chance to win after Fitzgerald tried to convert his fifth fourth down of the game only to turn it over for the fourth time on downs, this time at his own 39 with 2: 31 left.
“Go for the win,” Fitzgerald said of his decision. “We got it. Did you see the replay? I did. It is what it is, and somebody had to make a play. We went for the win right there.”
Johnson ran for his second touchdown of the second half with 37 seconds left. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops went for the twopoint conversion rather than play for overtime. Johnson couldn’t connect with Tavin Richardson.
“We just lost a heartbreaker by inches,” Stoops said.
With quarterback Clayton Thorson knocked out early in the second with an injured right knee, Northwestern outran Kentucky 333- 65. Thorson, making his 38th career start, suffered the injury while being tackled after making a 24- yard catch from Jeremy Larkin. Hewas carted off the field and replaced by senior Matt Alviti ( 4for- 11, 50 yards).
Fitzgerald said Thorson will have an MRI exam when Northwestern returns home.
Safety Kyle Quiero provided the winning margin taking Northwestern’s second interception 26 yards for a touchdown with 7: 49 left.
Jackson finished his career 10th among the NCAA’s leading rushers with 5,440 yards. But Larkin is a redshirt freshman who ran for 112 yards, and he will be back in 2018. Thorson already planned to return for his senior season, too. Fitzgerald said he told Jackson he’d better get a lot of yards.
“He’s coming for you, you know he’s coming for you,” Fitzgerald said.