Northwestern vs. Minnesota: Venric Mark's big game propels Wildcats to victory

The Northwestern running back came through with a big performance against the Gophers.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota 2012: Wildcats are bowl eligible after win

The Northwestern Wildcats got back on track with a 21-13 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers this week after suffering their first loss of the season last week against Penn State.

More importantly, though, the Wildcats improved to 6-1, which makes them bowl eligible. Northwestern blog Sippin' on Purple points out running back Venric Mark was the main reason the Wildcats held on:

Hoo boy, that Venric Mark. He only ran for 182 yards because the field has end zones instead of just being endless planes, continuing to the waterfalls that encircle this flat planet we live on. He only broke loose a few times, but when he did, he broke loose in ways no Northwestern running back has in a while. Much credit must be given to the offensive line for opening up holes big enough to four or five Venric Marks, and Minnesota for opting to play without safeties.

Mark got his 182 yards on just 20 carries, helping Northwestern win despite being out-gained by the Minnesota offense.

The Wildcats are 2-1 in the Big Ten Legends Division standings, a half game behind Michigan and Iowa. Northwestern has a big test next week, hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Cornhuskers are currently 1-1 in the Legends Division.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota final score: Wildcats beat Gophers, 21-13

The Northwestern Wildcats moved to 6-1 after defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers 21-13 in Big Ten play.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota score: Wildcats take 21-13 lead into 4th quarter

The Northwestern Wildcats cling to 21-13 lead over the Minnesota Golden Gophers after three quarters of play.

Northwestern's normally explosive offense ground to a halt in the third quarter, gaining just 37 yards of offense. Running back Venric Mark, who had 151 yards rushing in the first half, rushed for just 10 in the quarter.

Minnesota was the only team to score in the third, getting on the board on a 38-yard field goal by Jordan Wettstein. The field goal capped off a nine-play, 30-yard drive for the Gophers that spanned 4:27.

Minnesota suffered an injury scare late in the third when quarterback MarQueis Gray went down with an apparent foot issue. Gray has done a lot of damage on the ground against the Northwestern defense, rushing for 86 yards and one score on eight carries. It's unclear what his status is for the rest of the game.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota score: Wildcats hold 21-10 lead at half

Northwestern Wildcats running back Venric Mark has carried the Wildcats to a 21-10 halftime lead over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Mark finished the half with 151 yards on 11 carries and two scores. With those 151 first half yards, he has already set a career high in rushing yards in a game.

Minnesota cut into a 14-3 deficit early in the second quarter after quarterback MarQueis Gray's 25-yard score. But Northwestern answered right back, with Mark's 48-yard touchdown run extending the Wildcats' lead to 21-10.

Besides Mark, there has not been much else going on for the Northwestern offense. Quarterback Kain Colter was 4-of-4 passing for 32 yards in the half while also adding 13 yards rushing. Backup quarterback Trevor Siemian was just 1-of-4 passing for four yards.

Thanks to the big rushing plays, Northwestern has almost has many yards of offense as Minnesota despite having the ball half as long. The Wildcats have racked up 198 total yards, while the Gophers have gained 210.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota score: Wildcats open up 14-3 lead after 1st quarter

An early gaffe by the Minnesota Golden Gophers helped propel the Northwestern Wildcats to a 14-3 lead after the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Northwestern recovered a Minnesota fumble on the opening kickoff, giving them the ball deep in Gopher territory. The Wildcats immediately cashed in, scoring on a 26-yard run by running back Venric Mark just 11 seconds into the game.

After the Gophers responded with a 12-play, 76-yard drive that resulted in a field goal, the Wildcats struck back with a 75-yard touchdown drive. Mark had a 47-yard scamper on the drive, and quarterback Kain Colter capped it off with a 2-yard touchdown run to put the Wildcats up 14-3.

Mark finished the first quarter with 77 yards on five carries. To go along with his touchdown run, Colter went 3-for-3 passing for 20 yards. The Wildcats racked up 99 yards of total offense in the quarter despite having the ball for only 4:11.

Northwestern Vs. Minnesota 2012: TV Schedule, Game Time, Spread And More

The Northwestern Wildcats will look to bounce back after their first loss of the season last Saturday when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2 this Saturday.

Northwestern football: Wildcats prep for Big Ten showdown with Minnesota

The Northwestern Wildcats (5-1) take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-1) on Saturday.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota preview: Wildcats look to put tough loss behind them

The Wildcats will look to put the memories of a tough loss to Penn State behind them when they take on the Golden Gophers in Minnesota on Saturday.