The Northwestern Wildcats aren't looking like a team that will be making any postseason plans this coming December. Expectations were high coming into this season with key players like Jeremy Ebert and Dan Persa returning to the lineup. After starting off the season with wins at Boston College and home against Eastern Illinois, things looked promising for the 'cats. That was until they lost to Army and then the wheels seemed to come off. Saturday Northwestern fell to the Iowa Hawkeyes to drop to 2-4 on the season and have lost four games in a row.
Iowa (4-2, 1-1) got off to a quick start Saturday scoring the first 17 points of the game. Dan Persa made some very questionable throws and one cost him when Tanner Miller scored on a 98-yard touchdown after an interception. Northwestern (2-4, 0-3) would get on the board before halftime when Dan Persa connected with Jeremy Ebert to cut the Iowa lead to 10 at the break.
Unlike last week against Michigan, the Wildcats came out energized in the second half. Northwestern scored all 10 points that were scored in the second quarter to even things at 17 a piece. Iowa would take control in a crazy fourth quarter scoring 24 points, highlighted by two Marcus Coker touchdown runs, and the Hawkeyes would hang on for the 41-31 victory.
Dan Persa was the leading passer for Northwestern on Saturday throwing for 246 yards and a touchdown. Backup QB Kain Colter added 76 yards on the ground, and Jeremy Ebert caught 13 passes for 107 yards and a score.
James Vandenburg threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns to lead Iowa. Marcus Coker led things on the ground with 124 yards to go with his two touchdowns and Keenan Davis hauled in five passes for 109 yards and a score.
Northwestern will host Penn State next Saturday in Evanston.